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F Meinhardt

Publications and source records attributed to F Meinhardt.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Yeast killer plasmid pGKL2: molecular analysis of UCS5, a cytoplasmic promoter element essential for ORF5 gene function.

A k2/k1 plasmid gene shuffle system has been used to investigate linear plasmid promoter function in Kluyveromyces lactis. By transplacing various ORF5 deletion constructs from the larger plasmid k2 onto k1, and analysing trans-complementation of an ORF5(0) deletion on k2, a 40 bp k2 fragment, including the UCS motif of ORF5 (UCS5), has been identified as a cis-acting promoter element essential for ORF5 gene function. Qualitative and quantitative transcript analyses of a UCS5-ScLEU2 fusion gene using Northern blot analysis and phosphor image technology revealed a plasmid-dependent LEU2 transcript distinct in size (1.55 kb) and regulation from its nuclear counterpart (1.35 kb): cytoplasmic, UCS5-driven expression of the marker gene was non-repressible by leucine and reduced five- to eight-fold compared to fully derepressed nuclear K1LEU2 mRNA levels. Thus, the killer plasmids k2 and k1 appear to express low levels of transcript overall, when relative gene copy numbers (one for the nuclear allele versus 50-100 copies for the plasmid-borne LEU2 gene) are taken into account.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Genetic Variability Among Isolates and Sexual Offspring of the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Calonectria morganii on the Basis of Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)

Thirty-two strains of the phytopathogenic mold Cylindrocladium scoparium (perfect state Calonectria morganii) isolated from ericaceous hosts and two specimens from the ATCC were examined by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Five oligonucleotides were chosen as primers for differentiation of the isolates. RAPD patterns of the ATCC strains differed significantly from those of the field isolates. Diversity among field isolates was low. Results obtained in RFLP analysis, with telomere repeats of Neurospora crassa as a probe, were highly consistent with the RAPD data. Isolates were paired in all possible combinations; fertile perithecia occurred in only one combination, from which ascospores were analyzed by formal genetics and RAPD. A bipolar mechanism of homogenic incompatibility was found. Ascospore-derived strains were much more variable than field isolates. Phylogenetic trees suggested a correlation to the host plants from which the strains were isolated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Extranuclear expression of the bacterial xylose isomerase (xylA) and the UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (hasB) genes in yeast with Kluyveromyces lactis linear killer plasmids as vectors.

On the basis of the linear killer plasmid pGKL1 from Kluyveromyces lactis, two new linear hybrid plasmids were constructed. One of these, pRSC126, carried the xylA gene from Streptomyces rubiginosus encoding the xylose isomerase. The other linear hybrid molecule, pRSC128, carried the hasB gene of Streptococcus pyogenes encoding the UDP glucose dehydrogenase. Construction was performed in a way that the putative cytoplasmic promoter element of ORF5 of pGKL2 was fused to the coding region of the heterologous genes. After transformation, in vivo recombination led to the establishment of linear hybrid vectors. Though efficiency of expression was low when compared with bacterial systems, cytoplasmic expression of both genes was clearly demonstrated.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗
PubMed1995

An extranuclear expression system for analysis of cytoplasmic promoters of yeast linear killer plasmids.

Based on the cytoplasmically localized killer plasmids pGKL1 and pGKL2 of Kluyveromyces lactis two new linear hybrid plasmids were constructed which consist of pGKL1, into which in addition to the previously developed cytoplasmically expressible LEU2* selectable marker a glucose dehydrogenase-encoding bacterial gene (gdh A) has been integrated. One of the hybrid plasmids carries the bacterial gene preceded by an arbitrarily placed cytoplasmic promoter (upstream conserved sequence) in front of the coding region (pRKL121). The other plasmid was constructed in such a way that the ATG start codon of the gdh A gene was fused in frame to the ATG start codon of the killer plasmid's open reading frame 5 (pRKL122). The structures of both linear hybrid plasmids were confirmed by restriction analysis, Southern hybridization, and sequencing of the junction sites. Yeast strains carrying either of the plasmids expressed the glucose dehydrogenase gene; however, expression of the in phase fused gene was 40-fold higher compared to the arbitrarily placed cytoplasmic promoter. In general, an in phase fusion was not required for expression, but efficiency is dramatically enhanced when the 5' noncoding sequences in front of the heterologous genes are the same as those found on the native killer plasmids. The developed system can serve as a reporter for determining the efficiency of the different cytoplasmic promoters present on both linear plasmids. Hybrid plasmids were stably maintained without selective pressure in K. lactis and they were transferred and expressed also in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Bacillus megaterium↗
PubMed1995

Generation of a stable non-reverting Leu- mutant of Kluyveromyces lactis by gene disruption.

The LEU2 gene coding for beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase of the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis strain AWJ137 was disrupted. In the resulting Leu- strain a 0.57 x 10(3)-base pairs PstI/BglII fragment of the LEU2 coding region was replaced by the TRP1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mutant strain was characterized by stability tests and a physical map of the disrupted region was established by restriction-enzyme analysis combined with hybridization experiments. The usefulness of the mutant strain as a recipient was shown by transformation experiments.

3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1995

Inactivation of the major extracellular protease from Bacillus megaterium DSM319 by gene replacement.

An efficient method for gene replacement in Bacillus megaterium was developed and used to inactivate the chromosomal neutral protease gene (nprM) from strain DSM319. A temperature-dependant suicide vector was constructed to allow replacement of the normal chromosomal copy with an altered version of the nprM gene. One mutant B. megaterium MS941 was selected for further characterization. Measurement of extracellular protease activity from strain MS941 indicated the existence of an additional minor extracellular protease in B. megaterium. Inhibitor studies revealed that this minor protease, comprising only 1.4% of the wild-type total extracellular protease activities, is a serine-type enzyme.

Bacillus megaterium↗
PubMed1995

Migration of the yeast linear DNA plasmid from the cytoplasm into the nucleus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Kluyveromyces linear plasmids, pGKL1 and pGKL2, carrying terminal protein (TP), are located in the cytoplasm and have a unique gene expression system with the plasmid-specific promoter element termed UCS, which functions only in the cytoplasm. In this study we have developed an in vivo assay system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae which enables the detection of a rare migration of the yeast cytoplasmic plasmid to the nucleus, using a pGKL1-derived cytoplasmic linear plasmid pCLU1. pCLU1 had both the UCS-fused LEU2 gene (a cytoplasmic marker) and the native URA3 gene (a nuclear marker) and therefore its cytoplasmic-nucleo localized could be determined by the phenotypic analysis of the marker. The nuclearly migrated plasmids were often detected as linear plasmids having the telomere sequence of the host yeast at both ends, although circular plasmids were also found. The circular form was produced by the the terminal fusion of pCLU1. Insertion of a Ty element into a nuclearly migrated plasmid was observed, allowing the ROAM-regulated expression of the adjacent nuclearly silent UCS-fused LEU2 gene. The nuclearly located plasmids, whether linear or circular, were less sensitive to UV-mediated curing than pGKL and pCLU1.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

A novel approach to express a heterologous gene on Kluyveromyces lactis linear killer plasmids: expression of the bacterial aph gene from a cytoplasmic promoter fragment without in-phase fusion to the plasmid open reading frame.

Using the cytoplasmically localized killer plasmids pGKL1 and pGKL2 of Kluyveromyces lactis a new linear hybrid plasmid (pWKL1) was constructed. It consists of pGKL1 into which, in addition to the previously developed cytoplasmically expressible LEU2* selection marker, a phosphotransferase encoding bacterial antibiotic resistance gene has been integrated. In the hybrid plasmid pWKL1 this gene was preceded by a putative transcriptional signal from pGKL2, i.e., the upstream conserved sequence of ORF5 (UCS5). All foreign genes, so far integrated and expressed in linear plasmids, required in addition to a cytoplasmic promoter (UCS) an in phase fusion to the corresponding open reading frame. In this study the UCS5, not containing the translational start of ORF5, and the aph coding region were intentionally not combined in phase, in order to check whether expression can occur under these conditions. Kluyveromyces lactis transformants carrying pWKL1 were highly resistant against the antibiotic geneticine (G418) and exhibited elevated levels of APH activity. Expression of the aph gene was due to the presence of the UCS5 containing fragment (110 bp). Thus, an in phase fusion was not required for expression. This is the first report that, concomitant with a selectable marker gene, foreign DNA can be integrated in a linear plasmid via homologous recombination and more importantly, that in phase fusions are not required generally for expression of heterologous genes in linear plasmids.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Cloning and sequencing of the leu C and npr M genes and a putative spo IV gene from Bacillus megaterium DSM319.

The leuC gene, encoding 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase, the nprM gene (neutral protease) and a sporulation gene coding for a putative spoIV protein (spoIV) from Bacillus megaterium DSM 319 were cloned and the nucleotide sequences were determined. The leuC gene is 1101 bp in length, preceded by a ribosome binding site; no promoter consensus sequence could be found. The nucleotide sequence from nprM when compared to the recently published gene from B. megaterium ATCC 14581 exhibited only a 17-base pair deviation. From a sporulation mutant isolated after transposon-mutagenesis with transposon Tn917 the insertion site of the transposon was cloned and adjacent chromosomal fragments were characterized. An open reading frame that encodes for a putative spo protein of 247 amino-acid residues was identified.

3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1994

UV hypersensitivity of yeast linear plasmids.

The Kluyveromyces linear plasmids pGKL1 and pGKL2, encoding killer activity, were efficiently cured by UV irradiation. This event was investigated in more detail by the use of the terminal protein (TP)-associated cytoplasmic linear plasmids, pJKL1 and pRKL2, with a selectable marker LEU2. This observation was compared with the UV effect on the nuclear plasmids pLS1 (telomere-associated linear form) and YCp121 (centromere-integrated circular form), indicating that the UV hypersensitivity was specific to the cytoplasmic plasmids. Using rad4 and wild-type strains of S. cerevisiae, both pJKL1 and the nuclear plasmids were found to respond not only to photoreactivation repair but also to excision repair of UV-induced DNA damage. Thus these DNA repair systems were functional for both the nuclear and cytoplasmic plasmids in yeast, and it was suggested that the UV hypersensitivity of cytoplasmic plasmids might have been caused by a defect in other repair systems or in the TP-primed replication. Possibly TP-associated Debaryomyces linear plasmids were also UV hypersensitive.

DNA Damage↗
PubMed1992

Phylogenetic relationships of linear, protein-primed replicating genomes.

Relative phylogenetic distances were estimated for those linear plasmids for which sequencing data were available by comparing the amino-acid sequences of the putative DNA- and RNA-polymerases, and phylogenetic trees were calculated. The relationships obtained accord well with those indicated by other structural characteristics of these genetic elements. It is obvious that linear plasmids constitute a separate group of genetic traits when compared with those of the adenoviruses. However, an overall relationship to these viruses is evident. Among the linear plasmids at least two main groups can be recognized, namely the cytoplasmically and the mitochondrially localized elements.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1992

Both open reading frames of the linear plasmid pMC3-2 from the ascomycete Morchella conica are transcribed in vivo.

Mitochondrial RNA was isolated from the morel strain Morchella conica 3 harbouring the linear plasmid pMC3-2 and subjected to gel electrophoresis followed by a Northern analysis using cloned fragments of the plasmid pMC3-2 as probes. Hybridization was obtained only with central parts of pMC3-2 and specific bands of mtRNA. The hybridization bands (2.8 kb and 1.0 kb) correspond in size to the length of the two ORFs of pMC3-2 which were deduced from nucleotide-sequence data. Thus, both ORFs, one encoding a DNA polymerase and the other a yet unknown protein, are transcribed in the mitochondria of the plasmid-bearing Morchella conica strain.

Ascomycota↗
PubMed1992

Kluyveromyces lactis killer system: ORF1 of pGKL2 has no function in immunity expression and is dispensable for killer plasmid replication and maintenance.

To functionally characterize the genes encoded by the larger killer plasmid pGKL2 from Kluyveromyces lactis a previously developed in-vivo recombination system was exploited. An in-vitro modified version of the cytoplasmically expressible LEU2 gene cartridge (LEU2*) flanked by appropriate pGKL2 segments was used to replace the central part of the ORF1 region of pGKL2. Transformation of a Leu- killer strain resulted in the expected disruption of ORF1 in the resident pGKL2. The Leu+ transformants obtained can be assigned to three classes. Class I carries both killer plasmids, pGKL1/2, and the recombinant pGKL2 derivative termed pRKL2. Class II and III additionally harbor palindrome and hairpin-like plasmids, respectively. Upon subculturing of class I transformants under selective pressure, segregation of the native pGKL2 and the recombinant pRKL2 eventually occurs resulting in total loss of pGKL2. No differences concerning killer and immunity phenotype between a pRKL2-harboring strain and the native pGKL2-carrying recipient could be detected. Thus pGKL2 ORF1 is dispensable for both expression of killer/immunity phenotypes and for the replication and maintenance of the K. lactis killer plasmids.

Immunity↗
PubMed1991

Heterologous gene expression on the linear DNA killer plasmid from Kluyveromyces lactis.

Linear hybrid plasmids based on the killer plasmid pGKL1 from Kluyveromyces lactis were obtained by in vivo recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Like pGKL1, the hybrids are located in the cytoplasm, have terminal inverted repeats (TIR) and possess covalently linked proteins at their 5' ends. The construction of cytoplasmic hybrid plasmids is based on the use of a pGKL1 promoter to control the marker gene used for recombination. Nuclear promoters are not recognised in the cytoplasm.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The linear plasmid pMC3-2 from Morchella conica is structurally related to adenoviruses.

pMC3-2, one of two linear plasmids localised in the mitochondria of the ascomycete Morchella conica, was completely sequenced. It is 6044 bp in size, contains terminal inverted repeats of 713 and 710 bp length and two open reading frames, ORF1 and ORF2, spanning 2706 bp and 918 bp, respectively. ORF1 probably encodes a viral B-type DNA-polymerase. Concerning ORF2, no homology to any other published protein- or DNA-sequence could be detected. According to the structure of DNA-polymerases, linear plasmids can be grouped into two classes reflecting their localisation either in the cytoplasm or within the mitochondria. In general, the structure of plasmid pMC3-2, as well as of other linear plasmids from filamentous fungi, indicates a close relationship of these genetic elements to adenoviruses.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1989

In organello replication and viral affinity of linear, extrachromosomal DNA of the ascomycete Ascobolus immersus.

Linear, extrachromosomal DNA's of the filamentous fungus Ascobolus immersus are localized within the mitochondria. These linear plasmids have no homology to the high molecular weight mtDNA (hmw mtDNA). For analysis of plasmid replication an in organello DNA synthesis system was developed, in which radionucleotides were incorporated into intact mitochondria. Plasmid DNA is labelled preferentially in this system. From replication analysis of a specific plasmid there is evidence of a virus-like protein-primed replication. Sequence analysis of this plasmid reveals that a viral DNA polymerase is encoded. Thus, these genetic elements presumably are viral remnants rather than true plasmids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗