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Biomedical subjects

P Gustafsson

Publications and source records attributed to P Gustafsson.

82 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Clustering of genes involved in replication, copy number control, incompatibility, and stable maintenance of the resistance plasmid R1drd-19.

Plasmid R1drd-19 is present in a small number of copies per cell of Escherichia coli. The plasmid was reduced in size by in vivo as well as in vitro (cloning) techniques, resulting in a series of plasmid derivatives of different molecular weight. All plasmids isolated contain a small region (about 2 x 10(6) daltons of deoxyribonucleic acid) of the resistance transfer factor part of the plasmid located close to one of the IS1 sequences that separates the resistance transfer factor part from the resistance determinant. All these derivatives were present at the same copy number, retained the incompatibility properties of plasmid R1drd-19, and were stably maintained during cell division. Genes mutated to yield copy mutations also were found to be located in the same region.

Cell Division↗

Random replication of the stringent plasmid R1 in Escherichia coli K-12.

The R-factor R1 is present in a low number of copies per genome (near unity, so-called stringent control of replication). The replication of R1 was studied in a density-shift experiment. One generation after the shift about 20% of the R1 copies had not replicated, whereas about 20% had replicated at least twice. The results are in quantitative accordance with a random replication of R1 in which the replicating molecules are taken from a cytoplasmic plasmid pool and transferred back to the pool after replication. This is analogous to the results obtained by Bazaral and Helinski (1970) and Rownd (1969) for plasmids that are present in 10 to 20 copies per genome (so-called relaxed control of replication). Hence, there seem to be no difference between stringent and relaxed plasmids with respect to selection of plasmid molecules for replication. However, we cannot tell whether all R1 copies in a cell replicate during a fraction of or throughout the cell cycle. The random selction of plasmid copies for replication has to be considered when models for control of replication are constructed.

DNA Replication↗

Outer penetration barrier of Escherichia coli K-12: kinetics of the uptake of gentian violet by wild type and envelope mutants.

Wild-type strains of Escherichia coli K-12 adsorb gentian violet to the cell surface, but the dye is not transported into the cytoplasm. However, when some mutants that have an altered outer membrane are exposed to gentian violet, the dye is also found in the ribosomal fraction. The transport into the cytoplasm is inhibited at 0 C and requires that the concentration of gentian violet exceeds a threshold value. The initial rate of uptake as well as the amount of gentian violet found in the cytoplasm increases with the concentration of the dye in the medium. The rate of transport of the dye into the cytoplasm is much lower for stationary mutant cells than for exponentially growing cells. The rate of uptake into the cytoplasm increases with increasing deficiency of carbohydrate in the lipopolysaccharide (carbohydrate content lpsB > lpsA > galU). However, other components are also responsible for the barrier since an envA mutant which is not altered in the lipopolysaccharide carbohydrates show an extremely rapid uptake of the dye. The rate of uptake for the envA mutant was the highest found and the same as that of spheroplasts. Growth in the presence of agents affecting the murein sacculus, e.g., lysozyme and sublethal concentrations of penicillin, increased the rate of uptake of gentian violet. Brief treatments with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid drastically impaired the barrier function. Inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol also opened the barrier to gentian violet. In conclusion, the outer part of the bacterial envelope is a penetration barrier for gentian violet and probably also for other substances. The lipopolysaccharide, the murein and also other components are important for the function of this barrier. Resistance to gentian violet was found to be inversely correlated to the rate of penetration of the dye into the cytoplasm.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Exposure to naphthalene-diisocyanate in a rubber plant: symptoms and lung function.

Twenty-three subjects exposed to naphthalene-diisocyanate (NDI, [mean air concentration 0.002-0.007 mg/m3]) were examined with regard to symptoms and pulmonary function. Irritation of the eyes, cough, and exertion dyspnea were more common in exposed subjects than in unexposed controls. Closing volume, as a percentage of vital capacity (CV%), was 6% higher than the reference value (P = .01) on Monday morning after 2 days with no exposure to NDI. The other lung function variables were normal. Two days of industrial exposure caused no further change in any lung function variable. The difference between measured and expected CV% increased with age in the exposed subjects. Five employees who had complained of severe symptoms during NDI exposure and who, therefore, had been transferred to other tasks with no exposure to NDI, displayed marked increases in CV% and a reduction in the forced vital capacity by an average of 0.6 L. Smokers and nonsmokers displayed similar lung function changes.

Adult↗