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T Kogoma

Publications and source records attributed to T Kogoma.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Constitutive expression of the SOS response in recA718 mutants of Escherichia coli requires amplification of RecA718 protein.

In recA718 lexA+ strains of Escherichia coli, induction of the SOS response requires DNA damage. This implies that RecA718 protein, like RecA+ protein, must be converted, by a process initiated by the damage, to an activated form (RecA) to promote cleavage of LexA, the cellular repressor of SOS genes. However, when LexA repressor activity was abolished by a lexA-defective mutation [lexA(Def)], strains carrying the recA718 gene (but not recA+) showed strong SOS mutator activity and were able to undergo stable DNA replication in the absence of DNA damage (two SOS functions known to require RecA activity even when cleavage of LexA is not necessary). lambda lysogens of recA718 lexA(Def) strains exhibited mass induction of prophage, indicative of constitutive ability to cleave lambda repressor. When the cloned recA718 allele was present in a lexA+ strain on a plasmid, SOS mutator activity and beta-galactosidase synthesis under LexA control were expressed in proportion to the plasmid copy number. We conclude that RecA718 is capable of becoming activated without DNA damage for cleavage of LexA and lambda repressor, but only if it is amplified above its base-line level in lexA+ strains. At amplified levels, RecA718 was also constitutively activated for its roles in SOS mutagenesis and stable DNA replication. The nucleotide sequence of recA718 reveals two base substitutions relative to the recA+ sequence. We propose that the first allows the protein to become activated constitutively, whereas the second partially suppresses this capability.

DNA Repair↗

Mode of initiation of constitutive stable DNA replication in RNase H-defective mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

The alternative pathway of DNA replication in rnh mutants of Escherichia coli can be continuously initiated in the presence of chloramphenicol, giving rise to constitutive stable DNA replication (cSDR). We conducted a physiological analysis of cSDR in rnh-224 mutants in the presence or absence of the normal DNA replication system. The following results were obtained. cSDR allowed the cells to grow in the absence of the normal replication system at a 30 to 40% reduced growth rate and with an approximately twofold-decreased DNA content. cSDR initiation was random with respect to time in the cell cycle as well as choice of origins. cSDR initiation continued to increase exponentially for more than one doubling time when protein synthesis was inhibited by chloramphenicol. cSDR initiation was inhibited during amino acid starvation in stringent (relA+) but not in relaxed (relA1) strains, indicating its sensitivity to ppGpp. cSDR initiation was rifampin sensitive, demonstrating that RNA polymerase was involved. cSDR functioned in dnaA+ rnh-224 strains parallel to the normal oriC+ dnaA+-dependent chromosome replication system.

Amino Acids↗

Concatemer formation of ColE1-type plasmids in mutants of Escherichia coli lacking RNase H activity.

rnh mutants harboring pBR322 were found to contain several slowly migrating DNA species when examined by agarose gel electrophoresis. The plasmid DNA from rnh mutants included large molecules, i.e. plasmids two, three or four times the size of a single plasmid unit. That this DNA contained concatemeric plasmid joined in a head-to-tail fashion was determined by digestion with restriction endonucleases that cleaved the monomeric plasmid DNA at a unique site. This treatment resulted in migration of the plasmid DNA at a mobility identical to that of linearized monomeric plasmid by agarose gel electrophoresis. This was confirmed by electron microscopy. Plasmid concatemer formation was detected with several high-copy-number (relaxed type) plasmids but not with low-copy-number (stringent) plasmids. Concatemer formation was dependent on RecA+ and RecF+ functions since several recA and recF mutations abolished concatemer formation. ColE1-type plasmids were previously shown to replicate in rnh mutants in the absence of DNA polymerase I (PolI) activity. This DNA PolI-independent plasmid replication was also examined for its dependence on the recF and recA gene products. rnh- polA(Ts) recF- strains were efficiently transformed with these plasmids at 30 degrees C and 42 degrees C, indicating the presence of DNA PolI-independent replication under recF- conditions. The presence or absence of plasmid replication in rnh- polA- recA(Ts) strains was also examined by measuring the increase in total amounts of plasmid. The results indicated that DNA PolI-independent replication occurred in these triple mutants at 42 degrees C as well as at 30 degrees C. It was concluded that the recombination event giving rise to concatemer formation was not essential for DNA PolI-independent replication in rnh mutants.

Bacterial Proteins↗

RNase H is not involved in the induction of stable DNA replication in Escherichia coli.

rnh mutations of Escherichia coli inactivating RNase H activity allow the initiation of rounds of DNA replication in the absence of protein synthesis (stable DNA replication). However, levels of RNase H did not change during or after the induction of stable DNA replication in rnh+ strains by incubation with nalidixic acid or UV irradiation.

DNA Replication↗

Requirement of the Escherichia coli dnaA gene product for plasmid F maintenance.

There are DnaA protein-binding sites in at least one F origin of replication, and only potentially leaky dnaA(Ts) mutations had ever been used in previous studies indicating that F replication was independent of the dnaA gene product. Here we show that an Escherichia coli dnaA::Tn10 host which does not make a dnaA gene product cannot sustain autonomous or integrated F plasmid maintenance.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Function of ribonuclease H in initiation of DNA replication in Escherichia coli K-12.

Escherichia coli rnh mutants lacking ribonuclease H (RNase H) activity can tolerate deletion of the origin of DNA Replication (delta oriC) and transposon-insertional inactivation of an initiator gene (dnaA::Tn10). Introduction of the recA200 allele encoding a thermolabile RecA protein into rnh- dnaA::Tn10 and rnh- delta oriC mutants strains rendered DNA synthesis and colony formation of these mutants temperature sensitive. The temperature sensitivity and the broth sensitivity (Srm-) of the rnh- dnaA::Tn10 recA200 strain was suppressed by the presence of plasmids (pBR322 derivatives) carrying dnaA+ only when the intact oriC site was present on the chromosome. Lack of RNase H activity neither promoted replication of minichromosomes (pOC24 and p lambda asn20) in the absence of required DnaA+ protein nor inhibited dnaA+-dependent minichromosome replication. These results led to the conclusion that RNase H is not directly involved in the events leading to initiation of DNA replication at oriC. Rather, it functions as a specificity factor by eliminating certain forms of RNA-DNA hybrids which could otherwise be used to prime DNA replication at sites other than oriC.

Chromosome Deletion↗

RecA protein acts at the initiation of stable DNA replication in rnh mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

Escherichia coli rnh mutants lacking RNase H activity are capable of recA+-dependent DNA replication in the absence of concomitant protein synthesis (stable DNA replication). In rnh dnaA::Tn10 and rnh delta oriC double mutants in which the dnaA+-dependent initiation of DNA replication at oriC is completely blocked, the recA200 mutation encoding a thermolabile RecA protein renders both colony formation and DNA synthesis of these mutants temperature sensitive. To determine which stage of DNA replication (initiation, elongation, or termination) was blocked, we analyzed populations of these mutant cells incubated at 30 or 42 degrees C in the presence or absence of chloramphenicol (CM) by dual-parameter (DNA-light scatter) flow cytometry. Incubation at 30 degrees C in the presence of CM resulted in cells with a continuum of DNA content up to seven or more chromosome equivalents per cell. The cultures which had been incubated at 42 degrees C in the absence or presence of CM consisted of cells with integral numbers of chromosomes per cell. It is concluded that active RecA protein is required specifically for the initiation of stable DNA replication.

Chloramphenicol↗

Toxicity and mutagenicity of plumbagin and the induction of a possible new DNA repair pathway in Escherichia coli.

Actively growing Escherichia coli cells exposed to plumbagin, a redox cycling quinone that increases the flux of O2- radicals in the cell, were mutagenized or killed by this treatment. The toxicity of plumbagin was not found to be mediated by membrane damage. Cells pretreated with plumbagin could partially reactivate lambda phage damaged by exposure to riboflavin plus light, a treatment that produces active oxygen species. The result suggested the induction of a DNA repair response. Lambda phage damaged by H2O2 treatment were not reactivated in plumbagin-pretreated cells, nor did H2O2-pretreated cells reactivate lambda damaged by treatment with riboflavin plus light. Plumbagin treatment did not induce lambda phage in a lysogen, nor did it cause an increase in beta-galactosidase production in a dinD::Mu d(lac Ap) promoter fusion strain. Cells pretreated with nonlethal doses of plumbagin showed enhanced survival upon exposure to high concentrations of plumbagin, but were unchanged in their susceptibility to far-UV irradiation. polA and recA mutants were not significantly more sensitive than wild type to killing by plumbagin. However, xth-1 mutants were partially resistant to plumbagin toxicity. It is proposed that E. coli has an inducible DNA repair response specific for the type of oxidative damage generated during incubation with plumbagin. Furthermore, this response appears to be qualitatively distinct from the SOS response and the repair response induced by H2O2.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Multiple origin usage for DNA replication in sdrA(rnh) mutants of Escherichia coli K-12. Initiation in the absence of oriC.

In stable DNA replication (sdrA/rnh) mutants of Escherichia coli, initiation of rounds of DNA replication occurs in the absence of the normal origin of replication, oriC. To determine whether or not the initiation occurs at a fixed site(s) on the chromosome in sdrA mutants, the DNA from exponentially growing sdrA mutant cells with or without the oriC site (delta oriC) was analyzed for the relative copy numbers of various genes along the chromosome. The results suggest that there are at least four fixed sites or regions of the sdrA delta oriC chromosome from which DNA replication can be initiated in the absence of the oriC sequence.

Chromosome Mapping↗

dnaA suppressor (dasF) mutants of Escherichia coli are stable DNA replication (sdrA/rnh) mutants.

The possible allelic relationship between dasF (dnaA suppressor) and sdrA/rnh (stable DNA replication/RNase H) mutations was examined. dasF mutations could not only suppress various dnaA(ts) mutations, but also the insertional inactivation of the dnaA gene or deletion of the oriC sequence, as could sdrA mutations. dasF mutants were found to exhibit the stable DNA replication phenotype, and the sensitivity to rich media, of sdrA mutants. The dasF and sdrA mutations were mapped very closely between metD and proA on the E. coli genetic map. The mutations were recessive to the wild-type allele for all the above phenotypes. It was concluded that dasF is allelic to sdrA/mh.

Alleles↗

Involvement of the activated form of RecA protein in SOS mutagenesis and stable DNA replication in Escherichia coli.

DNA damage activates RecA protein of E. coli to a form (RecA*) that promotes proteolytic cleavage of LexA protein, the repressor of at least 17 DNA damage-inducible genes, resulting in expression of the SOS response. In addition to this known role, RecA* performs another function necessary for expression of SOS mutagenesis [Blanco, M., Herrera, G., Collado, P., Rebollo, J. & Botella, L. M. (1982) Biochimie 64, 633-636]. The additional role of RecA* could be (i) cleavage of another repressor, (ii) proteolytic processing of one or more proteins, or (iii) mechanistic interaction with DNA or with one or more other proteins. We describe experiments designed to test the first possibility. Our results suggest that neither SOS mutator activity nor ultraviolet mutagenesis requires induction by RecA* of any gene(s) outside the LexA regulon and that the additional role of RecA* is not cleavage of another repressor. We show that stable DNA replication, another DNA damage-inducible function [Kogoma, T., Torrey, T. A. & Connaughton, M. J. (1979) Mol. Gen. Genet. 176, 1-9], shares with SOS mutagenesis the requirement for RecA* activity, even in a strain constitutively expressing all LexA-controlled genes. In this strain, conditions that activate RecA initiate expression of stable DNA replication in the presence of chloramphenicol, without an intervening period of protein synthesis. We conclude that the additional function of RecA* in stable DNA replication is not another antirepressor activity.

DNA Repair↗

Absence of RNase H allows replication of pBR322 in Escherichia coli mutants lacking DNA polymerase I.

rnh (formerly termed sdrA) mutants of Escherichia coli K-12, capable of continuous DNA replication in the absence of protein synthesis (stable DNA replication), are devoid of ribonuclease H (RNase H, EC 3.1.26.4) activity. Plasmid pBR322 was found to replicate in rnh mutants in the absence of DNA polymerase I, the polA gene product, which is normally required for replication of this plasmid. The plasmid copy number in polA rnh double mutants was as high as in the wild-type strains. When a chimeric construct between pBR322 and pSC101 was introduced into a polA rnh double mutant, the replication of the plasmid via the pBR322 replicon was inhibited if the plasmid also carried an rnh+ gene or if the host harbored an F' plasmid carrying an rnh+ gene. Thus, DNA polymerase I-independent replication of pBR322 requires the absence of RNase H activity. This alternative mechanism requiring neither DNA polymerase I nor RNase H appears to involve a transcriptional event in the region of the normal origin of replication.

DNA Polymerase I↗

RNase H confers specificity in the dnaA-dependent initiation of replication at the unique origin of the Escherichia coli chromosome in vivo and in vitro.

Escherichia coli rnh mutants defective in RNase H activity display the features of previously described sdrA (stable DNA replication) and dasF (dnaA suppressor) mutants: (i) sustained DNA replication in the absence of protein synthesis, (ii) lack of requirement for dnaA protein and the origin of replication (oriC), and (iii) sensitivity of growth to a rich medium. Both the sdrA mutants (selected for continued DNA replication in the absence of protein synthesis) and the dasF mutants (selected as dnaA suppressors) are defective in RNase H activity, measured in vitro. Furthermore, a 760-base-pair fragment containing the rnh+ structural gene complements the phenotype of each of the rnh, sdrA, and dasF mutants, indicative of a single gene. One function of RNase H in vivo is in the initiation of a cycle of DNA replication at oriC dependent on dnaA+. In keeping with these results, RNase H contributes to the specificity of dnaA protein-dependent replication initiated at oriC in a partially purified enzyme system.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The origin of replication, oriC, and the dnaA protein are dispensable in stable DNA replication (sdrA) mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

The sdrA224 mutants of Escherichia coli K-12, capable of continued DNA replication in the absence of protein synthesis (stable DNA replication), tolerate inactivation of the dnaA gene by insertion of transposon Tn10. Furthermore, oriC, the origin of E. coli chromosome replication, can be deleted from the chromosome of sdrA mutants without loss of viability. The results suggest the presence of a second, normally repressed, initiation system for chromosome replication alternative to the 'normal' dnaA+ oriC+-dependent initiation mechanism.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Suppressor mutations (rin) that specifically suppress the recA+ dependence of stable DNA replication in Escherichia coliK-12.

The sdrA102 mutation confers upon cells the ability to replicate DNA in the absence of protein synthesis. This mutation was combined with the recA200 mutation, which renders the recA protein thermolabile, and had little effect on normal replication. However, the sdrA102 recA200 double mutant exhibited temperature-sensitive stable DNA replication: it replicated DNA continuously in the presence of chloramphenicol at 30 degrees C, whereas at 42 degrees C DNA replication ceased after the DNA content increased only 40-45%. Suppressor mutants (rin; recA-independent) capable of stable DNA replication at 42 degrees C were isolated from the double mutant. The suppressor mutant retained all other recA- characteristics, i.e., deficient general recombination, severe UV-sensitivity, and incapability of prophage induction in lysogens. This indicates that the rin mutation specifically suppresses the recA+ dependency of stable DNA replication. It is suggested that the recA+ protein stabilizes a specific structure, similar to an intermediate in recombination, which may function in the initiation of stable DNA replication.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Induction of UV-resistant DNA replication in Escherichia coli: induced stable DNA replication as an SOS function.

The striking similarity between the treatments that induce SOS functions and those that result in stable DNA replication (continuous DNA replication in the absence of protein synthesis) prompted us to examine the possibility of stable DNA replication being a recA+ lexA+-dependent SOS function. In addition to the treatments previously reported, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation or treatment with mitomycin C was also found to induce stable DNA replication. The thermal treatment of tif-1 strains did not result in detectable levels of stable DNA replication, but nalidixic acid readily induced the activity in these strains. The induction of stable DNA replication with malidixic acid was severely suppressed in tif-1 lexA mutant strains. The inhibitory activity of lexA3 was negated by the presence of the spr-51 mutation, an intragenic suppressor of lexA3. Induced stable DNA replication was found to be considerably more resistant to UV irradiation than normal replication both in a uvrA6 strain and a uvr+ strain. The UV-resistant replication occurred mostly in the semiconservative manner. The possible roles of stable DNA replication in repair of damaged DNA are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗