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Biomedical subjects

T Komano

Publications and source records attributed to T Komano.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Physical mapping of a 330 X 10(3)-base-pair region of the Myxococcus xanthus chromosome that is preferentially labeled during spore germination.

Myxococcus xanthus was pulse-labeled with [3H]thymidine immediately after germination of dimethyl sulfoxide-induced spores. The restriction enzyme digests of the total chromosomal DNA from the pulse-labeled cells were analyzed by one-dimensional as well as two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis. Four PstI fragments preferentially labeled at a very early stage of germination were cloned into the unique PstI site of pBR322. By using these clones as probes, a restriction enzyme map was established covering approximately 6% of the total M. xanthus genome (330 X 10(3) base pairs). The distribution of the specific activities of the restriction fragments pulse-labeled after germination suggests a bidirectional mode of DNA replication from a fixed origin.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Negative regulation of adenylate cyclase gene (cya) expression by cyclic AMP-cyclic AMP receptor protein in Escherichia coli: studies with cya-lac protein and operon fusion plasmids.

We constructed cya-lac protein and operon fusion plasmids in vitro. The effect of cyclic AMP (cAMP) on cya expression was examined by measuring the synthesis of beta-galactosidase in Escherichia coli cells containing fused plasmids. In the cya-lacZ fused protein system, cya expression was strongly repressed by exogenous cAMP. Functional cAMP receptor protein (CRP) was necessary for this effect. On the other hand, in a tet-lacZ fused protein as a control system, tet expression was not affected by cAMP. The inhibition of cya expression by cAMP was also observed in the cya-lac fused operon system, although it was necessary to increase the amount of cAMP or CRP in the cells to detect the effect. The results indicate that cAMP-CRP is a negative regulator of cya expression at the level of transcription.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Bleomycin cleaves DNA depending on DNA primary, secondary, and tertiary structures.

The cleavage by bleomycin-Fe(II) complex in the presence of dithiothreitol was investigated by using 3'- or 5'-end-labeled DNA containing the region of the bacteriophage G4 origin of complementary strand synthesis as substrates. Bleomycin cleaved single-stranded DNA substrates preferentially at inverted repeat sequences, which potentially form stem-and-loop structures, in addition to the primary sequence specificity previously reported. DNA sequences preferentially cleaved in the double-stranded substrate were resistant when they lay outside the stem regions. These results suggest the formation of three predicted stem-and-loop structures and other possible secondary structures near the replication origin. Changes of the degree of bleomycin-induced DNA cleavage in a NaCl concentration between 0 and 50 mM suggest that a subtle change of ionic conditions within the double helix, or of DNA conformation, or of both, may occur at 0-50 mM NaCl. Bleomycin appears to be a useful reagent for analyzing secondary and tertiary structures of DNA.

Base Sequence↗

Sequence-specific DNA damage induced by reduced mitomycin C and 7-N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)mitomycin C.

Mitomycin C reduced with sodium borohydride induced the DNA damage at deoxyguanosines preferentially in dinucleotide sequence G-T. The DNA damage produced strand breaks when subsequently heated. The DNA damage scarcely occurred when the end-labeled DNA was preincubated with ethidium bromide or actinomycin D before the addition of mitomycin C and the reducing agent. Fully reduced mitomycin C did not induce the DNA damage. The mitomycin C-inducing DNA damage seems to require the intercalation of the partially reduced mitomycin C of short life time, probably semiquinone radical, between DNA base pairs. The inhibitory effects of sodium chloride and radical scavengers suggested that the requirement of the covalent bond formation of mitomycin C to DNA and the involvement of oxygen radicals in the DNA damage. 7-N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)mitomycin C, which is reported to show a higher antitumor activity and a lower toxicity than mitomycin C, was readily reduced with dithiothreitol and induced the sequence-specific DNA damage, whereas mitomycin C was not.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗

Nucleotide sequences of chloroplast 5S ribosomal RNA from cell suspension cultures of the liverworts Marchantia polymorpha and Jungermannia subulata.

The nucleotide sequences of chloroplast 5S rRNAs from cell suspension cultures of the liverworts Marchantia polymorpha and Jungermannia subulata were determined. Their nucleotide sequences, 119 nucleotides long, were highly homologous to each other (96% identity) and had high homology with those from chloroplast 5S rRNAs of two higher plants, tobacco (92% identity) and spinach (92-91% identity), but less homology (87-85% identity) with that from a lower plant, the fern Dryopteris acuminata.

Base Sequence↗

Sequence specificity of heat-labile sites in DNA induced by mitomycin C.

The sequence specificity of the mitomycin C-DNA interaction was directly determined by using DNA sequencing techniques and by using 3'- or 5'-end-labeled DNA fragments of defined sequence as substrates. Mitomycin C reduced with sodium borohydride induced heat-labile sites in DNA preferentially at specific sequences. The heat-labile sites were induced most preferentially at the dinucleotide sequence G-T ( especially Pu G-T), which was determined by scanning autoradiograms with a microdensitometer after gel electrophoresis. DNA was cleaved at the 3' side of deoxyguanosines and of some deoxyadenosines by heat treatment. Oligonucleotides produced by heat treatment after reaction with reduced mitomycin C contained phosphoryl groups at the 5' termini. The 3' termini seemed not to have simple structures, judging from their electrophoretic mobilities. Oxygen radicals such as singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical were possibly involved in the induction of heat-labile sites.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

A new procedure for determining thymine residues in DNA sequencing. Photoinduced cleavage of DNA fragments in the presence of spermine.

A new procedure for T specific cleavage of DNA fragments utilizing photoreaction with spermine has been described. Irradiation of 3'-[32P]-end-labeled DNA fragments for 10-20 min with a germicidal lamp emitting mainly 254-nm light in the presence of 1 M spermine in distilled water resulted in a T specific cleavage of the DNA chains. This method does not require piperidine treatment. By contrast, when the DNA fragments were irradiated in the presence of methylamine under similar conditions, both G and T bands with the intensity of G greater than T have appeared. A similar but less selective T cleavage has also been observed in the irradiation of 5'-[32P]-end-labeled DNA fragments in the presence of spermine followed by brief heating of the photolysate in a loading buffer for gel electrophoresis. The T specific photoreaction with spermine and the G greater than T reaction with methylamine described here may be conveniently used in combination with the standard Maxam-Gilbert's reactions to provide independent confirmatory readings.

Autoradiography↗

Effects of deletion of the gene for the development-specific protein S on differentiation in Myxococcus xanthus.

A deletion mutation of the gene for protein S (tps), a development-specific protein of Myxococcus xanthus, was constructed. No significant differences in the process of fruiting body formation or the yield of myxospores were observed between mutant and wild-type cells. On the other hand, when the tps gene was deleted together with a 2.0-kilobase sequence including the ops gene immediately upstream of the tps gene, fruiting body formation was substantially delayed, and the yield of myxospores was reduced. These results indicate that protein S is not essential for differentiation of M. xanthus, whereas a gene product(s) coded from the sequence upstream of the tps gene appears to be required for normal fruiting body formation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Physical and genetic analyses of the Inc-I alpha plasmid R64.

A 126-kilobase (kb) physical and genetic map of the Inc-I alpha plasmid R64 was constructed by using the restriction enzymes, BamHI, SalI, XhoI, HindIII, and EcoRI. The replication (Rep) and incompatability (Inc) functions of this plasmid were located in a 1.75-kb segment of an EcoRI fragment, E10 (3.3 kb). In addition, the genes determining growth inhibition of phage BF23 (Ibf), suppression of dnaG ( Sog ), resistance to tetracycline (Tetr), and resistance to streptomycin ( Strr ) were located on the 5.5-kb HindIII-XhoI fragment, the 8.1-kb EcoRI fragment (E5), the 4.6-kb HindIII fragment (H8), and the 4.1-kb HindIII fragment (H10), respectively. The map of R64 was compared with that of ColIb, which belongs to the Inc-I alpha group.

Base Composition↗

Identification of a membrane protein induced concurrently with cell filamentation by cyclic AMP in an Escherichia coli K-12 fic mutant.

A membrane protein with a molecular weight of 40,000 (40K protein) was induced concurrently with cell filamentation by cyclic AMP (cAMP) in a fic mutant. In the crp mutant and the wild-type strain, cell filamentation by cAMP was not observed, and the 40K protein was not induced. Induction of the 40K protein is regulated by the cAMP-cAMP receptor protein complex and is closely related to cell filamentation by cAMP in the fic mutant.

Cell Membrane↗

Aclacinomycin A-inhibition of phage phi X174 DNA synthesis in vitro.

Aclacinomycin A inhibited the in vitro conversion of phage phi X174 single-stranded DNA to the replicative form DNA. DNA synthesis was inhibited by 50% in the presence of 15 microM aclacinomycin A. The inhibition was competitive with respect to template DNA (Ki = 13 microM) and was reversed by addition of Escherichia coli cell extracts. Short complementary strands approximately one-third of unit length molecule were synthesized in the presence of 15 microM aclacinomycin A. The data suggest that aclacinomycin A may inhibit the process of phi X174 DNA chain elongation by a direct interaction with the E. coli host enzymes.

Aclarubicin↗

A new, convenient method for determining T residues in chemical DNA sequencing by using photoreaction with spermine.

Irradiation of 3'-[32p]-labeled DNA fragments with 254-nm light in the presence of spermine resulted in a T specific cleavage of the DNA chain without piperidine treatment. In the presence of methylamine G + T reactions (G greater than T) were observed under the same irradiation conditions. The T reaction with spermine and the G greater than reaction with methylamine may be combined with the standard Maxam-Gilbert's C + T reaction to provide confirmatory determination of DNA sequences.

Base Sequence↗

Reduced mitomycin C induces heat-labile sites in DNA at specific sequences.

We have investigated the sequence specificity of DNA damage induced by mitomycin C reduced with NaBH4, by using 3'- or 5'-end labeled DNA fragments of defined sequence. Mitomycin C reduced with NaBH4 induced heat-labile sites in DNA preferentially at specific sequences. The most preferred trinucleotide sequence for induction of heat-labile sites was GGT, followed by GGG, AGT, GAG, GGC and AGG. Active oxygens such as hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen, and metal ions were involved in the induction of heat-labile sites. DNA was broken at the 3' side of deoxyguanosines and some of deoxyadenosines by heat-treatment. The produced oligonucleotides contained phosphoryl groups at the 5' termini. The 3' termini seemed not to have simple structures.

Base Sequence↗

Timed action of the gene products required for septum formation in the cell cycle of Bacillus subtilis.

Four isogenic strains of temperature-sensitive septationless mutants, whose mutations are located on different genes, were used to study the periods of action of the gene products required for the initiation of septum formation during the cell cycle of Bacillus subtilis. The shift-up experiments, in which portions of a synchronous culture of each mutant were transferred to the nonpermissive temperature, showed that the transition point, at which cells attained the ability to divide at the nonpermissive temperature in the cell cycle, was strain specific. Furthermore, the heat shock experiments, in which portions of a synchronous culture were subjected to the nonpermissive temperature before the transition point for a fixed period and shifted back to the permissive temperature, showed that the time interval between the shift-back and the subsequent cell division was specific to each strain but was independent of the age of heat shock. These results led us to the idea that the initiation of septum formation in B. subtilis requires the timed action of the four gene products, each of which functions at a specific stage in the cell cycle. In addition, the result with DNA elongation mutant MK-526, which is also septation defective, supported our previous findings that the initiation of septum formation requires the termination of DNA replication in the previous cell cycle.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Phosphorylation and methylation of proteins during Myxococcus xanthus spore formation.

Post-translational modification of proteins was examined during the life cycle of Myxococcus xanthus. A specific pattern of protein phosphorylation was observed in vegetative cells. When spore formation was induced by glycerol, significant changes in the pattern of protein phosphorylation were observed, including the phosphorylation of two membrane proteins. In in vitro experiments, the same membrane proteins were phosphorylated by ATP when the membrane preparation from cells treated with glycerol was used. Changes in the pattern of protein methylation were also observed during spore formation induced by glycerol or fruiting body formation. These results suggest that post-translational protein modification may be required for spore formation or fruiting body formation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Involvement of cyclic AMP and its receptor protein in filamentation of an Escherichia coli fic mutant.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) inhibited septum formation in Escherichia coli PA3092 and induced cell filamentation at elevated temperatures. This phenomenon was first observed in E. coli PA3092 and is due to a temperature-sensitive mutation. We tentatively named this mutation fic (filamentation induced by cAMP). The fic gene was located near rpsL (formerly strA) on the E. coli K-12 map. the inhibitory effect of cAMP on cell division and filamentation in a fic mutant was not observed in a crp mutant. When cAMP was removed from the culture medium, filaments were divided into rods as the intracellular cAMP level decreased. These results suggest that the cAMP-cAMP receptor protein complex causes filamentation in the fic mutant, E. coli PA3092.

Cell Division↗

Phage inactivation and DNA strand scission activities of 7-N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)mitomycin C.

A new derivative of mitomycin C (MMC), 7-N-(p-hydroxyphenyl)mitomycin C (M-83), had higher phage inactivation activity against phages phiX174 and PM2 than MMC, and also higher DNA strand scission activity against their single- and double-stranded DNAs. M-83, at one third to one sixth concentration of MMC, showed the same level of phage inactivation and DNA strand scission activities. The mechanism of phage inactivation and DNA strand scission by M-83 were similar to those of MMC: (1) Reduction of M-83 was required for its action. (2) Oxygen radicals were involved in DNA strand scission, and metal ions possibly participated in the generation of oxygen radicals. (3) DNA strand scission was single strand scission, and dependent on temperature. The high DNA strand scission activity of M-83 is considered to reflect the rapid conversion to the active form.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗