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Physiological analysis of the role of truB in Escherichia coli: a role for tRNA modification in extreme temperature resistance.

The truB gene of Escherichia coli encodes the pseudouridine-55 (psi55) synthase and is responsible for modifying all tRNA molecules in the cell at the U55 position. A truB null mutant grew normally on all growth media tested, but exhibited a competitive disadvantage in extended co-culture with its wild-type progenitor. The mutant phenotype could be complemented by both the cloned truB gene and by a D48C, catalytically inactive allele of truB. The truB mutant also exhibited a defect in survival of rapid transfer from 37 to 50 degrees C. This mutant phenotype could be complemented by the cloned truB gene but not by a D48C, catalytically inactive allele of truB. The temperature sensitivity of truB mutants could be enhanced by combination with a mutation in the trmA gene, encoding an m(5)U-methyltransferase, modifying the universal U54 tRNA nucleoside, but not by mutations in trmH, encoding the enzyme catalysing the formation of Gm18. The truB mutant proteome contained altered levels of intermediates involved in biogenesis of the outer-membrane proteins OmpA and OmpX. The truB mutation also reduced the basal expression from two sigma(E) promoters, degP and rpoHP3. Three novel aspects to the phenotype of truB mutants were identified. Importantly the data support the hypothesis that TruB-effected psi55 modification of tRNA is not essential, but contributes to thermal stress tolerance in E. coli, possibly by optimizing the stability of the tRNA population at high temperatures.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Role of enzymes in growth and morphology of Neurospora crassa: cell-wall-bound enzymes and their possible role in branching.

The cell wall of Neurospora crassa contains bound enzymes that can digest its structural polymers. These enzymes are not present at the same levels at all stages of growth. The levels of these autolytic enzymes vary and generally show some relationship to the process of branching. These enzymes were removed from the cell wall by beta-mercaptoethanol extraction and were tested for activity against isolated cell wall fractions. Such studies, as well as autolytic studies, showed that enzymes acting on the protein portion of the cell wall (proteases) are more prominent than enzymes that act on the glucan portion (glucanases) of the cell wall. Comparative studies between the wild type and a spreading colonial mutant spco-1 showed that earlier and higher frequency of branching in spco-1 was correlated with a greater amount of these enzymes bound to the cell walls. It is concluded from these observations that autolytic enzymes acting on the protein and glucan portion of the cell walls occur as wall-bound and participate in the process of branching in Neurospora.

Carbon Isotopes↗

The RNA-binding protein HF-I plays a global regulatory role which is largely, but not exclusively, due to its role in expression of the sigmaS subunit of RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli.

The hfq-encoded RNA-binding protein HF-I has long been known as a host factor for phage Qbeta RNA replication and has recently been shown to be essential for translation of rpoS, which encodes the sigmaS subunit of RNA polymerase. Here we demonstrate that an hfq null mutant does not synthesize glycogen, is starvation and multiple stress sensitive, and exhibits strongly reduced expression of representative sigmaS-regulated genes. These phenotypes are consistent with strongly reduced sigmaS levels in the hfq mutant. However, the analysis of global protein synthesis patterns on two-dimensional O'Farrell gels indicates that approximately 40% of the more than 30 proteins whose syntheses are altered in the hfq null mutant are not affected by an rpoS mutation. We conclude that HF-I is a global regulator involved in the regulation of expression of sigmaS and sigmaS-independent genes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

YopD of Yersinia pestis plays a role in negative regulation of the low-calcium response in addition to its role in translocation of Yops.

Yersinia pestis produces a set of virulence proteins (Yops and LcrV) that are expressed at high levels and secreted by a type III secretion system (Ysc) upon bacterium-host cell contact, and four of the Yops are vectorially translocated into eukaryotic cells. YopD, YopB, and YopK are required for the translocation process. In vitro, induction and secretion occur at 37 degrees C in the absence of calcium. LcrH (also called SycD), a protein required for the stability and secretion of YopD, had initially been identified as a negative regulator of Yop expression. In this study, we constructed a yopD mutation in both wild-type and secretion-defective (ysc) Y. pestis to determine if the lcrH phenotype could be attributed to the decreased stability of YopD. These mutants were constitutively induced for expression of Yops and LcrV, despite the presence of the secreted negative regulator LcrQ, demonstrating that YopD is involved in negative regulation, regardless of a functioning Ysc system. Normally, secretion of Yops and LcrV is blocked in the presence of calcium. The single yopD mutant was not completely effective in blocking secretion: LcrV was secreted equally well in the presence and absence of calcium, while there was partial secretion of Yops in the presence of calcium. YopD is probably not rate limiting for negative regulation, as increasing levels of YopD did not result in decreased Yop expression. Overexpression of LcrQ in the yopD mutant had no significant effect on Yop expression, whereas increased levels of LcrQ in the parent resulted in decreased levels of Yops. These results indicate that LcrQ requires YopD to function as a negative regulator.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Osmotic swelling of vesicles: its role in the fusion of vesicles with planar phospholipid bilayer membranes and its possible role in exocytosis.

In order for either lipid bilayer membranes or biological membranes to undergo fusion, stresses must somehow be generated in the region of membrane contact. In the fusion of phospholipid vesicles with planar bilayer membranes, the stress can be produced by osmotic swelling of vesicles contacting the planar membrane. On the other hand, fully swollen vesicles may be sufficiently stretched that the additional stress experienced from their adhesion to the planar membrane may in itself suffice to produce fusion (see also Rand & Parsegian, this volume). There is considerable circumstantial evidence that osmotic swelling of vesicles may also be a driving force in exocytosis. This evidence centers both on experiments demonstrating inhibition of exocytosis when vesicles are in a hyperosmotic medium, and on observations of vesicle swelling during the secretory process. This article has not reviewed all of the examples in the literature supporting an osmotic mechanism for fusion, but has attempted to suggest the diversity of cell types from which the examples are drawn and to indicate that the evidence is not conclusive. The unambiguous establishment of vesicle swelling prior to fusion would go far in establishing an osmotic mechanism of exocytosis. We must also be prepared to find that osmotic swelling may not be the only biological mechanism of stressing vesicle membranes contacting plasma membranes. The viral membrane fusion proteins provide the precedent for agents that can apparently sufficiently perturb membranes to cause fusion without any additionally imposed stresses, and even direct membrane mechanical stretching may act biologically as a fusogenic stress.

Animals↗