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Microarray analysis of the Bacillus subtilis K-state: genome-wide expression changes dependent on ComK.

In Bacillus subtilis, the competence transcription factor ComK activates its own transcription as well as the transcription of genes that encode DNA transport proteins. ComK is expressed in about 10% of the cells in a culture grown to competence. Using DNA microarrays representing approximately 95% of the protein-coding open reading frames in B. subtilis, we compared the expression profiles of wild-type and comK strains, as well as of a mecA mutant (which produces active ComK in all the cells of the population) and a comK mecA double mutant. In these comparisons, we identified at least 165 genes that are upregulated by ComK and relatively few that are downregulated. The use of reporter fusions has confirmed these results for several genes. Many of the ComK-regulated genes are organized in clusters or operons, and 23 of these clusters are preceded by apparent ComK-box promoter motifs. In addition to those required for DNA uptake, other genes that are upregulated in the presence of ComK are probably involved in DNA repair and in the uptake and utilization of nutritional sources. From this and previous work, we conclude that the ComK regulon defines a growth-arrested state, distinct from sporulation, of which competence for genetic transformation is but one notable feature. We suggest that this is a unique adaptation to stress and that it be termed the 'K-state'.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Variable stability of a selectable provirus after retroviral vector gene transfer into human cells.

Human lymphoblasts deficient in the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) were infected with an amphotropic helper-free retroviral vector expressing human HPRT cDNA. The stability and expression of the HPRT provirus in five cell lines with different proviral integration sites were examined by determining HPRT mutation and reversion frequencies and by blot hybridization studies. Mutation to the HPRT-negative phenotype occurred at frequencies of approximately 4 X 10(-5) to 3 X 10(-6) per generation. Most mutations in each of the five cell lines were associated with partial or complete deletions or rearrangements of the provirus. Several mutants retained a grossly intact HPRT provirus, and in one such mutant HPRT shutdown resulted from a revertible epigenetic mechanism that was not associated with global changes in proviral methylation. Therefore, mutation and shutdown of the HPRT provirus in human lymphoblasts result from mechanisms similar to those reported for several other avian and mammalian replication-competent retroviruses.

Cell Line↗

Inhibition of E2 binding to Brd4 enhances viral genome loss and phenotypic reversion of bovine papillomavirus-transformed cells.

The bovine papillomavirus E2 protein tethers the viral genomes to mitotic chromosomes in dividing cells through binding to the C-terminal domain (CTD) of Brd4. Expression of the Brd4-CTD competes the binding of E2 to endogenous Brd4 in cells. Here we extend our previous study that identified Brd4 as the E2 mitotic chromosome receptor to show that Brd4-CTD expression released the viral DNA from mitotic chromosomes in BPV-1 transformed cells. Furthermore, stable expression of Brd4-CTD enhanced the frequency of morphological reversion of BPV-1 transformed C127 cells resulting in the complete elimination of the viral DNA in the resulting flat revertants.

Animals↗

Re-examination of transformation within different species of Rhizobium.

Investigations of the phenomenon of transformation in Rhizobium were carried out. Streptomycin resistance (str) was the genetic marker used in all experiments, with the exception of auxotrophic strains. Twenty-one experiments were performed on nine different Rhizobium strains. Some of these strains were previously reported to be transformed, while others had no prior history of transformation. Different conditions which are thought to affect the development of competence were used. In these experiments no positive results were obtained. The possibility that the experiments failed, due to inactivation of donor DNA during its preparation, was ruled out by comparison with results obtained with strains of Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Restriction enzymes do not play a significant role in Haemophilus homospecific or heterospecific transformation.

Competent Haemophilus influenzae Rd recipients, either as phage HP1 restricting (r+) or nonrestricting (r-) nonlysogens or defective lysogens, were exposed to deoxyribonucleic acids from various wild-type phage HP1 lysogenic H. influenzae serotype strains (non-encapsulated derivatives of serotypes a,b, c, d, and e), to DNA from lysogenic Haemophilus parahaemolyticus, and to DNA from modified and nonmodified phage HP1. Transformation of antibiotic resistance markers and of prophage markers in homospecific crosses was observed to be unaffected by the recipient restriction phenotype, whereas the transfection response was much reduced in r+ recipients. Heterospecific transformation of prophage markers was reduced by only 80 to 90%, whereas antibiotic resistance marker transformation was 1,000 to 10,000 times lower. Heterspecific transfection was at least 100 times lower than homospecific transfection in both r+ and r- recipients. The general conclusion is that neither class I nor class II restriction enzymes affect significantly the transformation efficiency in homospecific and heterospecific crosses. The efficiency of heterospecific transformation may depend mainly on the deoxyribonucleic acid homology in the genetic marker region.

Bacteriophages↗

Mechanism of additive genetic transformation in Haemophilus influenzae.

Transforming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) preparations from Haemophilus influenzae Rd strains carrying a chromosomally integrated, conjugative, antibiotic resistance transfer (R) plasmid were exposed to ultraviolet radiation and then assayed for antibiotic resistance transfer on sensitive wild-type Rd competent suspensions and on similar suspensions of a uvr-1 mutant unable to excise pyrimidine dimers. No host cell reactivation of resistance transfer (DNA repair) was observed. Parallel experiments with ethanol-precipitated, heated, free R plasmid DNA preparations gave much higher survival when assayed on the wild-type strain compared to the survival on the uvr-1 strain. These observations indicate that additive genetic transformation (in this case, the addition of the integrated R plasmid to the recipient genome) involves single-strand insertion.

Genetic Markers↗

Effects of transforming growth factor-beta, transforming growth factor-alpha, and other growth factors on renal proximal tubule cells.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) addition to quiescent, confluent monolayers of rabbit renal proximal tubule cells in primary culture stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation. TGF-alpha and EGF promoted a 14-fold rise in thymidine incorporation over control levels with half-maximal responses at 2 x 10(-9) M. IGF-1 only promoted a 4-fold rise in thymidine incorporation compared with control values with a half-maximal response of 10(-8) M. Platelet-derived growth factor alone did not stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation and did not potentiate the effects of EGF or IGF-1 on DNA synthesis, suggesting that platelet-derived growth factor is neither a competence nor a progression growth factor for renal proximal tubule cells. TGF-beta inhibited both baseline and EGF-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation after 48 hours of exposure but enhanced EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis at 24 hours. Morphologic evaluation with phase contrast microscopy, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that TGF-beta promoted a dramatic phenotypic transformation of the epithelial monolayer with migration and adhesion of the cells to form solid clusters of adherent cells. Quantitative morphometry demonstrated that this transformation developed 24 hours after TGF-beta exposure, was nearing completion after 48 hours of TGF-beta treatment, and correlated to TGF-beta related inhibition of EGF-induced DNA synthesis (r = -0.82, p less than 0.01). These results demonstrate that EGF and TGF-alpha are the most potent growth promoters for renal proximal tubule cells. IGF-1 is only a modest growth promoter, whereas platelet-derived growth factor has no effect either as a competence or progressive growth factor. TGF-beta inhibited EGF-induced DNA synthesis but only after observable phenotypic transformation of the cells. The degree of TGF-beta promoted transformation on renal tubule cells was highly correlative to th e antiproliferative effect of TGF-beta, suggesting that similar molecular components which promote this phenotypic transformation may also be critical in the antiproliferative effect of TGF-beta.

Animals↗

Construction and characterization of a plant transformation-competent BIBAC library of the black Sigatoka-resistant banana Musa acuminata cv. Tuu Gia (AA).

A plant transformation-competent binary bacterial artificial chromosome (BIBAC) library was constructed from Musa acuminata cv. Tuu Gia (AA), a black Sigatoka-resistant diploid banana. After digestion of high-molecular-weight banana DNA by HindIII, several methods of DNA size selection were tested, followed by ligation, using a vector/insert molar ratio of 4:1. The library consists of 30,700 clones stored in 80 384-well microtiter plates. The mean insert size was estimated to be 100 kb, and the frequency of inserts with internal NotI sites was 61%. The majority of insert sizes fell into the range of 100+/-20 kb, making them suitable for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Only 1% and 0.9% of the clones contain chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA, respectively. This is the first BIBAC library for banana, estimated to represent five times its haploid genome (600 Mbp). It was demonstrated by hybridization that the library contains typical members of resistance gene and defense gene families that can be used for transformation of disease susceptible banana cultivars for banana genetic improvement.

Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial↗

DNA-binding activities in Streptococcus gordonii: identification of a receptor-nickase and a histonelike protein.

Extraction of Streptococcus gordonii cells with the mild chaotropic agent, LiCl, drastically decreased DNA transforming ability, had little effect on viability, and released both DNA nicking and binding activities. Both activities were Mg2+ and Ca2+ independent and were not competence specific. Southwestern blot analysis of the extract identified putative surface proteins of 56 kDa and 68 kDa in strain Challis and Wicky, respectively. Extracts also contained a 10-kDa DNA-binding protein, designated HSgo, that belongs to the eubacterial histonelike class of proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A rapid and versatile site-directed method of mutagenesis for double-stranded plasmid DNA.

This paper describes a new method for site-directed mutagenesis which allows mutations by deletion, insertion or substitution of large fragments of DNA with more than 50% efficiency and does not require subcloning in a single-stranded (ss) DNA vehicle. The site of mutagenesis is removed from a linearized plasmid DNA by BAL 31 digestion, ss DNA regions are generated by limited exonuclease treatment and the mutated target site is reconstituted by annealing of the plasmid DNA to a 35-70 nucleotide long mutated ss oligodeoxynucleotide containing the desired mutation. The circularized plasmid is finally used to transform directly Escherichia coli competent cells.

Base Sequence↗

Methods and reagents. Better competent cells and DNA polymerase contaminants.

Methods and reagents is a unique monthly column that highlights current discussions in the newsgroup bionet.molbio.methods-reagents, available on the Internet. This month's column discusses a new method for harvesting Escherichia coli cells for transformation, and contaminants found in DNA polymerase stocks used for the polymerase chain reaction. For details on how to partake in the newsgroup, see the accompanying box.

DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase↗

Autolytic activity and its association with the development of competence in group H streptococci.

Seventeen strains of group H streptococci were tested for their ability to develop competence for genetic transformation, either spontaneously or with the addition of competence factor derived from strain Challis supernatant fluids, and for their ability to autolyze. Autolysis was measured as a decline in optical density after washed cells were placed in a buffer at pH 9. Kinetic experiments showed that, in strains Challis, SBE I/II, WE4, SR 30, and a strain (FW 227) cured of its bacteriophage, competence and the ability to autolyze occurred simultaneously. Since autolysis was observed only in (i) competent cells, (ii) cells that passed their peak of competence, and (iii) those cells that exhibit a potential for developing competence but never go on to transform (i.e., lysogenized Challis cells), it is concluded that, in the group H streptococci, autolytic events are associated with the competent state. Strains that transformed but did not autolyze were not found.

Autolysis↗

Mutations in prophage phi11 that impair the transducibility of their Staphylococcus aureus lysogens for methicillin resistance.

Methicillin resistance (mec) is not transduced into Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4, but is transduced into this host after it has been lysogenized with phage phi11 and has acquired the penicillinase plasmid pI524 by a separate transduction (Cohen and Sweeney, 1970, 1973). Strain 8325-4 is competent for transformation of typical plasmid or chromosomal markers and for mec only if it is lysogenic for phi11 or a related prophage (Sjöström et al., 1974, 1975). A mutant strain of phi11 that was temperature sensitive (Ts) for vegetative multiplication did not mediate competence for transformation of its 8325-4 lysogen if the lysogen had been grown at a nonpermissive temperature (Sjöström and Philipson, 1974). We isolated four Ts mutants of phi11 that did not mediate transducibility of their 8325-4(pI524) lysogens for mec after growth at nonpermissive temperatures (40 to 42 degrees C). Transduction of typical plasmid or chromosomal markers was not affected. These phi11-Ts mutants mediated normal competence of their lysogens for transformation of a tetracycline resistance plasmid. Similarly, phi11-Ts mutants that rendered their lysogens temperature sensitive for transformation did not depress the frequency of transduction of mec. These two types of phi11-Ts mutants fell into two different genetic complementation groups that differed in the physiology of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and in the time of expression of the mutations during a single-burst growth cycle at a nonpermissive temperature. A virulent mutant of phi11, which plaqued with 100% efficiency on 8325(phi11), also failed to condition strain 8325-4 for transducibility of mec but retained the ability to confer competence for transformation of a tetracycline resistance plasmid. Different genetic loci and physiological functions are involved in phi11 mutations that affect transducibility of mec and those that affect competence for transformation of markers generally in S. aureus 8325-4.

DNA, Viral↗

Uptake of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid by Haemophilus.

The uptake of circular and linear plasmid RSF0885 deoxyribonucleic acids, (DNAs) obtained from Haemophilus parainfluenzae 14, in both homologous and heterologous recipients was studied and compared with that of chromosomal DNA. High concentrations of divalent cations stimulated the uptake of either circular or linear plasmid DNA in H. parainfluenzae 14 competent cells but did not affect the uptake of chromosomal DNA. The biological activity of linear plasmid DNA was similar to that of circular DNA, and the transforming efficiencies for ampicillin resistance of both molecular forms were stimulated by divalent ions. Plasmid DNA was taken up efficiently either with or without the addition of divalent ions but was not biologically active in the heterologous Haemophilus influenzae Rd recipient. Our results suggest that in H. parainfluenzae 14 some of the steps for chromosomal and plasmid DNA uptake are different.

Calcium Chloride↗