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Rapid identification of 11 human intestinal Lactobacillus species by multiplex PCR assays using group- and species-specific primers derived from the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and its flanking 23S rRNA.

Rapid and reliable two-step multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were established to identify human intestinal lactobacilli; a multiplex PCR was used for grouping of lactobacilli with a mixture of group-specific primers followed by four multiplex PCR assays with four sorts of species-specific primer mixtures for identification at the species level. Primers used were designed from nucleotide sequences of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and its flanking 23S rRNA gene of members of the genus Lactobacillus which are commonly isolated from human stool specimens: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii (ssp. bulgaricus and ssp. lactis), Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus paracasei (ssp. paracasei and ssp. tolerans), Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus salivarius (ssp. salicinius and ssp. salivarius). The established two-step multiplex PCR assays were applied to the identification of 84 Lactobacillus strains isolated from human stool specimens and the PCR results were consistent with the results from the DNA-DNA hybridization assay. These results suggest that the multiplex PCR system established in this study is a simple, rapid and reliable method for the identification of common Lactobacillus isolates from human stool samples.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Specialized ribosomes allow for the study of mutations in functionally important regions in 16 S rRNA, without affecting cell growth. The identification of functional regions in the central domain of 16S rRNA.

In order to identify the sequences in the central domain of 16 S rRNA of Escherichia coli that are important for ribosome function, we have generated random mutations using a PCR-based mutagenesis technique. We show that the effects of such mutations on ribosomal activity can be analyzed in vivo utilizing the specialized ribosome system. With this system the effect of rRNA mutations on ribosomal activity can be studied by measuring the translation of a modified CAT-mRNA by specialized ribosomes. Specialized ribosomes do not translate the endogenous mRNAs and, therefore, are expected to constitute a non-essential pool of ribosomes within the cell. In total, we have isolated 28 different clones harboring specialized ribosomes with single or multiple point mutations. We demonstrate that for none of these clones was cell growth retarded, even though some of the mutations severely impaired the activity of the specialized ribosomes, to as low as 3% of the wild-type level. For all mutants, their individual activities ranged between 3% and 100% of that of the wild-type activity. Comparison of several mutants indicates that mutations within the hairpin loops 787-795 and 898-901 strongly reduce the ribosomal activity. We also present evidence that the single-stranded region centered around residue A815 may be involved in maintaining translational accuracy.

Base Sequence↗

Assembly of proteins and 5 S rRNA to transcripts of the major structural domains of 23 S rRNA.

The six major structural domains of 23 S rRNA from Escherichia coli, and all combinations thereof, were synthesized as separate T7 transcripts and reconstituted with total 50 S subunit proteins. Analysis by one and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis demonstrated the presence of at least one primary binding protein associated with each RNA domain and additional proteins assembled to domains I, II, V and VI. For all the combinations of two to five domains, enhanced assembly yields and/or new proteins were observed primarily to those transcripts containing either domains I+II or domains V+VI. This indicates that there are two major protein assembly centres located at the ends of the 23 S rRNA, which is consistent with an earlier view that in vitro protein assembly nucleates around proteins L24 and L3. Although similar protein assembly patterns were observed over a range of temperature and magnesium concentrations, protein L2 assembled strongly with domains II and IV at 4-8 mM Mg2+ (the first step of the two-step reconstitution procedure) and with domain IV alone at higher Mg2+ concentrations (the second step). It is proposed that this change in protein-RNA binding provides a basis for the two-step reconstitution in vitro. A chemical footprinting approach was employed on the reconstituted protein-domain complexes to localize a putative L4 binding region within domain I to a region that is partially co-structural with the site on the L4-mRNA where L4 binds and inhibits its own translation. A similar approach was used to map the putative binding regions on domain V of protein L9 and the 5 S RNA-L5-L18 complex.

Base Sequence↗

Sequence and secondary structure of the central domain of Drosophila 26S rRNA: a universal model for the central domain of the large rRNA containing the region in which the central break may happen.

An 890-bp sequence from the central region of Drosophila melanogaster 26S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) has been determined and used in an extensive comparative analysis of the central domain of the large subunit ribosomal RNA (lrRNA) from prokaryotes, organelles, and eukaryotes. An alignment of these different sequences has allowed us to precisely map the regions of the central domain that have highly diverged during evolution. Using this sequence comparison, we have derived a secondary structure model of the central domain of Drosophila 26S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). We show that a large part of this model can be applied to the central domain of lrRNA from prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and organelles, therefore defining a universal common structural core. Likewise, a comparative study of the secondary structure of the divergent regions has been performed in several organisms. The results show that, despite a nearly complete divergence in their length and sequence, a common structural core is also present in divergent regions. In some organisms, one or two of the divergent regions of the central domain are removed by processing events. The sequence and structure of these regions (fragmentation spacers) have been compared to those of the corresponding divergent regions that remain part of the mature rRNA in other species.

Animals↗

Rapid identification of Lactobacillus acidophilus by restriction analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and flanking 23S rRNA gene.

A rapid molecular approach was developed for the initial identification of Lactobacillus acidophilus strains which are difficult to identify using a single biochemical test. The 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions and flanking 23S rRNA genes of 19 strains of lactobacilli were amplified and the nucleotide sequences and restriction site polymorphisms were analyzed. AluI was the most useful of the restriction enzymes analyzed and produced reproducible digestion profiles in the L. helveticus, L. plantarum, and L. casei groups, as well as in L. acidophilus. This restriction fragment length polymorphism method may be useful for the identification of L. acidophilus strains in dairy products.

3' Flanking Region↗

Cloning of the promoters of an Escherichia coli rRNA gene. New experimental system to study the regulation of rRNA transcription.

The promoters of the rrnB gene of Escherichia coli have been cloned on a multicopy, pBR322-derived plasmid by deleting most of the structural part of rrnB and fusing the terminators of the gene immediately to the promoters. Several further deletions were constructed to vary the promoter-terminator distance, destroy or damage selectively any of the promoters or terminators, and vary the distance between the two pairs of P1 P2 and P3 P4 promoters. All these transcription signals were shown to function on the plasmids in vitro and in vivo. The truncated in vivo transcription products initiated at the P1 and P2 promoters of the recombinant plasmids were found to be stable, and the accumulated transcripts could be easily distinguished from the chromosome-coded rRNA. This provides a convenient experimental system to study the regulation of rRNA biosynthesis.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Buchnera aphidicola (a prokaryotic endosymbiont of aphids) contains a putative 16S rRNA operon unlinked to the 23S rRNA-encoding gene: sequence determination, and promoter and terminator analysis.

The aphid Schizaphis graminum is dependent on an association with Buchnera aphidicola, an eubacterial endosymbiont located in specialized host cells. Past studies have indicated that Escherichia coli is the closest known relative of the endosymbiont which has many genetic attributes of free-living bacteria. In order to obtain information on the properties of highly expressed genes, we have chosen for study the single-copy rrs (gene encoding 16S rRNA) of B. aphidicola. A 4.4-kb DNA fragment was cloned into E. coli and the nucleotide (nt) sequence determined. Several ORFs were identified; the order of genes was argS-rrs-ORF1-rnh-dnaQ. ArgS, RNase H and DnaQ had 36-57% amino acid (aa) identity to the homologous proteins of E. coli. B. aphidicola rrs appears to be part of an operon consisting of a putative promoter, rrs and two inverted repeats resembling Rho-independent terminators. Comparisons of the sequences of argS-rrn DNA fragments from endosymbionts of six additional aphid species indicated conservation of sequences corresponding to a single -35 (TTGACA) and -10 (TGTAAT) promoter region, as well as boxA (sequence involved in antitermination) and boxC. The B. aphidicola argS-rrn DNA fragments from endosymbionts from seven species of aphids had promoter activities in E. coli which ranged from 6 to 135% of that observed with a comparable DNA fragment of E. coli rrnB. Similarly, the putative B. aphidicola terminator was functional in E. coli. In most eubacteria, the rRNA-encoding genes are arranged in the order, 16S, 23S, 5S, and are part of a single operon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rapid identification of probiotic Lactobacillus species by multiplex PCR using species-specific primers based on the region extending from 16S rRNA through 23S rRNA.

This study aimed to develop a novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer set for the identification of seven probiotic Lactobacillus species such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The primer set, comprising of seven specific and two conserved primers, was derived from the integrated sequences of 16S and 23S rRNA genes and their rRNA intergenic spacer region of each species. It was able to identify the seven target species with 93.6% accuracy, which exceeds that of the general biochemical methods. The phylogenetic analyses, using 16S rDNA sequences of the probiotic isolates, also provided further support that the results from the multiplex PCR assay were trustworthy. Taken together, we suggest that the multiplex primer set is an efficient tool for simple, rapid and reliable identification of seven Lactobacillus species.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Rapid identification of potentially probiotic Bifidobacterium species by multiplex PCR using species-specific primers based on the region extending from 16S rRNA through 23S rRNA.

This study aimed at developing a novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer set for identification of the potentially probiotic Bifidobacterium species B. adolescentis, B. animalis subsp. animalis (B. animalis), B. bifidum, B. breve, B. longum biovar infantis (B. infantis), B. animalis subsp. lactis B. lactis, B. longum biovar longum (B. longum) and B. pseudolongum. The primer set comprised specific and conserved primers and was derived from the integrated sequences of 16S and 23S rRNA genes and the rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) of each species. It could detect and identify type strains and isolates from pharmaceuticals or dairy products corresponding to the eight Bifidobacterium species with high specificity. It was also useful for screening of the related strains from natural sources such as the gastro-intestinal tract and feces. We suggest that the assay system from this study is an efficient tool for simple, rapid and reliable identification of Bifidobacterium species for which probiotic strains are known.

Base Sequence↗

Influence of phylogeny on posttranscriptional modification of rRNA in thermophilic prokaryotes: the complete modification map of 16S rRNA of Thermus thermophilus.

Posttranscriptional modification in RNA generally serves to fine-tune and regulate RNA structure and, in many cases, is relatively conserved and phylogenetically distinct. We report the complete modification map for SSU rRNA from Thermus thermophilus, determined primarily by HPLC/electrospray ionization MS-based methods. Thermus modification levels are significantly lower, and structures at the nucleoside level are very different from those of the archaeal thermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus growing in the same temperature range [Noon, K. R., et al. (1998) J. Bacteriol. 180, 2883-2888]. The Thermus modification map is unexpectedly similar to that of Escherichia coli (11 modified sites), with which it shares identity in 8 of the 14 modifications. Unlike the heavily methylated Sulfolobus SSU RNA, Thermus contains a single ribose-methylated residue, N(4),2'-O-dimethylcytidine-1402, suggesting that O-2'-ribose methylation in this bacterial thermophile plays a reduced role in thermostabilization compared with the thermophilic archaea. Adjacent pseudouridine residues were found in the single-stranded 3' tail of Thermus 16S rRNA at residues 1540 and 1541 (E. coli numbering) in the anti-Shine-Dalgarno mRNA binding sequence. The present results provide an example of the potential of LC/MS for extensive modification mapping in large RNAs.

Base Sequence↗

Compilation of 5S rRNA and 5S rRNA gene sequences.

The compilation of 5S rRNA and 5S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences as of 30 September 1996, contains a total of 1661 primary structures of 5S rRNAs or their genes, which is an increase of 928 new sequence entries over the last compilation. It covers sequences from 54 archaea, 449 eubacteria, 34 plastids, nine mitochondria and 430 eukaryotes. The databank uses the format of the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Data Library complemented by a Sequence Alignment (SA) field including secondary structure information. The taxonomic classification of organisms was totally updated. Now the database is also available via anonymous FTP or WWW.

Base Sequence↗

Homology of the 3' terminal sequences of the 18S rRNA of Bombyx mori and the 16S rRNA of Escherchia coli.

The terminal 220 base pairs (bp) of the gene for 18S rRNA and 18 bp of the adjoining spacer rDNA of the silkworm Bombyx mori have been sequenced. Comparison with the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of Escherichia coli has shown that a region including 45 bp of the B. mori sequence at the 3' end is remarkably homologous with the 3' terminal E. coli sequence. Other homologies occur in the terminal regions of the 18S and 16S rRNAs, including a perfectly conserved stretch of 13 bp within a longer homology located 150--200 bp from the 3' termini. These homologies are the most extensive so far reported between prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomic DNA.

Animals↗

Structural analysis of 5S rRNA, 5S rRNA-protein complexes and ribosomes employing RNase H and d(GTTCGG).

The hybridization of d(GTTCGG) to eubacterial 5S rRNAs, 5S rRNA-protein complexes, 70S ribosomes and 50S and 30S ribosomal subunits was investigated. This oligonucleotide, which may be considered to be an analogue of the T psi CG loop of tRNAs, was chosen in order to investigate a possible interaction between tRNAs with ribosomal components during protein synthesis. The hybridization was analysed by RNase H hydrolysis studies and, in the case of the ribosomes and ribosomal subunits, in addition with the radioactively labelled oligodeoxyribonucleotide in binding studies. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that nucleotides in loop c, i.e. positions 42-47, are available for oligonucleotide interaction in free Escherichia coli and Bacillus stearothermophilus 5S rRNAs and not available in the corresponding 5S rRNA-protein complexes. The 70S ribosomes and ribosomal subunits did not interact with the oligonucleotide. Under the assumption that d(GTTCGG) is an analogue of the T psi CG loop of tRNAs and in view of the results obtained, we conclude that in the unprogrammed ribosomes the T psi CG loop of tRNAs does not interact via standard Watson-Crick base pairs with the ribosomal 5S, 16S or 23S RNAs.

Bacillus↗

Analysis of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of chrysanthemum via denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA as well as DNA fragments coding for 16S rRNA.

The effect of developing chrysanthemum roots on the presence and activity of bacterial populations in the rhizosphere was examined by using culture-independent methods. Nucleic acids were extracted from rhizosphere soil samples associated with the bases of roots or root tips of plants harvested at different stages of development. PCR and reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR were used to amplify 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and 16S rRNA, respectively, and the products were subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Prominent DGGE bands were excised and sequenced to gain insight into the identities of predominantly present (PCR) and predominantly active (RT-PCR) bacterial populations. The majority of DGGE band sequences were related to bacterial genera previously associated with the rhizosphere, such as Pseudomonas, Comamonas, Variovorax, and Acetobacter, or typical of root-free soil environments, such as Bacillus and Arthrobacter. The PCR-DGGE patterns observed for bulk soil were somewhat more complex than those obtained from rhizosphere samples, and the latter contained a subset of the bands present in bulk soil. DGGE analysis of RT-PCR products detected a subset of bands visible in the rDNA-based analysis, indicating that some dominantly detected bacterial populations did not have high levels of metabolic activity. The sequences detected by the RT-PCR approach were, however, derived from a wide taxonomic range, suggesting that activity in the rhizosphere was not determined at broad taxonomic levels but rather was a strain- or species-specific phenomenon. Comparative analysis of DGGE profiles grouped all DNA-derived root tip samples together in a cluster, and within this cluster the root tip samples from young plants formed a separate subcluster. Comparison of rRNA-derived bacterial profiles showed no grouping of root tip samples versus root base samples. Rather, all profiles derived from 2-week-old plant rhizosphere soils grouped together regardless of location along the root.

Bacteria↗

Localization of the 18S, 5.8S and 28S rRNA genes and the 5S rRNA genes in the babirusa and the white-lipped peccary.

The locations of the genes encoding 18S, 5.8S and 28S rRNA and 5S rRNA were studied in two relatives of the domestic pig, the babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) and the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari). In the babirusa, the 18S, 5.8S and 28S rDNA is located on chromosomes 6, 8 and 10. The genes on chromosomes 8 and 10 are actively transcribed, in contrast to those on chromosomes 6. In the white-lipped peccary, this rDNA was found to be located on chromosomes 4 and 8. The genes on both of these pairs of chromosomes are actively transcribed. The 5S rDNA was physically mapped to chromosome 16 in the babirusa, and to chromosome 11 in the white-lipped peccary. These data are compared to similar data obtained for the domestic pig, and confirm previously recognized chromosome homologies.

Animals↗

[Complementary addressed alkylation of 16s rRNA from Escherichia coli by 2',3'-0-[4-N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-methylamino]benzylidene derivatives of oligodeoxyribonucleotides. III. Segments of 16s rRNA interacting with the benzylidene derivative of d(pACCTTGTT)rA].

16S rRNA chain was cleaved by RNase H within covalent adduct with a 2',3'-0-[4-N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-methylamino]benzylidene derivative of d(pACCTTGTT)rA. It was shown that no less than 50% of cleavage occurs at the 1498-1506 site. The selectivity of alkylation and correspondingly the cleavage by RNase H, at this site practically does not increase when RNA was alkylated to a low extent, and also when a small excess of the reagent in respect to rRNA was used.

Alkylation↗

Diverged 5s rRNA sequences adjacent to 5s rRNA genes in the rDNA of Pythium pachycaule.

The non-transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA repeat of Pythium pachycaule was found to exist in two versions, one about 200 bp longer than the other. Both versions contained a conserved 5s rRNA gene in inverted orientation and a diverged copy of the 5s sequence as a tandem repeat, with a spacer of about 180 bp between them. This is the first report of multiple 5s-like sequences in the non-transcribed spacer of the rDNA of any organism. The two diverged 5s sequences differ from each other at nine positions in the 5' half of the sequence, but they have the same central 10-bp deletion and their 3' halves are identical. The diverged sequences, 5s' and 5s'', when aligned with the 5s sequence, have the same base at 63.9 and 58.8% of the positions respectively. The spacers between 5s sequences in both versions were highly conserved. The secondary structures of potential rRNA products of the diverged 5s sequences indicate that they may be pseudogenes. The relationships between the functional 5s gene and the diverged gene copies suggest that the 5s sequence family of P. pachycaule originated by duplication of an ancestral gene, followed by divergence and the introduction of heterogeneity. This work shows the potential for tandemization of 5s genes in the NTS, and may shed light on the evolutionary events that led to the transition from the rDNA-linked 5s genes found in Pythium species with filamentous zoosporangia to the unlinked tandem arrays found in Pythium species with globose zoosporangia.

Base Sequence↗

Structural features of the large subunit rRNA expressed in Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites that distinguish it from the asexually expressed subunit rRNA.

The developmentally regulated transcription of at least two distinct sets of nuclear-encoded ribosomal RNAs is detected in Plasmodium species. The identification of functional differences between the two sets of rRNAs is of interest. To facilitate the search for such differences, we have identified the 5.8S and 28S rRNAs from Plasmodium falciparum that are expressed in the sporozoite stage (S gene) of the parasites' life cycle in the mosquito host and compare them to transcripts expressed in the red blood cells (A gene) of the vertebrate host. This completes the first set of A- and S-type nuclear-encoded rRNA genes for a Plasmodium species. Analysis of the predicted secondary structures of the two units reveals the majority of differences between the A- and S-type genes occur in regions previously known to be variable. However, the predicted secondary structure of both 28S rRNAs indicates 11 positions within conserved areas that are not typical of eucaryotic rRNAs. Although the A-type gene resembles almost all eucaryotes, being atypical in only 4 of the 11 positions, the S gene is variant in 8 of the 11 positions. In three of these positions, the S-type gene resembles the consensus nucleotides for the 23S rRNA from Eubacteria and/or Archaea. A few differences occur in regions associated with ribosome function, in particular the GTPase site where the S-type differs in a base pair and loop from all known sequences. Further, the identification of compensatory changes at conserved points of interactions between the 5.8S-28S rRNAs indicates that transcripts from A- and S-units should not be interchangeable.

Animals↗