Identification of genes for elongation factor Ts and ribosomal protein S2 in E. coli

The structural gene for elongation factor EF-TS (tsf) and that for ribosomal protein S2 (rpsB) have been identified in E. coli. Both genes are carried by lambda transducing phages that have been isolated as dapD+polC+ transducing phages. Synthesis of both S2 and EF-Ts was demonstrated in ultraviolet light-irradiated E. coli cells infected with these phages. Experiments were also done using other transducing phages that carry dapD+ but not polC+. The data indicate that both the tsf and rpsB genes map near dapD at about 4 min on the E. coli genetic map. This location is different from the two chromosomal locations, the str-spc region and the rif region, where many ribosomal protein genes, the genes for RNA polymerase components, as well as other elongation factor genes (fus, tufA, and tufB) are located.

Synthesis of ribosomal RNA in E. coli: analysis using deletion mutants of a lambda transducing phage carrying ribosomal RNA genes

Transducing phage lambdarifd18 carries on rRNA transcription unit containing genes for 5S, 16S, and 23S rNAs and also tRNAGlu/2. Mutants were isolated from this phage that carry deletions removing various amounts of the distal end of this transcription unit. These deletions were physically mapped on the lambdarifd18 phage genome. Synthesis of rRNAs and of tRNAGlu/2 was examined in ultraviolet-irradiated E. coli cells infected with lambdarifd18 or with various deletion mutants. It was observed that mutant phages in which the distal end (the 5S rRNA gene and a part of the 23S rRNA gene) of the rRNA transcription unit is deleted can still synthesize both 16S rRNA (or its precursor) and tRNAGlu/2. Apparently, the post-transcriptional cleavage that produces these RNA molecules does not require the presence of the entire transcription unit, that is, it can take place without the complete structure of the transcript ("30S pre-ribosomal RNA"). In addition, the experimental results support the gene order, 16S rRNAGlu/2, 23S rRNA, and 5S rRNA genes, in the rRNA transcription unit carried by lambdarifd18.

Transfer RNA genes between 16S and 23S rRNA genes in rRNA transcription units of E. coli

We have identified genes for tRNAGLU/2 on the transducing phages o80d3ilvsu7+ (see Ohtsubo et al., 1974) and lambdarifd18 (Kirschbaum and Konrad, 1973), and a gene for tRNAlle/1 on the transducing phage o80rifr (Konrad, Kirschbaum, and Austin, 1973). All these phages have previously been shown to carry genes for rRNA (Ohtsubo et al., 1974; Lindahl et al., 1975; Jaskunas et al., 1975a). We have analyzed the position of these tRNA genes by hybridizing purified RNAs to restriction fragments of the phage DNA. The tRNA genes are located inside the rRNA transcription unit in the spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes.

Reconstitution of Bacillus stearothermophilus 50 S ribosomal subunits from purified molecular components

Bacillus stearothermophilus 50 S ribosomal subunits have been reconstituted from a mixture of purified RNA and protein components. The protein fraction of 50 S subunits was separated into 27 components by a combination of various methods including ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The individual proteins showed single bands in a variety of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis systems, and nearly all showed single spots on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. The molecular weights of the proteins were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An equimolar mixture of the purified proteins was combined with 23 S RNA and 5 S RNA to reconstitute active 50 S subunits by the procedure of Nomura and Erdmann (Nomura, M., and Erdmann, V. A. (1970) Nature 226, 1214-1218). Reconstituted 52 S subunits containing purified proteins were slightly more active than subunits reconstituted with an unfractionated total protein extract in poly(U)-dependent polyphenylalanine synthesis and showed comparable activity in various assays for ribosomal function. The reconstitution proceeded more rapidly with the mixture of purified proteins than with the total protein extract. Reconstituted 50 S subunits containing purified proteins co-sedimented with native 50 S subunits on sucrose gradients and had a similar protein compsoition. Initial experiments on the roles of the individual proteins in ribosomal structure and function were performed. B. stearothermophilus protein 13 was extracted from 50 S subunits under the same conditions as escherichia coli L7/L12, and the extraction had a similar effect on ribosomal function. When single proteins were omitted from reconstitution mixtures, in most cases the reconstituted 50 S subunits showed decreased activity in polypheylalanine synthesis.

Identification of a gene for the alpha-subunit of RNA polymerase at the str-spc region of the Escherichia coli chromosome

A structural gene for the alpha-subunit of RNA polymerase (nucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase; EC 2.7.7.6) has been identified and mapped between spcA and trkA, near 64 min on the E. coli chromosome. It appears to be coordinately expressed and possibly cotranscribed with the genes for ribosomal proteins S11, S4, and L17.

IS1 and IS2 mutations in the ribosomal protein genes of E. coli K-12

The insertion mutations I15 and I16 in the ribosomal protein gene cluster at 64 min in Escherichia coli are identified as IS1 and IS2 using electron microscope heteroduplex analysis.

Identification of two copies of the gene for the elongation factor EF-Tu in E. coli

Two copies of the structural gene for the elongation factor EF-Tu have been identified in Escherichia coli: one near rif and the other near str. The latter seems to belong to a single transcriptional unit together with the genes for ribosomal protein S7, S12 (str) and the elongation factor EF-G (fus).

Cluster of genes in Escherichia coli for ribosomal proteins, ribosomal RNA, and RNA polymerase subunits

The transducing phage lambdarifd18 isolated by Kirschbaum and Konrad [(1973 J. Bacteriol. 116, 517-526] was found to carry structural genes for several 50S ribosomal proteins and 16S and 23S rRNA. It has previously been demonstrated [Kirschbaum & Scaife (1974) Mol. Gen. Genet. 132, 193-201] that this phage carries genes for the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (nucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase; EC 2.7.7.6) subunits beta and beta'. Thus, the region of the E. coli chromosome carried by lambdarifd18 contains a cluster of genes essential for transcription and translation.

Escherichia coli 30 S ribosomal proteins uniquely required for assembly

Two 30 S ribosomal proteins from Escherichia coli have been found to be uniquely required for assembly of 30 S ribosomal subunits. 30 S ribosomes were reconstituted in vitro from 16 S RNA and a mixture of purified 30 S ribosomal proteins (sigma Si). In the absence of S16, sigmaSi-S16 particles were slowly assembled wich had physical and functional properties similar to complete particles (sigmaSi). The results indicate that S16 affects the rate of 30 S ribosome assembly, but does not appear to be directly involved in any known ribosomal function. Particles assembled in the absence of S18 (sigmaSi-S18) had high activity in poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis but lost considerable activity upon isolation or purification. The loss of activity could be attributed primarily to the loss of proteins S11 and S21. S18 appears to have a major role in the stabilization of ribosome structure, especially the binding of proteins S11 and S21, and does not appear to be directly required for activity in poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis. However, it is possible that S18 has some functional role which is not required for polyphenylalanine synthesis.

Specialized transducing phages for ribosomal protein genes of Escherichia coli

Specialized lambda transducing phages have been isolated carrying approximately half the ribosomal protein genes of E. coli. These phages carry regions of the bacterial chromosome between aroE and fus. The ribosomal protein genes on these phages have been identified by the stimulation of ribosomal protein synthesis in ultraviolet-irradiated bacteria following infection by the transducing phage, and by the in vitro synthesis of ribosomal proteins in a DNA-dependent protein synthesizing system. The results indicate lambdadspcl probably carries at least 22 ribosomal protein genes and lambdadspc2 at least 26 genes. All these genes are clustered between trkA and strA. At least 13 of them have not been previously mapped.

Localization of Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins S4 and S14 by electron microscopy of antibody-labeled subunits

Binding sites for antibodies specific for proteins S4 and S14 of the small subunit of E. coli ribosomes have been mapped on the surface of the subunit by electron microscopy. Antibody binding to reconstituted subunits was shown to depend specifically on the presence of E. coli S4 and S14. Anti-S14 IgG was found to bind to a limited region of the ribosome surface. In contrast anti-S4 IgG was found to bind to three separated regions of the ribosome surface, suggesting S4 has an elongated conformation in situ.