Attenuation in the control of expression of bacterial operons

Nucleotide sequence and functional map of pE194, a plasmid that specifies inducible resistance to macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin type B antibodies

pE194 is a small plasmid (isolated originally in Staphylococcus aureus) which confers erythromycin-inducible resistance to macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin type B (MLS) antibiotics. The nucleotide sequence of pE194 contains 3,728 base pairs (bp), corresponding to a molecular mass of 2.4 million daltons. By means of site-specific cleavage with restriction endonucleases and cloning resultant fragments, determinants of the two major biological functions of p E194, i.e., inducible MLS resistance and replication, could be localized and assigned to specific sequences in the plasmid. Restriction endonuclease TaqI cut pE194 at three sites. TaqI fragment A (1,443 bp) contained the determinant for inducible MLS resistance, whereas TaqI fragment B (1,354 bp) contained a determinant necessary for plasmid replication. Regulatory mutations resulting in constitutive expression of MLS resistance mapped in TaqI fragment A, whereas a mutation associated with elevated plasmid copy number was mapped in TaqI fragment B. Also mapping in TaqI fragment B was a plasmid replication determinant comprising two sets of inverted complementary repeat sequences, one of which spanned 124 bp and was adjacent to a second smaller set which was rich in guanine and cytosine residues. pE194 contained six open reading frames which were theoretically capable of coding for proteins with maximum molecular masses as follows (in daltons): A, 48,300; B, 29,200; C, 14,000; D, 13,900; E, 12,600; and F, 2,700. Insertion of plasmid pBR322 into the single PstI site located in frame A of pE194 resulted in a composite plasmid which could replicate in both Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, suggesting that an intact polypeptide A is dispensable for both replication of pE194 and for MLS resistance. Frame B specified inducible MLS resistance, whereas frame F specified the putative peptide associated with the proposed B determinant translational attenuator. The extent to which frames C, D, and E, all contained in TaqI fragment B, were translated into polypeptide products is not known; however, a base change in frame E was found in a comparison between the high-copy-number mutant, cop-6, and the wild-type strains.

Attenuation in the control of SV40 gene expression

Nuclei and viral transcriptional complexes were prepared from cells infected with simian virus 40 and incubated in vitro in the presence of alpha- 32P-UTP. The in vitro elongated viral RNA appeared with a peak of 5S in sucrose gradients and hybridized preferentially to a promoter-proximal region of SV40 DNA. Treatment of infected cells with proflavine led to transcription of elongated RNA, while treatment of cells with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, a drug known to enhance premature termination, augmented accumulation of the promoter-proximal RNA. The in vitro elongated RNA produced a major band of 93-95 nucleotides in length in acrylamide gel. This RNA was found to map between the major initiation site at nucleotide 243 and nucleotides 335-337. The significance of these observations with respect to the transcription termination signal and the control of SV40 gene expression is discussed.

Iron mediated methylthiolation of tRNA as a regulator of operon expression in Escherichia coli

E. coli growing in the presence of iron-binding proteins produced tRNAtrp and tRNAphe molecules containing i6A instead of ms2i6A adjacent to the anticodon. These undermodified tRNAs functioned less efficiently than the fully modified molecules when translating synthetic polynucleotides containing contiguous codons in an in vitro system, but did not limit the translation of MS2 RNA. We examined the possibility that the altered tRNAs with lowered translational efficiencies could relieve transcription termination at the trp and phe attenuators and lead to increased operon expression under iron restricted conditions. Using trpR mutants we found that there was indeed greater expression of the trp operon during iron restricted growth. This increase was attributable solely to the tRNA alteration induced by iron restriction.

Cloning of cDNA encoding the sweet-tasting plant protein thaumatin and its expression in Escherichia coli

The structural gene of the sweet-tasting plant protein (prepro)thaumatin was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Expression was effected under control of lac and trp promoter/operator systems and through the use of bacterial ribosome-binding sites. The naturally occurring thaumatin II represents a processed form. The primary translation product, preprothaumatin, of the cloned mRNA-derived cDNA contains extensions at both the amino terminus and the carboxy terminus. The amino terminal extension of 22 amino acids is hydrophobic and very much resembles an excretion-related signal sequence. The six amino acids-long carboxy terminal extension is very acidic in character, in contrast to the overall highly basic thaumatin molecule. The possible role of such an acidic tail with respect to compartmentalization is discussed.

Transcription termination at the tryptophan operon attenuator is decreased in vitro by an oligomer complementary to a segment of the leader transcript

A DNA oligomer 15 nucleotides long was used to probe the involvement of RNA secondary structure in the control of transcription termination at the attenuator of the tryptophan (trp) operon of Escherichia coli. This 15-mer is perfectly complementary to a segment of trp RNA that is thought to play a role in regulation of attenuation. When added to an in vitro transcription reaction mixture containing wild-type E. coli or Salmonella typhimurium trp operon templates, the complementary 15-mer caused a 4-fold increase in read-through transcription. By contrast, the 15-mer did not affect attenuation when a mutant E. coli template was used that does not allow formation of a crucial RNA secondary structure. Control experiments established that oligomers that were not complementary to E. coli trp leader RNA did not affect attenuation and that the 15-mer did not reduce termination when the transcript lacked a complementary region. Other experiments established that the 15-mer did not increase read-through transcription by allowing RNA polymerase molecules that might have already stopped at the attenuator to resume transcription. These findings provide direct support for the view that alternate base-paired structures control transcription termination at the trp attenuator.

Critical sequences within mitochondrial introns: pleiotropic mRNA maturase and cis-dominant signals of the box intron controlling reductase and oxidase

We have established the DNA sequence of nine yeast mutants that prevent the expression either of the split cytochrome b gene alone (five mutants) or of two split genes, the cytochrome b gene and the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (four mutants). All the mutations analyzed are localized in intron 14 of the cob-box gene. We have extended the concept of the intron-encoded mRNA maturase, already described for intron 12, to the intron 14, and have adduced evidence that this box7 pleiotropic maturase is involved in the splicing of two distant gene transcripts. Such a process may constitute a regulatory mechanism that coordinates the expression of two structurally nonhomologous genes encoding two metabolically related enzymes. Analyses of cis-dominant mutations reveal the role of signal sequences in the recognition of the intron RNA sequences to be excised. These signal sequences are localized near the exon-intron boundaries (box1), or quite distant from the splicing sites, either in the blocked reading frame (box2) or in the open reading frame (box9) of the intron. We believe that for the last sequence, a ribosomal recognition of the box9 signal could be involved in a regulatory mechanism of the splicing of the pre-mRNA.

Regulation of tryptophan genes in Rhizobium leguminosarum

Twelve tryptophan auxotrophs of Rhizobium leguminosarum were characterized biochemically. They were grown in complex and minimal media with several carbon sources, in both limiting and excess tryptophan. Missing enzyme activities allowed assignment of all mutant to the trpE, trpD, trpB, or trpA gene, confirming earlier results with the same mutants (Johnston et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 165:323-330, 1978). In regulatory experiments, only the first enzyme of the pathway, anthranilate synthase, responded (about 15-fold) to tryptophan excess or limitation.

Evidence for ribosomes involved in splicing of yeast mitochondrial transcripts

We have investigated the processing of transcripts of the split gene COB in yeast mitochondrial DNA from cells whose mitochondrial translation was blocked by chloramphenicol for several generations of cell growth. First analysis of transcripts by electrophoresis and RNA/DNA-hybridization clearly showed that cell growth in the presence of CAP leads to an inhibition of processing yielding an increasing amount of splicing intermediates of the COB transcript and decreasing amounts of the 18S mRNA coding for apocytochrome b. This observation is in accordance with the now widely favoured idea that mitochondrial proteins are involved in splicing of COB transcripts and that their reduction should hamper processing and - therefore - lead to an accumulation of pre-mRNAs. However, further information obtained by pulse-labeling of pre-mRNA in vivo in the presence of CAP for various times shows that even 30 minutes after addition of CAP a reduction of the processing rate is obtained. Based on these findings we conclude that maturation of mtRNAs is not only dependent on mitochondrial proteins, but also on a more direct interaction of the translation machinery and RNA processing whose nature is so far unknown.

Cloning vectors derived from bacterial plasmids

A wide variety of plasmid cloning vectors, most of which utilize the basic Co1E1I replicon have been constructed. Utilizing these vectors, in conjunction with the newly developed techniques of gene isolation and oligonucleotide synthesis, essentially any gene which can be identified can be cloned. We anticipate that future work in this area will be directed at improving techniques for the regulated expression of cloned genes and the further development of plasmid replicons in which the copy number can be readily controlled.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli

The tryptophan (trp) operon of Escherichia coli has become the basic reference structure for studies on tryptophan metabolism. Within the past five years the application of recombinant DNA and sequencing methodologies has permitted the characterization of the structural and functional elements in this gene cluster at the molecular level. In this summary report we present the complete nucleotide sequence for the five structural genes of the trp operon of E. coli together with the internal and flanking regions of regulatory information.

Tn9 and IS1 inserts in a ribosomal ribonucleic acid operon of Escherichia coli are incompletely polar

Transcription is known to be coupled to translation in many or all bacterial operons which code for proteins. In these operons, nonsense codons which prevent normal translation often result in premature termination of transcription (polarity). However, efficient transcription of ribosomal ribonucleic acid operons (rrn operons) occurs, although rrn transcripts are not translated. It therefore seemed possible that insertion sequences and transposable elements which are polar in protein-coding operons might not be polar in rrn operons. Previously, it has been shown (E. A. Morgan, Cell 21:257-265, 1980) that Tn10 is incompletely polar in the rrnX operon. Here we show that the transposon Tn9 and the insertion sequence IS1 also incompletely polar in rrnX. In normal cells expression of sequences distal to the insertions can be detected by genetic methods. In ultraviolet-irradiated cells expression of distal sequences is about 80% of that observed in uninterrupted rrnX operons. These observations provide evidence that ribonucleic acid polymerase molecules beginning at rrnX promoters can read through Tn9 and IS1 and that, at least in ultraviolet-irradiated cells, read-through is very efficient.

Pausing and attenuation of in vitro transcription in the rrnB operon of E. coli

We have determined the effects of the nusA gene protein and the regulatory nucleotide guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) on pausing and termination of transcription in the leader region of the rrnB operon in vitro. The leader region of rrnB contains several types of potential regulatory sequences that act at the level of RNA chain elongation and may be involved in control of bacterial growth. We have mapped a termination site, tL, located 260 bases from rrnB promoter P1. Termination at tL is dependent on the nusA protein and is enhanced by ppGpp. The DNA sequence at tL shows striking homologies with trp t', a terminator also strongly affected in vitro by the nusA protein. These in vitro results suggest that rRNA transcription in vivo may be regulated in part through an attenuation mechanism that leads to termination of rrnB chains in the leader region. In addition to tL, elongation of transcription in the leader region is affected by several pause sites that are sensitive to the concentration of ppGpp and the presence of the nusA gene protein. The location and properties of these pause sites suggest that they may also play a role in regulation of rrnB transcription through a mechanism we have termed "turnstile" attenuation. One pause site, located 90 and 91 bases from P1, is unique in that it is not normally a site for transcriptional pausing, but is dependent on simultaneous binding of polymerase at rrnB promoter P2. This leads to blockage of P1 transcripts at high RNA polymerase densities and may provide an additional locus for regulation of rrn transcription.

Cloning and characterization of the gene for Escherichia coli tryptophanyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase

From a Clark-Carbon plasmid containing trpS, the structural gene for the tryptophanyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase of Escherichia coli, we subcloned a 2.6-kilobase fragment that has trpS and its neighboring regions. The location and orientation of trpS in the deoxyribonucleic acid insert was determined by deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing. In vitro transcription experiments and S1 nuclease mapping studies with in vivo message established that transcription is initiated at the same site in vivo and in vitro, approximately 58 base pairs upstream from the trpS coding region. We also describe the construction of an inphase trpS-lacZ gene fusion that is under the control of the trpS promoter and encodes a hybrid protein with beta-galactosidase activity.

Termination of transcription of the coliphage T7 "early" operon in vitro: slowness of enzyme release, and lack of any role for sigma

The leftmost portion of the coliphage T7 genome is transcribed by the RNA polymerase Escherichia coli immediately after infection. This "early" operon is delineated by three promoters on the left, and a transcriptional terminator on the right. The terminator is efficient both in vivo, and with highly purified RNA polymerase in vitro. We have studied termination in vitro, using synchronously initiated transcription reactions with low enzyme:DNA ratios. We show that recognition of the stop signal and release of RNA product are relatively rapid. Dissociation of the enzyme from the DNA is quite slow, and probably rate-limiting for re-cycling of the polymerase. It is well established that the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase is required for specific initiation, but redundant during RNA elongation. By exploiting antisigma antiserum we have obtained evidence that sigma is also redundant during all steps of termination in vitro.

The DNA sequence of the phage lambda genome between PL and the gene bet

We have determined 3,400 base pairs of DNA sequence from the phage gamma genome which starts to the right of PL and runs to the left into the gene bet. The sequence thus includes the genes, N, ral, Ea10, cIII, kil and gam, as well as the transcription terminators TL1 and TL2. One surprising feature of the sequence is the presence in the region expected to be occupied by ral of a long open reading frame that, if it is expressed, would have to be transcribed from left to right, or counter to transcription from PL.

Pausing of RNA polymerase during in vitro transcription of the tryptophan operon leader region

RNA polymerase molecules pause at a single site during in vitro transcription of the tryptophan (trp) operon leader region. Pausing was observed when DNA templates derived from Escherichia coli. Salmonella typhimurium, and Klebsiella aerogenes were used. Fingerprint analyses showed that the major RNA species produced by the transcriptional pause is 91 nucleotides long. A minor RNA species 90 nucleotides long was also detected. Single-round transcription experiments were used to study the kinetics of pausing. Time course, pulse-chase, and delayed-labeling experiments suggest that every RNA polymerase molecule transcribing the trp leader region pauses. A suboptimal ribonucleoside triphosphate concentrations, the half-life of paused-leader RNA was approximately 3 min at 22 degrees C and 0.7 min at 37 degrees C. At near-optimal ribonucleoside triphosphate concentrations, the half-time of the paused species dropped to about 0.3 min at 22 degrees C. The appearance and half-life of the paused species were unaffected by salt concentration, rho factor, guanosine 3'-5'-bis(diphosphate), or point mutations in the trp attenuator region. It is postulated that transcriptional pausing may play a role in maintaining the synchronization of transcription and translation that is vital in the control of transcription termination at the trp operon attenuator.

Tandem termination sites in the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli

In vivo, transcription of tryptophan (trp) operon mRNA appears to terminate at a site (trp t) 36 nucleotides after the last structural gene, and efficient function at this site requires the protein factor rho. However, distal nucleotide sequences also seem to play a role in modulating termination at trp t. We report here our in vitro studies of DNA fragments carrying portions of the trp termination region. Transcription of these DNA fragments in a purified system demonstrates that RNA polymerase actually recognizes two different termination sites. Termination at the previously characterized site, trp t, is only 25% efficient, and it is unaffected by the presence of rho factor in vitro. However, addition of rho to the transcription reaction mixture reveals that termination also occurs within a region that we have designated trp t', located about 250 bases past trp t. These two sites behave independently in vitro, whether in the tandem configuration or cloned separately, and their structural features and functional characteristics are quite different. This contrasts with the observation that termination of transcription at the end of the trp operon in vivo appears to require a rho-mediated interaction between trp t and trp t'. The possible involvement of other factors and the significance of multiple termination sites is discussed.