Outer membrane permeability of Escherichia coli K12: isolation, cloning and mapping of suppressors of a defined antibiotic-hypersensitive mutant

Isolation and Analysis of Suppressor Mutations in Tumor-Targeted msbB Salmonella

Tumor-targeted Salmonella offers a promising approach to the delivery of therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The Salmonella strains used, however, must be stably attenuated in order to provide sufficient safety for administration. Approaches to the generation of attenuated Salmonella strains have included deletion of the msbB gene that is responsible for addition of the terminal myristol group to lipid A. In the absence of myristoylation, lipid A is no longer capable of inducing septic shock, resulting in a significant enhancement in safety. However, msbB Salmonella strains also exhibit an unusual set of additional physiological characteristics, including sensitivities to NaCl, EGTA, deoxycholate, polymyxin, and CO2. Suppressor mutations that compensate for these sensitivities include somA, Suwwan, pmrA (C), and zwf. We describe here methods for isolation of strains with compensatory mutations that suppress these types of sensitivities and techniques for determining their underlying genetic changes and analysis of their effects in murine tumor models.

Elucidation of the antibacterial mechanism of the Curvularia haloperoxidase system by DNA microarray profiling

A novel antimicrobial enzyme system, the Curvularia haloperoxidase system, was examined with the aim of elucidating its mechanism of antibacterial action. Escherichia coli strain MG1655 was stressed with sublethal concentrations of the enzyme system, causing a temporary arrest of growth. The expression of genes altered upon exposure to the Curvularia haloperoxidase system was analyzed by using DNA microarrays. Only a limited number of genes were involved in the response to the Curvularia haloperoxidase system. Among the induced genes were the ibpA and ibpB genes encoding small heat shock proteins, a gene cluster of six genes (b0301-b0306) of unknown function, and finally, cpxP, a member of the Cpx pathway. Knockout mutants were constructed with deletions in b0301-b0306, cpxP, and cpxARP, respectively. Only the mutant lacking cpxARP was significantly more sensitive to the enzyme system than was the wild type. Our results demonstrate that DNA microarray technology cannot be used as the only technique to investigate the mechanisms of action of new antimicrobial compounds. However, by combining DNA microarray analysis with the subsequent creation of knockout mutants, we were able to pinpoint one of the specific responses of E. coli--namely, the Cpx pathway, which is important for managing the stress response from the Curvularia haloperoxidase system.

Linkage map of Escherichia coli K-12, edition 10: the traditional map

This map is an update of the edition 9 map by Berlyn et al. (M. K. B. Berlyn, K. B. Low, and K. E. Rudd, p. 1715-1902, in F. C. Neidhardt et al., ed., Escherichia coli and Salmonella: cellular and molecular biology, 2nd ed., vol. 2, 1996). It uses coordinates established by the completed sequence, expressed as 100 minutes for the entire circular map, and adds new genes discovered and established since 1996 and eliminates those shown to correspond to other known genes. The latter are included as synonyms. An alphabetical list of genes showing map location, synonyms, the protein or RNA product of the gene, phenotypes of mutants, and reference citations is provided. In addition to genes known to correspond to gene sequences, other genes, often older, that are described by phenotype and older mapping techniques and that have not been correlated with sequences are included.

Analysis of the sequence and gene products of the transfer region of the F sex factor

Bacterial conjugation results in the transfer of DNA of either plasmid or chromosomal origin between microorganisms. Transfer begins at a defined point in the DNA sequence, usually called the origin of transfer (oriT). The capacity of conjugative DNA transfer is a property of self-transmissible plasmids and conjugative transposons, which will mobilize other plasmids and DNA sequences that include a compatible oriT locus. This review will concentrate on the genes required for bacterial conjugation that are encoded within the transfer region (or regions) of conjugative plasmids. One of the best-defined conjugation systems is that of the F plasmid, which has been the paradigm for conjugation systems since it was discovered nearly 50 years ago. The F transfer region (over 33 kb) contains about 40 genes, arranged contiguously. These are involved in the synthesis of pili, extracellular filaments which establish contact between donor and recipient cells; mating-pair stabilization; prevention of mating between similar donor cells in a process termed surface exclusions; DNA nicking and transfer during conjugation; and the regulation of expression of these functions. This review is a compendium of the products and other features found in the F transfer region as well as a discussion of their role in conjugation. While the genetics of F transfer have been described extensively, the mechanism of conjugation has proved elusive, in large part because of the low levels of expression of the pilus and the numerous envelope components essential for F plasmid transfer. The advent of molecular genetic techniques has, however, resulted in considerable recent progress. This summary of the known properties of the F transfer region is provided in the hope that it will form a useful basis for future comparison with other conjugation systems.

The region around residue 115 of human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein is not involved in lipopolysaccharide binding or bactericidal activity. Chemical synthesis and expression of a gene coding for the active domain and characterization of recombinant proteins

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is a potent antimicrobial agent produced by polymorphonuclear leucocytes that specifically interacts with and kills Gram-negative bacteria. An 825 bp gene determining the bactericidal N-terminal domain of human BPI was chemically synthesized and expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. The recombinant polypeptide, BPI', was solubilized and conditions under which it folded to give the active protein were determined. Folding was critically dependent on the urea and salt concentrations as well as the pH. BPI' bound with high affinity to Salmonella typhimurium cells (apparent Kd = 36 nM), permeabilized their outer membranes to actinomycin D, specifically activated a synovial fluid phospholipase A2 and showed potent bactericidal activity. In contrast with the native protein, however, it could not be efficiently released from the cell surface by the addition of high concentrations of Mg2+ ions. Pre-incubation of the protein with lipopolysaccharide or trypsin prevented cytotoxicity. However, boiling BPI' immediately before its addition to cells did not block its bactericidal activity, suggesting that it may be able to function even when presented to cells in an unfolded form. A BPI' derivative, containing a 13-residue foreign antigenic determinant genetically inserted between Ala115 and Asp116, was also produced. The derivative was functional in the above assays and bound with high affinity to S. typhimurium (apparent Kd = 74 nM). These results imply that the region defined by these residues is not involved in the lipopolysaccharide-binding or bactericidal activities of BPI. The availability of functional, nonglycosylated recombinant derivatives of BPI should greatly aid detailed studies on its structure, interactions with lipopolysaccharide and mechanism of action.