The novel gene(s) ARD of plasmid pKM101: alleviation of EcoK restriction

Current approaches to genetic modification of marine bacteria and considerations for improved transformation efficiency

Marine bacteria play vital roles in symbiosis, biogeochemical cycles and produce novel bioactive compounds and enzymes of interest for the pharmaceutical, biofuel and biotechnology industries. At present, investigations into marine bacterial functions and their products are primarily based on phenotypic observations, -omic type approaches and heterologous gene expression. To advance our understanding of marine bacteria and harness their full potential for industry application, it is critical that we have the appropriate tools and resources to genetically manipulate them in situ. However, current genetic tools that are largely designed for model organisms such as E. coli, produce low transformation efficiencies or have no transfer ability in marine bacteria. To improve genetic manipulation applications for marine bacteria, we need to improve transformation methods such as conjugation and electroporation in addition to identifying more marine broad host range plasmids. In this review, we aim to outline the reported methods of transformation for marine bacteria and discuss the considerations for each approach in the context of improving efficiency. In addition, we further discuss marine plasmids and future research areas including CRISPR tools and their potential applications for marine bacteria.

Rhodococcus: sequences of genetic parts, analysis of their functionality, and development prospects as a molecular biology platform

Rhodococcus bacteria are a fast-growing platform for biocatalysis, biodegradation, and biosynthesis, but not a platform for molecular biology. That is, Rhodococcus are not convenient for genetic engineering. One major issue for the engineering of Rhodococcus is the absence of a publicly available, curated, and commented collection of sequences of genetic parts that are functional in biotechnologically relevant species of Rhodococcus (R. erythropolis, R. rhodochrous, R. ruber, and R. jostii). Here, we present a collection of genetic parts for Rhodococcus (vector replicons, promoter regions, regulators, markers, and reporters) supported by a thorough analysis of their functionality. We also highlight and discuss the gaps in Rhodococcus-related genetic parts and techniques, which should be filled in order to make these bacteria a full-fledged molecular biology platform independent of Escherichia coli. We conclude that all major types of required genetic parts for Rhodococcus are available now, except multicopy replicons. As for model Rhodococcus strains, there is a particular shortage of strains with high electrocompetence levels and strains designed for solving specific genetic engineering tasks. We suggest that these obstacles are surmountable in the near future due to an intensification of research work in the field of genetic techniques for non-conventional bacteria.

Broadness and specificity: ArdB, ArdA, and Ocr against various restriction-modification systems

ArdB, ArdA, and Ocr proteins inhibit the endonuclease activity of the type I restriction-modification enzymes (RMI). In this study, we evaluated the ability of ArdB, ArdA, and Ocr to inhibit different subtypes of Escherichia coli RMI systems (IA, IB, and IC) as well as two Bacillus licheniformis RMI systems. Furthermore we explored, the antirestriction activity of ArdA, ArdB, and Ocr against a type III restriction-modification system (RMIII) EcoPI and BREX. We found that DNA-mimic proteins, ArdA and Ocr exhibit different inhibition activity, depending on which RM system tested. This effect might be linked to the DNA mimicry nature of these proteins. In theory, DNA-mimic might competitively inhibit any DNA-binding proteins; however, the efficiency of inhibition depend on the ability to imitate the recognition site in DNA or its preferred conformation. In contrast, ArdB protein with an undescribed mechanism of action, demonstrated greater versatility against various RMI systems and provided similar antirestriction efficiency regardless of the recognition site. However, ArdB protein could not affect restriction systems that are radically different from the RMI such as BREX or RMIII. Thus, we assume that the structure of DNA-mimic proteins allows for selective inhibition of any DNA-binding proteins depending on the recognition site. In contrast, ArdB-like proteins inhibit RMI systems independently of the DNA recognition site.

The DNA-mimic antirestriction proteins ArdA ColIB-P9, Arn T4, and Ocr T7 as activators of H-NS-dependent gene transcription

The antirestriction proteins ArdA ColIb-P9, Arn T4 and Ocr T7 specifically inhibit type I and type IV restriction enzymes and belong to the family of DNA-mimic proteins because their three-dimensional structure is similar to the double-helical B-form DNA. It is proposed that the DNA-mimic proteins are able to bind nucleoid protein H-NS and alleviate H-NS-silencing of the transcription of bacterial genes. Escherichia coli lux biosensors were constructed by inserting H-NS-dependent promoters into a vector, thereby placing each fragment upstream of the promoterless Photorhabdus luminescens luxCDABE operon. It was demonstrated that the DNA-mimic proteins ArdA, Arn and Ocr activate the transcription of H-NS-dependent promoters of the lux operon of marine luminescent bacteria (mesophilic Aliivibrio fischeri and psychrophilic Aliivibrio logei), and the dps gene from E. coli. It was also demonstrated that the ArdA antirestriction protein, the genes of which are located on transmissive plasmids ColIb-P9, R64, PK101, decreases levels of H-NS silencing of the PluxC promoter during conjugation in the recipient bacteria.

Mutations of the domain forming the dimeric interface of the ArdA protein affect dimerization and antimodification activity but not antirestriction activity

ArdA antirestriction proteins are encoded by genes present in many conjugative plasmids and transposons within bacterial genomes. Antirestriction is the ability to prevent cleavage of foreign incoming DNA by restriction-modification (RM) systems. Antimodification, the ability to inhibit modification by the RM system, can also be observed with some antirestriction proteins. As these mobile genetic elements can transfer antibiotic resistance genes, the ArdA proteins assist their spread. The consequence of antirestriction is therefore the enhanced dissemination of mobile genetic elements. ArdA proteins cause antirestriction by mimicking the DNA structure bound by Type I RM enzymes. The crystal structure of ArdA showed it to be a dimeric protein with a highly elongated curved cylindrical shape [McMahon SA et al. (2009) Nucleic Acids Res37, 4887–4897]. Each monomer has three domains covered with negatively charged side chains and a very small interface with the other monomer. We investigated the role of the domain forming the dimer interface for ArdA activity via site-directed mutagenesis. The antirestriction activity of ArdA was maintained when up to seven mutations per monomer were made or the interface was disrupted such that the protein could only exist as a monomer. The antimodification activity of ArdA was lost upon mutation of this domain. The ability of the monomeric form of ArdA to function in antirestriction suggests, first, that it can bind independently to the restriction subunit or the modification subunits of the RM enzyme, and second, that the many ArdA homologues with long amino acid extensions, present in sequence databases, may be active in antirestriction.

Extensive DNA mimicry by the ArdA anti-restriction protein and its role in the spread of antibiotic resistance

The ardA gene, found in many prokaryotes including important pathogenic species, allows associated mobile genetic elements to evade the ubiquitous Type I DNA restriction systems and thereby assist the spread of resistance genes in bacterial populations. As such, ardA contributes to a major healthcare problem. We have solved the structure of the ArdA protein from the conjugative transposon Tn916 and find that it has a novel extremely elongated curved cylindrical structure with defined helical grooves. The high density of aspartate and glutamate residues on the surface follow a helical pattern and the whole protein mimics a 42-base pair stretch of B-form DNA making ArdA by far the largest DNA mimic known. Each monomer of this dimeric structure comprises three alpha–beta domains, each with a different fold. These domains have the same fold as previously determined proteins possessing entirely different functions. This DNA mimicry explains how ArdA can bind and inhibit the Type I restriction enzymes and we demonstrate that 6 different ardA from pathogenic bacteria can function in Escherichia coli hosting a range of different Type I restriction systems.

The Orf18 gene product from conjugative transposon Tn916 is an ArdA antirestriction protein that inhibits type I DNA restriction-modification systems

Gene orf18, which is situated within the intercellular transposition region of the conjugative transposon Tn916 from the bacterial pathogen Enterococcus faecalis, encodes a putative ArdA (alleviation of restriction of DNA A) protein. Conjugative transposons are generally resistant to DNA restriction upon transfer to a new host. ArdA from Tn916 may be responsible for the apparent immunity of the transposon to DNA restriction and modification (R/M) systems and for ensuring that the transposon has a broad host range. The orf18 gene was engineered for overexpression in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant ArdA protein was purified to homogeneity. The protein appears to exist as a dimer at nanomolar concentrations but can form larger assemblies at micromolar concentrations. R/M assays revealed that ArdA can efficiently inhibit R/M by all four major classes of Type I R/M enzymes both in vivo and in vitro. These R/M systems are present in over 50% of sequenced prokaryotic genomes. Our results suggest that ArdA can overcome the restriction barrier following conjugation and so helps increase the spread of antibiotic resistance genes by horizontal gene transfer.

Plasmid-encoded antirestriction protein ArdA can discriminate between type I methyltransferase and complete restriction-modification system

Many promiscuous plasmids encode the antirestriction proteins ArdA (alleviation of restriction of DNA) that specifically affect the restriction activity of heterooligomeric type I restriction-modification (R-M) systems in Escherichia coli cells. In addition, a lot of the putative ardA genes encoded by plasmids and bacterial chromosomes are found as a result of sequencing of complete genomic sequences, suggesting that ArdA proteins and type I R-M systems that seem to be widespread among bacteria may be involved in the regulation of gene transfer among bacterial genomes. Here, the mechanism of antirestriction action of ArdA encoded by IncI plasmid ColIb-P9 has been investigated in comparison with that of well-studied T7 phage-encoded antirestriction protein Ocr using the mutational analysis, retardation assay and His-tag affinity chromatography. Like Ocr, ArdA protein was shown to be able to efficiently interact with EcoKI R-M complex and affect its in vivo and in vitro restriction activity by preventing its interaction with specific DNA. However, unlike Ocr, ArdA protein has a low binding affinity to EcoKI Mtase and the additional C-terminal tail region (VF-motif) is needed for ArdA to efficiently interact with the type I R-M enzymes. It seems likely that this ArdA feature is a basis for its ability to discriminate between activities of EcoKI Mtase (modification) and complete R-M system (restriction) which may interact with unmodified DNA in the cells independently. These findings suggest that ArdA may provide a very effective and delicate control for the restriction and modification activities of type I systems and its ability to discriminate against DNA restriction in favour of the specific modification of DNA may give some advantage for efficient transmission of the ardA-encoding promiscuous plasmids among different bacterial populations.

Type I restriction systems: sophisticated molecular machines (a legacy of Bertani and Weigle)

Restriction enzymes are well known as reagents widely used by molecular biologists for genetic manipulation and analysis, but these reagents represent only one class (type II) of a wider range of enzymes that recognize specific nucleotide sequences in DNA molecules and detect the provenance of the DNA on the basis of specific modifications to their target sequence. Type I restriction and modification (R-M) systems are complex; a single multifunctional enzyme can respond to the modification state of its target sequence with the alternative activities of modification or restriction. In the absence of DNA modification, a type I R-M enzyme behaves like a molecular motor, translocating vast stretches of DNA towards itself before eventually breaking the DNA molecule. These sophisticated enzymes are the focus of this review, which will emphasize those aspects that give insights into more general problems of molecular and microbial biology. Current molecular experiments explore target recognition, intramolecular communication, and enzyme activities, including DNA translocation. Type I R-M systems are notable for their ability to evolve new specificities, even in laboratory cultures. This observation raises the important question of how bacteria protect their chromosomes from destruction by newly acquired restriction specifities. Recent experiments demonstrate proteolytic mechanisms by which cells avoid DNA breakage by a type I R-M system whenever their chromosomal DNA acquires unmodified target sequences. Finally, the review will reflect the present impact of genomic sequences on a field that has previously derived information almost exclusively from the analysis of bacteria commonly studied in the laboratory.

Antirestriction protein Ard (Type C) encoded by IncW plasmid pSa has a high similarity to the "protein transport" domain of TraC1 primase of promiscuous plasmid RP4

The IncW plasmid pSa contains the gene ard encoding an antirestriction function that is specific for type I restriction and modification systems. The nucleotide sequence of ard was determined and an appropriate polypeptide of about 33 kDa was identified in Escherichia coli T7 expression system. Analysis of deduced amino acid sequence of Ard encoded by pSa revealed that this protein has no significant similarities with the known Ard proteins (ArdA and ArdB types) except the "antirestriction" motif (14 amino acid residues in length) conserved for all known Ard proteins. This finding suggests that pSa Ard may be classified as a new type of Ard proteins which we designated ArdC. The remarkable feature of ArdC is that it has a high degree of similarity (about 38 % identity) to the N-terminal region of RP4 TraC1 primase which includes about 300 amino acid residues and seems to be essential for binding to the single-stranded DNA and TraC1 protein transport to the recipient cells during the conjugal transfer of plasmid DNA. ArdC also binds to single-stranded DNA. In addition, this protein is able in vitro to protect the single-stranded but not double-stranded plasmid DNA against the activity of type II restriction endonuclease HhaI that cleaves both single and double-stranded DNA. We suggest that like TraC1, ArdC would be transported as a result of their interaction with the single-stranded DNA of transferred plasmid strand during conjugative passage through the cell envelope to the recipient bacterium. Such properties of ArdC protein might be useful to protect immediately the incoming single-stranded DNA from the host endonucleases.

IncI1 plasmid R64 encodes the ArsR protein that alleviates type I restriction

The host-controlled EcoK restriction of unmodified phage lambda was five-fold alleviated in the wild-type Escherichia coli strain K12 carrying the R64 plasmid of the incompatibility group I1. The relevant gene was mapped between the origin of vegetative replication (rep, oriV) and the tet(r) gene about 60 kbp downstream from the origin of transfer, oriT. We cloned this gene inside the 613 bp long EcoRI-PstI fragment and sequenced it. Only one 351 bp long open reading frame (ORF) starting at 124 bp from the beginning of the insert was found in the sequence. Computer search in the current databases revealed that the putative protein is identical to the ArsR protein specified by the IncFI plasmid R773. ArsR is a repressor of the arsenical resistance (ars) operon, arsRDABC. There are no arsABC genes in the R64 plasmid since plasmid R64- (or pSR8)-mediated resistance of E. coli K12 cells to the arsenicals arsenate and arsenite was not detected. The gene arsR and the antirestriction genes ard (ardA and ardB) are non-homologous. However, comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of ArsR with the ArdA and ArdB sequences revealed only one small region of similarity, a 9 amino acid motif found in different antirestriction proteins that is hypothesized to be an interaction site for antirestriction proteins with restriction endonucleases.

Organization of the leading region of IncN plasmid pKM101 (R46): a regulation controlled by CUP sequence elements

Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the 13.8 kb leading region of the IncN plasmid pKM101 (a deletion derivative of R46) revealed eight copies of highly conserved repetitive elements, CUP (Conserved UPstream), and at least nine novel open reading frames (ORFs). Appropriate protein products were identified for eight ORFs and the analysis of their deduced amino acid sequences revealed similarities with some well-known proteins (KorA of RK2/RP4, RecX and PsiB) that may play a role in the adaptation of promiscuous plasmids to the new host. Comparison of CUP elements revealed that the CUP core is 417 nucleotides long and consists of two portions that markedly differ in GC content. The larger portion (307 nucleotides) of the core is about 74% GC and contains at least one NotI site, while the other (110 nucleotides) is only about 40% GC. The remarkable features of CUP elements is that five of them are oriented in the same direction and fused in a similar mode to the open reading frames (ORFs) that are able to encode unrelated proteins. The spacings between the right boundary of the CUP core and the potential ATG start codons of these ORFs are slightly different in length (16 to 18 bp), highly divergent in sequence but in all cases contain the conserved hexamer 5'-AGGAGT-3' at the position that is typical for the ribosome binding site of Escherichia coli. The A+T-rich portion of the CUP sequences contains the strong negatively regulated promoter and appears to function as a genetic switch that coordinately controls the expression of CUP-fused genes during the conjugal transfer. These findings suggest that seven plasmid genes fused to the CUP elements including repA and two ard genes encoding positively acting replication protein and antirestriction proteins, respectively, may be members of one regulatory network based on the CUP elements and two plasmid-encoded regulatory proteins ArdK and ArdR. At least, the ArdK protein may act as a typical repressor by binding to the promoter region of the CUP sequence. Most of the structural and functional features of organization of the CUP-controlled regulatory network are associated with the idea that the CUP elements may be involved in the natural genetic engineering process of organizing various functionally related genes in one regulon.

Genetic barriers among bacteria

Barriers to chromosomal gene transfer between bacterial species control their genetic isolation. These barriers, such as different microhabitats, the host ranges of genetic exchange vectors and restriction-modification systems, limit gene exchange, but the major limitation is genomic sequence divergence. The mismatch-repair system inhibits interspecies recombination, the inducible SOS system stimulates interspecies recombination, while natural selection determines the effective recombination frequencies.

A motif conserved among the type I restriction-modification enzymes and antirestriction proteins: a possible basis for mechanism of action of plasmid-encoded antirestriction functions

Antirestriction proteins Ard encoded by some self-transmissible plasmids specifically inhibit restriction by members of all three families of type I restriction-modification (R-M) systems in E.coli. Recently, we have identified the amino acid region, 'antirestriction' domain, that is conserved within different plasmid and phage T7-encoded antirestriction proteins and may be involved in interaction with the type I R-M systems. In this paper we demonstrate that this amino acid sequence shares considerable similarity with a well-known conserved sequence (the Argos repeat) found in the DNA sequence specificity (S) polypeptides of type I systems. We suggest that the presence of these similar motifs in restriction and antirestriction proteins may give a structural basis for their interaction and that the antirestriction action of Ard proteins may be a result of the competition between the 'antirestriction' domains of Ard proteins and the similar conserved domains of the S subunits that are believed to play a role in the subunit assembly of type I R-M systems.

Response to UV damage by four Escherichia coli K-12 restriction systems

To understand the role of restriction in regulating gene flow in bacterial populations, we would like to understand the regulation of restriction enzyme activity. Several antirestriction (restriction alleviation) systems are known that reduce the activity of type I restriction enzymes like EcoKI in vivo. Most of these do not act on type II or type III enzymes, but little information is available for the unclassified modification-dependent systems, of which there are three in E. coli K-12. Of particular interest are two physiological controls on type I enzymes: EcoKI restriction is reduced 2 to 3 orders of magnitude following DNA damage, and a similar effect is seen constitutively in Dam- cells. We used the behavior of EcoKI as a control for testing the response to UV treatment of the three endogenous modification-dependent restriction systems of K-12, McrA, McrBC, and Mrr. Two of these were also tested for response to Dam status. We find that all four resident restriction systems show reduced activity following UV treatment, but not in a unified fashion; each response was genetically and physiologically distinct. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Plasmid pKM101 encodes two nonhomologous antirestriction proteins (ArdA and ArdB) whose expression is controlled by homologous regulatory sequences

The IncN plasmid pKM101 (a derivative of R46) encodes the antirestriction protein ArdB (alleviation of restriction of DNA) in addition to another antirestriction protein, ArdA, described previously. The relevant gene, ardB, was located in the leading region of pKM101, about 7 kb from oriT. The nucleotide sequence of ardB was determined, and an appropriate polypeptide was identified in maxicells of Escherichia coli. Like ArdA, ArdB efficiently inhibits restriction by members of the three known families of type I systems of E. coli and only slightly affects the type II enzyme, EcoRI. However, in contrast to ArdA, ArdB is ineffective against the modification activity of the type I (EcoK) system. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences of ArdA and ArdB revealed only one small region of similarity (nine residues), suggesting that this region may be somehow involved in the interaction with the type I restriction systems. We also found that the expression of both ardA and ardB genes is controlled jointly by two pKM101-encoded proteins, ArdK and ArdR, with molecular weights of about 15,000 and 20,000, respectively. The finding that the sequences immediately upstream of ardA and ardB share about 94% identity over 218 bp suggests that their expression may be controlled by ArdK and ArdR at the transcriptional level. Deletion studies and promoter probe analysis of these sequences revealed the regions responsible for the action of ArdK and ArdR as regulatory proteins. We propose that both types of antirestriction proteins may play a pivotal role in overcoming the host restriction barrier by self-transmissible broad-host-range plasmids. It seems likely that the ardKR-dependent regulatory system serves in this case as a genetic switch that controls the expression of plasmid-encoded antirestriction functions during mating.

Biology of DNA restriction

Our understanding of the evolution of DNA restriction and modification systems, the control of the expression of the structural genes for the enzymes, and the importance of DNA restriction in the cellular economy has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. This review documents these advances for the three major classes of classical restriction and modification systems, describes the discovery of a new class of restriction systems that specifically cut DNA carrying the modification signature of foreign cells, and deals with the mechanisms developed by phages to avoid the restriction systems of their hosts.

IncN plasmid pKM101 and IncI1 plasmid ColIb-P9 encode homologous antirestriction proteins in their leading regions

The IncN plasmid pKM101 (a derivative of R46), like the IncI1 plasmid ColIb-P9, carries a gene (ardA, for alleviation of restriction of DNA) encoding an antirestriction function. ardA was located about 4 kb from the origin of transfer, in the region transferred early during bacterial conjugation. The nucleotide sequence of ardA was determined, and an appropriate polypeptide with the predicted molecular weight of about 19,500 was identified in maxicells of Escherichia coli. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the antirestriction proteins of the unrelated plasmids pKM101 and ColIb (ArdA and Ard, respectively) revealed that these proteins have about 60% identity. Like ColIb Ard, pKM101 ArdA specifically inhibits both the restriction and modification activities of five type I systems of E. coli tested and does not influence type III (EcoP1) restriction or the 5-methylcytosine-specific restriction systems McrA and McrB. However, in contrast to ColIb Ard, pKM101 ArdA is effective against the type II enzyme EcoRI. The Ard proteins are believed to overcome the host restriction barrier during bacterial conjugation. We have also identified two other genes of pKM101, ardR and ardK, which seem to control ardA activity and ardA-mediated lethality, respectively. Our findings suggest that ardR may serve as a genetic switch that determines whether the ardA-encoded antirestriction function is induced during mating.

Evasion of type I and type II DNA restriction systems by IncI1 plasmid CoIIb-P9 during transfer by bacterial conjugation

Transmission of unmodified plasmid CoIIb-P9 by bacterial conjugation is markedly resistant to restriction compared with transfer by transformation. One process allowing evasion of type I and II restriction systems involves conjugative transfer of multiple copies of the plasmid. A more specialized evasion mechanism requires the Ard (alleviation of restriction of DNA) system encoded by CoIIb. The ard gene is transferred early in conjugation and specifically alleviates DNA restriction by all known families of type I enzyme, including EcoK. CoIIb has no effect on EcoK modification but this activity is impaired by multicopy recombinant plasmids supporting overexpression of ard. Genetic evidence shows that Ard protects CoIIb from EcoK restriction following conjugative transfer and that this protection requires expression of the gene on the immigrant plasmid. It is proposed that carriage of ard facilitates transfer of CoIIb between its natural enterobacterial hosts and that the route of DNA entry is important to the restriction-evasion mechanism.

Nucleotide sequence of the gene (ard) encoding the antirestriction protein of plasmid colIb-P9

The IncI1 plasmid ColIb-P9 was found to encode an antirestriction function. The relevant gene, ard (alleviation of restriction of DNA), maps about 5 kb from the origin of transfer, in the region transferred early during bacterial conjugation. Ard inhibits both restriction and modification by each of the four type I systems of Escherichia coli tested, but it had no effect on restriction by either EcoRI, a type II system, or EcoP1, a type III system. The nucleotide sequence of the ColIb ard gene was determined; the predicted molecular weight of the Ard polypeptide is 19,193. The proposed polypeptide chain contains an excess of 25 negatively charged amino acids, suggesting that its overall character is very acidic. Deletion analysis of the gene revealed that the Ard protein contained a distinct functional domain located in the COOH-terminal half of the polypeptide. We suggest that the biological role of the ColIb Ard protein is associated with overcoming host-controlled restriction during bacterial conjugation.

Alleviation of type I restriction in adenine methylase (dam) mutants of Escherichia coli

The host-controlled EcoK-restriction of unmodified phage lambda.O is alleviated in dam mutants of Escherichia coli by 100- to 300-fold. In addition, the EcoK modification activity is substantially decreased in dam- strains. We show that type I restriction (EcoB, EcoD and EcoK) is detectably alleviated in dam mutants. However, no relief of EcoRI restriction (Type II) occurs in dam- strains and only a slight effect of dam mutation on EcoP1 restriction (Type III) is observed. We interpret the alleviation of the type I restriction in dam- strains to be a consequence of induction of the function which interferes with type I restriction systems.

2-Aminopurine and 5-bromouracil induce alleviation of type I restriction in Escherichia coli: mismatches function as inducing signals?

The EcoK restriction of unmodified phage lambda is 1000-fold alleviated in Escherichia coli grown in the presence of base analogs 2-aminopurine (2AP) and 5-bromouracil (5BU). 2AP treatment of bacteria affects specifically the type I restriction systems (EcoA, EcoB, EcoD and EcoK) and does not influence type II (EcoRI) and type III (EcoP1) restriction. 2AP-induced alleviation of restriction occurs in bacteria which are deficient in the SOS response (recA and lexA) and mismatch repair (mutH, mutL and mutS) and can be distinguished from the alleviation of restriction observed in dam- strains. We suggest that mismatches induced by 2AP and 5BU may function as an inducing signal for the alleviation of restriction observed in the presence of base analogs.