Functional analysis of wild=type and altered tryptophan operon promoters of Salmonella typhimurium in Escherichia coli

Alteration of the -35 and -10 sequences and deletion the upstream sequence of the -35 region of the promoter A1 of the phage T7 in dsDNA confirm the contribution of non-specific interactions with E. coli RNA polymerase to the transcription initiation process

Transcription initiation is a multi-step process, in which the RNA polymerase holoenzyme binds to the specific promoter sequences to form a closed complex, which, through intermediate stages, isomerizes into an open complex capable of initiating the productive phase of transcription. The aim of this work was to determine the contribution of the -10 and -35 regions of the promoter, as well as the role of non-specific interactions, in the binding of RNA polymerase and the formation of an active initiation complex capable of transcription. Therefore, fragments of promoter DNA, derived from the strong promoter A1 of the phage T7, containing completely and partially altered elements -35 and -10, and devoid of an upstream region, were constructed using genetic engineering methods. Functional analyses of modified promoter fragments were carried out, checking their ability to form binary complexes with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) and the efficiency of converting binary complexes into triple complexes characteristic of the productive phase of transcription. The obtained results suggest that, in relation to the A1 promoter of the T7 phage, the most important role of the -35 region is carrying the open complex through the next phases of transcription initiation. The weakening of specific impacts within the region -35 is a reason for the defect associated with the transformation of the open complex, formed by a DNA fragment containing the completely altered -35 region, into elongation and the impairment of RNA synthesis. This leads to breaking contacts with the RNA polymerase holoenzyme, and destabilization and disintegration of the complex in the initial phase of productive transcription. This confirms the hypothesis of the so-called stressed intermediate state associated with the stage of transition from the open complex to the elongation complex. The experiments carried out in this work confirm also that the process of promoter localization and recognition, as well as the formation of binary complexes, is sequential in nature, and that the region located upstream of the -35 hexamer, and the hexamer itself, plays here an additive role.

Congruent evolution of different classes of non-coding DNA in prokaryotic genomes

Prokaryotic genomes are considered to be 'wall-to-wall' genomes, which consist largely of genes for proteins and structural RNAs, with only a small fraction of the genomic DNA allotted to intergenic regions, which are thought to typically contain regulatory signals. The majority of bacterial and archaeal genomes contain 6-14% non-coding DNA. Significant positive correlations were detected between the fraction of non-coding DNA and inter- and intra-operonic distances, suggesting that different classes of non-coding DNA evolve congruently. In contrast, no correlation was found between any of these characteristics of non-coding sequences and the number of genes or genome size. Thus, the non-coding regions and the gene sets in prokaryotes seem to evolve in different regimes. The evolution of non-coding regions appears to be determined primarily by the selective pressure to minimize the amount of non-functional DNA, while maintaining essential regulatory signals, because of which the content of non-coding DNA in different genomes is relatively uniform and intra- and inter-operonic non-coding regions evolve congruently. In contrast, the gene set is optimized for the particular environmental niche of the given microbe, which results in the lack of correlation between the gene number and the characteristics of non-coding regions.

Advancing our knowledge in biochemistry, genetics, and microbiology through studies on tryptophan metabolism

I was fortunate to practice science during the last half of the previous century, when many basic biological and biochemical concepts could be experimentally addressed for the first time. My introduction to research involved isolating and identifying intermediates in the niacin biosynthetic pathway. These studies were followed by investigations focused on determining the properties of genes and enzymes essential to metabolism and examining how they were alterable by mutation. The most challenging problem I initially attacked was establishing the colinear relationship between gene and protein. Subsequent research emphasized identification and characterization of regulatory mechanisms that microorganisms use to control gene expression. An elaborate regulatory strategy, transcription attenuation, was discovered that is often based on selection between alternative RNA structures. Throughout my career I enjoyed the excitement of solving basic scientific problems. Most rewarding, however, was the feeling that I was helping young scientists experience the pleasure of performing creative research.

The solution conformations of a mutant trp operator determined by n.m.r. spectroscopy

The principal conformational features of the mutant trp operator [d(CGTACTGATTAATCAGTACG)2] have been determined by n.m.r. at different temperatures. The sugar puckers were determined from J-resolved spectroscopy and high-resolution homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopic (HOHAHA) experiments. Extensive one-dimensional nuclear-Overhauser-enhancement (NOE) data sets were acquired at 25 degrees C using irradiation times of 50, 100, 200, 300 and 500 ms to generate sufficient NOE information to determine the individual nucleotide conformations, and place limits on the local helical parameters, using multi-spin least-squares fitting and searching in conformation space with the program NUCFIT [Lane (1990) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1049, 189-204]. The conformations of the nucleotides are well determined, and show significant sequence-dependent variation. Pyrimidine residues on average have a wider range of sugar conformations and smaller glycosidic torsion angles than purine residues. The helical parameters are in general less well determined, though clear evidence was obtained for sequence-dependent variation of the helical twist. The overall mean fractional deviation of the calculated from the observed NOEs was 0.108. The conformations of the base-pairs TAAT are temperature-dependent [Lane (1989) Biochem. J. 259, 715-724]. NOESY spectra were recorded at 10, 25 and 40 degrees C, using mixing times inversely proportional to the overall tumbling time to allow changes in the conformation to be described. A more detailed analysis was made using one-dimensional NOEs collected for nucleotides involved in the conformational transitions. There are significant temperature-dependent changes in the conformations of the central base-pairs from T9 to T13 with the largest changes in the glycosidic torsion angle occurring for A11 and A12 (up to 30 degrees). The orientation of the base-pairs T9-A12:T10-A11 also changes, with an increase in the base-pair roll and an unwinding of the helix as the temperature is increased. The conformational changes are qualitatively similar to those observed in a related sequence (Lefèvre, Lane & Jardetzky (1988) Biochemistry 27, 1086-1094]. The conformation is also similar to the wild-type sequence and to that observed in the crystal state in the complex with the trp holorepressor. The similarity suggests that the mutation produces a poorer operator by virtue of removal of essential functional groups within the major groove.

In vitro characterization of hybrid promoters and altered tryptophan operon promoters

This study examines the in vitro interaction of hybrid and altered Escherichia coli promoters and other promoters with purified E. coli RNA polymerase. Three parameters of polymerase activity were examined: the time for open complex formation; the temperature of transitions; and the time required for productive initiation. The results indicate the rate of in vitro binding as measured by the filter binding technique does not completely correlate with the in vivo activities among these diverse promoters. Transition temperatures ranged from 13 to 27 degrees C with the lowest transition temperatures associated with the relatively weak in vivo beta-lactamase and anti-tet promoters. The productive initiation studies showed a dependence on labeled nucleoside triphosphate concentration when that nucleotide was present early and frequently in the transcript. Promoters containing the -10 region of the lac promoter had slow productive initiation rates while trp -10 promoter derivatives were generally very fast. In the promoters studied here, a trend was noted between the binding rate and transition temperature studies in that the promoters with the lower transition temperatures tended to bind more rapidly.

Analysis of promoter mutations in the histidine transport operon of Salmonella typhimurium: use of hybrid M13 bacteriophages for cloning, transformation, and sequencing

Mutations that cause an increased level of expression of the histidine transport operon were isolated and characterized genetically. Five independently isolated promoter-up mutations were transferred to an M13 hybrid phage that carries the histidine transport operon, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. For all five mutations, the change was the same as the one previously determined for promoter-up mutation dhuA1: a C-to-T change in the Pribnow box rendered this region more homologous to the consensus sequence. Methods for enabling Salmonella typhimurium to support growth of M13 phage effectively and for easy transfer of chromosomal mutations onto the hybrid phage are presented.

Studies on the interaction of Trp holorepressor with several operators. Evidence that the target need not be palindromic

The interaction of Trp repressor protein with partial trp operators was studied in vitro and in vivo. At high ratios of protein to DNA, Trp holorepressor formed stable complexes with DNA molecules containing half operators. When plasmids conferring the capacity to hyperproduce Trp repressor were present in trpOc strains of Escherichia coli, repression of downstream tryptophan synthase occurred. Palindromicity of the trp operator may facilitate stable interaction with Trp repressor, but this attribute need not be regarded as a critically essential structural feature. Sufficient information for the recognition by Trp repressor protein of an appropriate target resides within a DNA sequence of approximately ten base-pairs.

Mapping of single-stranded regions in duplex DNA at the sequence level: single-strand-specific cytosine methylation in RNA polymerase-promoter complexes

A method based on the differential rate of cytosine methylation in single- and double-stranded nucleic acids by dimethyl sulfate [Peattie, D.A. & Gilbert, W. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 4679-4682] has been developed for probing unpaired cytosines in DNA and DNA-protein complexes at the sequence level. Application of the method to the complexes between Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6) and three related promoters, lac UV5, trp, and a hybrid promoter tac resulting from the fusion of the two, reveals distinct differences in the way RNA polymerase unpairs DNA in these promoters. No single-stranded region is detectable in the complex with the trp promoter. For the lac UV5 promoter, the cytosines at positions -6, -4, -2, and -1 are in an unpaired region. The same cytosines in the tac promoter, which is homologous in sequence to lac UV5 in this region, are also found to be single stranded. For the pair of promoters lac UV5 and tac, the cytosine methylation reaction has also been used to demonstrate the steep temperature dependence of opening of base pairs by RNA polymerase. One striking feature is that the midpoint of this transition for the tac promoter is 3 degrees C lower than the corresponding value for lac UV5, even though the sequence of the unpaired region in the two promoters is identical.

Compilation and analysis of Escherichia coli promoter DNA sequences

The DNA sequence of 168 promoter regions (-50 to +10) for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase were compiled. The complete listing was divided into two groups depending upon whether or not the promoter had been defined by genetic (promoter mutations) or biochemical (5' end determination) criteria. A consensus promoter sequence based on homologies among 112 well-defined promoters was determined that was in substantial agreement with previous compilations. In addition, we have tabulated 98 promoter mutations. Nearly all of the altered base pairs in the mutants conform to the following general rule: down-mutations decrease homology and up-mutations increase homology to the consensus sequence.

Evolutionary divergence of the Citrobacter freundii tryptophan operon regulatory region: comparison with other enteric bacteria

The regulatory region of the trp operon of Citrobacter freundii was sequenced and compared with the corresponding regions of other enteric bacteria. Significant differences were noted in the promoter region. These differences are presumably responsible for the weak expression of the cloned trp operon in Escherichia coli. The presumed operator region, although nonfunctional in E. coli, has dyad symmetry, but the sequence of the symmetrical region differs appreciably from those of operators that can be regulated by the E. coli trp repressor. The sequence of the trp leader region of C. freundii resembles that of other enteric bacteria, suggesting that the C. freundii operon is also regulated by attenuation. Comparison of the sequence of the initial portion of trpE with the homologous regions of E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium indicates that the three organisms probably are evolutionary equidistant.

Sequence determinants of promoter activity

The bacteriophage P22 promoter for the antirepressor (ant) gene, Pant, in the absence of Arc repressor, directs the synthesis of extremely high levels of antirepressor. Overproduction of antirepressor leads secondarily to the failure to produce progeny phage upon lytic infection. A substantial fraction of revertants of P22 arc-amber phage are pseudorevertants that have acquired additional mutations that decrease the activity of the ant promoter. DNA sequence analysis of 72 independent Pant "promoter-down" mutations reveals more than 25 different alterations that define two regions critical for promoter activity. With few exceptions, these promoter-down mutations decrease the homology of Pant with the consensus promoter sequence, demonstrating that the conserved features among a large number of different wild-type promoters are the determinants of promoter strength.l In general, different substitution mutations at the same site within the promoter have similar effects, resulting in either a severe or a mild reduction in promoter activity.

Regulation of transcription from tandem and convergent promoters

We have examined transcription on templates containing the trp and lac UV5 promoters arranged in tandem or opposing orientations. These studies have revealed that the strengths of the two promoters are comparable, though the lac UV5 promoter is much more sensitive to the level of initiating purine present. Kinetic experiments have shown that a polymerase molecule poised at the lac promoter, or a lac repressor molecule bound to the lac operator, can temporarily block a polymerase molecule initiated from the trp promoter, though transcription eventually continues through. In the convergent construct, transcription from the lac promoter is hindered only when initiation is suboptimal due to low purine concentrations.

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.

Characterization of the beta-lactamase promoter of pBR322

The beta-lactamase promoter of pBR322, derived from Tn3, has been characterized using several techniques. The transcription initiation site is located 35 base pairs from the translation initiation codon of beta-lactamase. The mRNA produced in vitro has a 5' pppGpA terminus. RNA polymerase bound at this start site protects a region from about -50 to +20 from DNase I cleavage using the footprinting technique. RNA polymerase binds rapidly to the beta-lactamase promoter. The half-time of association is less than one-half minute. The half-time of dissociation is approximately 6 hr. A study of the binding of RNA polymerase at different temperatures showed a large change between 11 degrees and 15 degrees C. Comparison of these parameters with those reported for other promoters is discussed.