Derived amino acid sequence and identification of active site residues of Escherichia coli beta-hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase

Analysis of the Plasmid-Based ts-Mutant ΔfabA/pTS-fabA Reveals Its Lethality under Aerobic Growth Conditions That Is Suppressed by Mild Overexpression of desA at a Restrictive Temperature in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

It is uncertain whether PA1610|fabA is essential or dispensable for growth on LB-agar plates under aerobic conditions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. To examine its essentiality, we disrupted fabA in the presence of a native promoter-controlled complementary copy on ts-plasmid. In this analysis, we showed that the plasmid-based ts-mutant ΔfabA/pTS-fabA failed to grow at a restrictive temperature, consistent with the observation by Hoang and Schweizer (T. T. Hoang, H. P. Schweizer, J Bacteriol 179:5326-5332, 1997, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.179.17.5326-5332.1997), and expanded on this by showing that ΔfabA exhibited curved cell morphology. On the other hand, strong induction of fabA-OE or PA3645|fabZ-OE impeded the growth of cells displaying oval morphology. Suppressor analysis revealed a mutant sup gene that suppressed a growth defect but not cell morphology of ΔfabA. Genome resequencing and transcriptomic profiling of sup identified PA0286|desA, whose promoter carried a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and transcription was significantly upregulated (level increase of >2-fold, P < 0.05). By integration of the SNP-bearing promoter-controlled desA gene into the chromosome of ΔfabA/pTS-fabA, we showed that the SNP is sufficient for ΔfabA to phenocopy the sup mutant. Furthermore, mild induction of the araC-PBAD-controlled desA gene but not desB rescued ΔfabA. These results validated that mild overexpression of desA fully suppressed the lethality but not the curved cell morphology of ΔfabA. Similarly, Zhu et al. (Zhu K, Choi K-H, Schweizer HP, Rock CO, Zhang Y-M, Mol Microbiol 60:260-273, 2006, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05088.x) showed that multicopy desA partially alleviated the slow growth phenotype of ΔfabA, the difference in which was that ΔfabA was viable. Taken together, our results demonstrate that fabA is essential for aerobic growth. We propose that the plasmid-based ts-allele is useful for exploring the genetic suppression interaction of essential genes of interest in P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen whose multidrug resistance demands new drug development. Fatty acids are essential for viability, and essential genes are ideal drug targets. However, the growth defect of essential gene mutants can be suppressed. Suppressors tend to be accumulated during the construction of essential gene deletion mutants, hampering the genetic analysis. To circumvent this issue, we constructed a deletion allele of fabA in the presence of a native promoter-controlled complementary copy in the ts-plasmid. In this analysis, we showed that ΔfabA/pTS-fabA failed to grow at a restrictive temperature, supporting its essentiality. Suppressor analysis revealed desA, whose promoter carried a SNP and whose transcription was upregulated. We validated that both the SNP-bearing promoter-controlled and regulable PBAD promoter-controlled desA suppressed the lethality of ΔfabA. Together, our results demonstrate that fabA is essential for aerobic growth. We propose that plasmid-based ts-alleles are suitable for genetic analysis of essential genes of interest.

Animal Fatty Acid Synthase: A Chemical Nanofactory

Fatty acids are crucial molecules for most living beings, very well spread and conserved across species. These molecules play a role in energy storage, cell membrane architecture, and cell signaling, the latter through their derivative metabolites. De novo synthesis of fatty acids is a complex chemical process that can be achieved either by a metabolic pathway built by a sequence of individual enzymes, such as in most bacteria, or by a single, large multi-enzyme, which incorporates all the chemical capabilities of the metabolic pathway, such as in animals and fungi, and in some bacteria. Here we focus on the multi-enzymes, specifically in the animal fatty acid synthase (FAS). We start by providing a historical overview of this vast field of research. We follow by describing the extraordinary architecture of animal FAS, a homodimeric multi-enzyme with seven different active sites per dimer, including a carrier protein that carries the intermediates from one active site to the next. We then delve into this multi-enzyme's detailed chemistry and critically discuss the current knowledge on the chemical mechanism of each of the steps necessary to synthesize a single fatty acid molecule with atomic detail. In line with this, we discuss the potential and achieved FAS applications in biotechnology, as biosynthetic machines, and compare them with their homologous polyketide synthases, which are also finding wide applications in the same field. Finally, we discuss some open questions on the architecture of FAS, such as their peculiar substrate-shuttling arm, and describe possible reasons for the emergence of large megasynthases during evolution, questions that have fascinated biochemists from long ago but are still far from answered and understood.

The Fatty Acid Regulator FadR Influences the Expression of the Virulence Cascade in the El Tor Biotype of Vibrio cholerae by Modulating the Levels of ToxT via Two Different Mechanisms

FadR is a master regulator of fatty acid (FA) metabolism that coordinates the pathways of FA degradation and biosynthesis in enteric bacteria. We show here that a ΔfadR mutation in the El Tor biotype of Vibrio cholerae prevents the expression of the virulence cascade by influencing both the transcription and the posttranslational regulation of the master virulence regulator ToxT. FadR is a transcriptional regulator that represses the expression of genes involved in FA degradation, activates the expression of genes involved in unsaturated FA (UFA) biosynthesis, and also activates the expression of two operons involved in saturated FA (SFA) biosynthesis. Since FadR does not bind directly to the toxT promoter, we determined whether the regulation of any of its target genes indirectly influenced ToxT. This was accomplished by individually inserting a double point mutation into the FadR-binding site in the promoter of each target gene, thereby preventing their activation or repression. Although preventing FadR-mediated activation of fabA, which encodes the enzyme that carries out the first step in UFA biosynthesis, did not significantly influence either the transcription or the translation of ToxT, it reduced its levels and prevented virulence gene expression. In the mutant strain unable to carry out FadR-mediated activation of fabA, expressing fabA ectopically restored the levels of ToxT and virulence gene expression. Taken together, the results presented here indicate that V. cholerae FadR influences the virulence cascade in the El Tor biotype by modulating the levels of ToxT via two different mechanisms.IMPORTANCE Fatty acids (FAs) play important roles in membrane lipid homeostasis and energy metabolism in all organisms. In Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the acute intestinal disease cholera, they also influence virulence by binding into an N-terminal pocket of the master virulence regulator, ToxT, and modulating its activity. FadR is a transcription factor that coordinately controls the pathways of FA degradation and biosynthesis in enteric bacteria. This study identifies a new link between FA metabolism and virulence in the El Tor biotype by showing that FadR influences both the transcription and posttranslational regulation of the master virulence regulator ToxT by two distinct mechanisms.

Biosynthesis of Membrane Lipids

The pathways in Escherichia coli and (largely by analogy) S. enterica remain the paradigm of bacterial lipid synthetic pathways, although recently considerable diversity among bacteria in the specific areas of lipid synthesis has been demonstrated. The structural biology of the fatty acid synthetic proteins is essentially complete. However, the membrane-bound enzymes of phospholipid synthesis remain recalcitrant to structural analyses. Recent advances in genetic technology have allowed the essentialgenes of lipid synthesis to be tested with rigor, and as expected most genes are essential under standard growth conditions. Conditionally lethal mutants are available in numerous genes, which facilitates physiological analyses. The array of genetic constructs facilitates analysis of the functions of genes from other organisms. Advances in mass spectroscopy have allowed very accurate and detailed analyses of lipid compositions as well as detection of the interactions of lipid biosynthetic proteins with one another and with proteins outside the lipid pathway. The combination of these advances has resulted in use of E. coli and S. enterica for discovery of new antimicrobials targeted to lipid synthesis and in deciphering the molecular actions of known antimicrobials. Finally,roles for bacterial fatty acids other than as membrane lipid structural components have been uncovered. For example, fatty acid synthesis plays major roles in the synthesis of the essential enzyme cofactors, biotin and lipoic acid. Although other roles for bacterial fatty acids, such as synthesis of acyl-homoserine quorum-sensing molecules, are not native to E. coli introduction of the relevant gene(s) synthesis of these foreign molecules readily proceeds and the sophisticated tools available can used to decipher the mechanisms of synthesis of these molecules.

FabQ, a dual-function dehydratase/isomerase, circumvents the last step of the classical fatty acid synthesis cycle

In the classical anaerobic pathway of unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, that of Escherichia coli, the double bond is introduced into the growing acyl chain by the FabA dehydratase/isomerase. Another dehydratase, FabZ, functions in the chain elongation cycle. In contrast, Aerococcus viridans has only a single FabA/FabZ homolog we designate FabQ. FabQ can not only replace the function of E. coli FabZ in vivo, but it also catalyzes the isomerization required for unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Most strikingly, FabQ in combination with E. coli FabB imparts the surprising ability to bypass reduction of the trans-2-acyl-ACP intermediates of classical fatty acid synthesis. FabQ allows elongation by progressive isomerization reactions to form the polyunsaturated fatty acid, 3-hydroxy-cis-5, 7-hexadecadienoic acid, both in vitro and in vivo. FabQ therefore provides a potential pathway for bacterial synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Escherichia coli unsaturated fatty acid synthesis: complex transcription of the fabA gene and in vivo identification of the essential reaction catalyzed by FabB

Although the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) synthetic pathway of Escherichia coli is the prototype of such pathways, several unresolved issues have accumulated over the years. The key players are the fabA and fabB genes. Earlier studies of fabA transcription showed that the gene was transcribed from two promoters, with one being positively regulated by the FadR protein. The other weaker promoter (which could not be mapped with the technology then available) was considered constitutive because its function was independent of FadR. However, the FabR negative regulator was recently shown to represses fabA transcription. We report that the weak promoter overlaps the FadR-dependent promoter and is regulated by FabR. This promoter is strictly conserved in all E. coli and Salmonella enterica genomes sequenced to date and is thought to provide insurance against inappropriate regulation of fabA transcription by exogenous saturated fatty acids. Also, the fabAup promoter, a mutant promoter previously isolated by selection for increased FabA activity, was shown to be a promoter created de novo by a four-base deletion within the gene located immediately upstream of fabA. Demonstration of the key UFA synthetic reaction catalyzed by FabB has been elusive, although it was known to catalyze an elongation reaction. Strains lacking FabB are UFA auxotrophs indicating that the enzyme catalyzes an essential step in UFA synthesis. Using thioesterases specific for hydrolysis of short chain acyl-ACPs, the intermediates of the UFA synthetic pathway have been followed in vivo for the first time. These experiments showed that a fabB mutant strain accumulated less cis-5-dodecenoic acid than the parental wild-type strain. These data indicate that the key reaction in UFA synthesis catalyzed by FabB is elongation of the cis-3-decenoyl-ACP produced by FabA.

Bacterial fatty acid synthesis and its relationships with polyketide synthetic pathways

This review presents the most thoroughly studied bacterial fatty acid synthetic pathway, that of Escherichia coli and then discusses the exceptions to the E. coli pathway present in other bacteria. The known interrelationships between the fatty acid and polyketide synthetic pathways are also assessed, mainly in the Streptomyces group of bacteria. Finally, we present a compendium of methods for analysis of bacterial fatty acid synthetic pathways.

Comparative inhibition studies of enoyl-CoA hydratase 1 and enoyl-CoA hydratase 2 in long-chain fatty acid oxidation

Enoyl-CoA hydratase 1 and enoyl-CoA hydratase 2 in long-chain fatty acid oxidation were comparatively investigated through mechanistic studies for inactivation of the enzymes with methylenecyclopropylformyl-CoA and 3-octynoyl-CoA. Methylenecyclopropylformyl-CoA can inactivate both enzymes, while 3-octynoyl-CoA inactivates enoyl-CoA hydratase 2 only. The study increased our understanding of these two enzymes in fatty acid oxidation.

Regulation of the beta-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydratase gene of Picea mariana by alternative splicing

The gene for beta-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydratase, a de novo fatty acid biosynthetic enzyme, was cloned from Picea mariana (black spruce) and consists of five exons and four introns. The first intron of the beta-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydratase mRNA is alternatively spliced. Retention of intron 1 in splice variants results in truncation of the beta-hydroxyacyl ACP dehydratase ORF at a premature termination codon. In addition, splicing of intron 1 was found to be associated with cold temperature. mRNAs retaining intron 1 increase with seed imbibition at 22 degrees C but not 4 degrees C, whereas, splicing of intron 1 increases in winter weeks with temperatures below freezing. These results provide evidence that alternative splicing may also contribute to regulation of lipid biosynthesis in Picea mariana.

Pathway to synthesis and processing of mycolic acids in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is known to synthesize alpha-, methoxy-, and keto-mycolic acids. We propose a detailed pathway to the biosynthesis of all mycolic acids in M. tuberculosis. Fatty acid synthetase I provides C(20)-S-coenzyme A to the fatty acid synthetase II system (FAS-IIA). Modules of FAS-IIA and FAS-IIB introduce cis unsaturation at two locations on a growing meroacid chain to yield three different forms of cis,cis-diunsaturated fatty acids (intermediates to alpha-, methoxy-, and keto-meroacids). These are methylated, and the mature meroacids and carboxylated C(26)-S-acyl carrier protein enter into the final Claisen-type condensation with polyketide synthase-13 (Pks13) to yield mycolyl-S-Pks13. We list candidate genes in the genome encoding the proposed dehydrase and isomerase in the FAS-IIA and FAS-IIB modules. We propose that the processing of mycolic acids begins by transfer of mycolic acids from mycolyl-S-Pks13 to d-mannopyranosyl-1-phosphoheptaprenol to yield 6-O-mycolyl-beta-d-mannopyranosyl-1-phosphoheptaprenol and then to trehalose 6-phosphate to yield phosphorylated trehalose monomycolate (TMM-P). Phosphatase releases the phosphate group to yield TMM, which is immediately transported outside the cell by the ABC transporter. Antigen 85 then catalyzes the transfer of a mycolyl group from TMM to the cell wall arabinogalactan and to other TMMs to produce arabinogalactan-mycolate and trehalose dimycolate, respectively. We list candidate genes in the genome that encode the proposed mycolyltransferases I and II, phosphatase, and ABC transporter. The enzymes within this total pathway are targets for new drug discovery.

Determination of selectivity and efficacy of fatty acid synthesis inhibitors

Type II fatty acid synthesis (FASII) is essential to bacterial cell viability and is a promising target for the development of novel antibiotics. In the past decade, a few inhibitors have been identified for this pathway, but none of them lend themselves to drug development. To find better inhibitors that are potential drug candidates, we developed a high throughput assay that identifies inhibitors simultaneously against multiple targets within the FASII pathway of most bacterial pathogens. We demonstrated that the inverse t(1/2) value of the FASII enzyme-catalyzed reaction gives a measure of FASII activity. The Km values of octanoyl-CoA and lauroyl-CoA were determined to be 1.1 +/- 0.3 and 10 +/- 2.7 microM in Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. The effects of free metals and reducing agents on enzyme activity showed an inhibition hierarchy of Zn2+ > Ca2+ > Mn2+ > Mg2+; no inhibition was found with beta-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol. We used this assay to screen the natural product libraries and isolated an inhibitor, bischloroanthrabenzoxocinone (BABX) with a new structure. BABX showed IC50 values of 11.4 and 35.3 microg/ml in the S. aureus and Escherichia coli FASII assays, respectively, and good antibacterial activities against S. aureus and permeable E. coli strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 microg/ml. Furthermore, the effectiveness, selectivity, and the in vitro and in vivo correlations of BABX as well as other fatty acid inhibitors were elucidated, which will aid in future drug discovery.

Structural and functional organization of the animal fatty acid synthase

The entire pathway of palmitate synthesis from malonyl-CoA in mammals is catalyzed by a single, homodimeric, multifunctional protein, the fatty acid synthase. Each subunit contains three N-terminal domains, the beta-ketoacyl synthase, malonyl/acetyl transferase and dehydrase separated by a structural core from four C-terminal domains, the enoyl reductase, beta-ketoacyl reductase, acyl carrier protein and thiosterase. The kinetics and specificities of the substrate loading reaction catalyzed by the malonyl/acetyl transferase, the condensation reaction catalyzed by beta-ketoacyl synthase and chain-terminating reaction catalyzed by the thioesterase ensure that intermediates do not leak off the enzyme, saturated chains exclusively are elongated and palmitate is released as the major product. Only in the fatty acid synthase dimer do the subunits adopt conformations that facilitate productive coupling of the individual reactions for fatty acid synthesis at the two acyl carrier protein centers. Introduction of a double tagging and dual affinity chromatographic procedure has permitted the engineering and isolation of heterodimeric fatty acid synthases carrying different mutations on each subunit. Characterization of these heterodimers, by activity assays and chemical cross-linking, has been exploited to map the functional topology of the protein. The results reveal that the two acyl carrier protein domains engage in substrate loading and condensation reactions catalyzed by the malonyl/acetyl transferase and beta-ketoacyl synthase domains of either subunit. In contrast, the reactions involved in processing of the beta-carbon atom, following each chain elongation step, together with the release of palmitate, are catalyzed by the cooperation of the acyl carrier protein with catalytic domains of the same subunit. These findings suggest a revised model for the fatty acid synthase in which the two polypeptides are oriented such that head-to-tail contacts are formed both between and within subunits.

Escherichia coli FadR positively regulates transcription of the fabB fatty acid biosynthetic gene

In Escherichia coli expression of the genes of fatty acid degradation (fad) is negatively regulated at the transcriptional level by FadR protein. In contrast the unsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic gene, fabA, is positively regulated by FadR. We report that fabB, a second unsaturated fatty acid biosynthetic gene, is also positively regulated by FadR. Genomic array studies that compared global transcriptional differences between wild-type and fadR-null mutant strains, as well as in cultures of each strain grown in the presence of exogenous oleic acid, indicated that expression of fabB was regulated in a manner very similar to that of fabA expression. A series of genetic and biochemical tests confirmed these observations. Strains containing both fabB and fadR mutant alleles were constructed and shown to exhibit synthetic lethal phenotypes, similar to those observed in fabA fadR mutants. A fadR strain was hypersensitive to cerulenin, an antibiotic that at low concentrations specifically targets the FabB protein. A transcriptional fusion of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) to the fabB promoter produces lower levels of CAT protein in a strain lacking functional FadR. The ability of a putative FadR binding site within the fabB promoter to form a complex with purified FadR protein was determined by a gel mobility shift assay. These experiments demonstrate that expression of fabB is positively regulated by FadR.

Genetic structure and functional implication of the fcb gene cluster for hydrolytic dechlorination of 4-chlorobenzoate from Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12

The fcb gene cluster responsible for the hydrolytic dechlorination of 4-chlorobenzoate (4CBA) was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12, and its nucleotide sequence analyzed. The gene cluster was organized in the order fcbB-fcbA-fcbT1-fcbT2-cbT3-fcbC, which is different from that reported in other bacteria. A promoter-like sequence (-35 and -10 region) is located upstream of the fcbB gene and putative ribosome-binding sequences were found upstream of the respective orfs. A stem-loop transcription terminator structure is found downstream of fcbC. This suggests that the six orfs are transcribed into a polycistronic mRNA. The FcbA, FcbB, and FcbC enzymes for dechlorination of 4CBA have a relationship in common with the enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism on the basis of their deduced amino acid sequences. The proteins encoded by fcbT1, fcbT2, and fcbT3 show similarity to those encoded by dctP, dctQ, and dctM of Rhodobacter capsulatus respectively, which encode transporter proteins for C4-dicarboxylate. It is likely, therefore, that these proteins of DJ-12 play a role in transport of 4CBA into the cell.

Identification of proteins of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that specifically bind to C/C mismatches in DNA

The pathways leading to G:C-->C:G transversions and their repair mechanisms remain uncertain. C/C and G/G mismatches arising during DNA replication are a potential source of G:C-->C:G transversions. The Escherichia coli mutHLS mismatch repair pathway efficiently corrects G/G mismatches, whereas C/C mismatches are a poor substrate. Escherichia coli must have a more specific repair pathway to correct C/C mismatches. In this study, we performed gel-shift assays to identify C/C mismatch-binding proteins in cell extracts of E. COLI: By testing heteroduplex DNA (34mers) containing C/C mismatches, two specific band shifts were generated in the gels. The band shifts were due to mismatch-specific binding of proteins present in the extracts. Cell extracts of a mutant strain defective in MutM protein did not produce a low-mobility complex. Purified MutM protein bound efficiently to the C/C mismatch-containing heteroduplex to produce the low-mobility complex. The second protein, which produced a high-mobility complex with the C/C mismatches, was purified to homogeneity, and the amino acid sequence revealed that this protein was the FabA protein of E.COLI: The high-mobility complex was not formed in cell extracts of a fabA mutant. From these results it is possible that MutM and FabA proteins are components of repair pathways for C/C mismatches in E.COLI: Furthermore, we found that Saccharomyces cerevisiae OGG1 protein, a functional homolog of E.COLI: MutM protein, could specifically bind to the C/C mismatches in DNA.

The three-dimensional structure of 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase from Pseudomonas sp. Strain CBS-3

The soil-dwelling microbe, Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS-3, has attracted recent attention due to its ability to survive on 4-chlorobenzoate as its sole carbon source. The biochemical pathway by which this organism converts 4-chlorobenzoate to 4-hydroxybenzoate consists of three enzymes: 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA ligase, 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA dehalogenase, and 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase. Here we describe the three-dimensional structure of the thioesterase determined to 2.0-A resolution. Each subunit of the homotetramer is characterized by a five-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheet and three major alpha-helices. While previous amino acid sequence analyses failed to reveal any similarity between this thioesterase and other known proteins, the results from this study clearly demonstrate that the molecular architecture of 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase is topologically equivalent to that observed for beta-hydroxydecanoyl thiol ester dehydrase from Escherichia coli. On the basis of the structural similarity between these two enzymes, the active site of the thioesterase has been identified and a catalytic mechanism proposed.

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.

Fatty acid biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: cloning and characterization of the fabAB operon encoding beta-hydroxyacyl-acyl carrier protein dehydratase (FabA) and beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase I (FabB)

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa fabA and fabB genes, encoding beta-hydroxyacyl-acyl carrier protein dehydratase and beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase I, respectively, were cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. Northern analysis demonstrated that fabA and fabB are cotranscribed and most probably form a fabAB operon. The FabA and FabB proteins were similar in size and amino acid composition to their counterparts from Escherichia coli and to the putative homologs from Haemophilus influenzae. Chromosomal fabA and fabB mutants were isolated; the mutants were auxotrophic for unsaturated fatty acids. A temperature-sensitive fabA mutant was obtained by site-directed mutagenesis of a single base that induced a G101D change; this mutant grew normally at 30 degrees C but not at 42 degrees C, unless the growth medium was supplemented with oleate. By physical and genetic mapping, the fabAB genes were localized between 3.45 and 3.6 Mbp on the 5.9-Mbp chromosome, which corresponds to the 58- to 59.5-min region of the genetic map.

Characterisation of genes involved in biosynthesis of coronafacic acid, the polyketide component of the phytotoxin coronatine

Coronafacic acid (CFA) is the polyketide component of coronatine (COR), a phytotoxin produced by the plant pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae. In the present study we have determined the nucleotide sequence of a 3.92-kb DNA fragment involved in CFA biosynthesis. Analysis of the sequence revealed four complete open reading frames (ORFs) designated cfa1 to cfa4 and one incomplete ORF (cfa5), all transcribed in the same direction. The predicted translation products of cfa1, cfa2 and cfa3 showed relatedness to acyl carrier proteins, fatty acid dehydrases and beta-ketoacylsynthases, respectively, which are required for polyketide synthesis. cfa1 was subcloned, its sequence was confirmed, and it was overexpressed in E. coli to yield a peptide with an apparent molecular mass of 6 kDa.

Roles of the FabA and FabZ beta-hydroxyacyl-acyl carrier protein dehydratases in Escherichia coli fatty acid biosynthesis

There are two genes, fabA and fabZ, encoding beta-hydroxyacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) dehydratases that function in the dissociated, type II fatty acid synthase system of Escherichia coli. We have investigated their roles in fatty acid synthesis by purifying the two proteins and reconstituting cycles of fatty acid synthesis in vitro using five other purified proteins. FabA and FabZ exhibited broad, overlapping chain length specificities. The FabZ dehydratase efficiently catalyzed the dehydration of short chain beta-hydroxyacyl-ACPs and long chain saturated and unsaturated beta-hydroxyacyl-ACPs. FabA was most active on intermediate chain length beta-hydroxyacyl-ACPs and also possessed significant activity toward both short and long chain saturated beta-hydroxyacyl-ACPs. Significantly, FabA was virtually inactive in the dehydration of long chain unsaturated beta-hydroxyacyl-ACP. The introduction of the double bond at the 10-carbon stage of fatty acid synthesis by FabA was only detected in the presence of beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I (FabB). A yeast two-hybrid analysis failed to detect an interaction between FabA and FabB, therefore the channeling of intermediates toward unsaturated fatty acid synthesis by FabB was attributed to the affinity of the condensing enzyme for cis-decenoyl-ACP. The broad substrate specificity of FabZ coupled with the inactivity of FabA toward a long chain unsaturated beta-hydroxyacyl-ACP provides a biochemical explanation for the phenotypes of cells with genetically altered levels of the two dehydratases.

Increased unsaturated fatty acid production associated with a suppressor of the fabA6(Ts) mutation in Escherichia coli

Plasmids that corrected the temperature-sensitive unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophy of strain M6 [fabA6 (Ts)] were isolated from an Escherichia coli genomic library. Subcloning and physical mapping localized the new gene (called sfa for suppressor of fabA) at 1,070 kb on the E. coli chromosome. DNA sequencing revealed the presence of a 227-bp open reading frame which directed the synthesis of a peptide of approximately 8 kDa, which correlated with the correction of the fabA6(Ts) phenotype. However, the sfa gene was an allele-specific suppressor since plasmids harboring the sfa gene corrected the growth phenotype of fabA6(Ts) mutants but did not correct the growth of fabA2(Ts) or fabB15(Ts) unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophs. Overexpression of the sfa gene in fabA6(Ts) mutants restored unsaturated fatty acid content at 42 degrees C, and overexpression in wild-type cells resulted in a substantial increase in the unsaturated fatty acid content of the membrane. Thus, the suppression of the fabA6(Ts) mutation by sfa was attributed to its ability to increase the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.

Identification and functional differentiation of two type I fatty acid synthases in Brevibacterium ammoniagenes

The fatty acid synthase (FAS) from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes is a homohexameric multienzyme complex that catalyzes the synthesis of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. By immunological screening of a B. ammoniagenes expression library, an fas DNA fragment was isolated and subsequently used to clone the entire gene together with its flanking sequences. Within 10,525 bp of sequenced DNA, the 9,189-bp FAS coding region was identified, corresponding to a protein of 3,063 amino acids with a molecular mass of 324,910 Da. This gene (fasA) encodes, at its 5' end, the same amino acid sequence as is observed with purified B. ammoniagenes FAS. A second reading frame encoding another B. ammoniagenes FAS variant (FasB) had been identified previously. Both sequences are colinear and exhibit 61 and 47% identity at the DNA and protein levels, respectively. By using specific antibodies raised against a unique peptide sequence of FasB, this enzyme was shown to represent only 5 to 10% of the cellular FAS protein. Insertional inactivation of the FasB coding sequence causes no defective phenotype, while fasA disruptants require oleic acid for growth. Correspondingly, oleate-dependent B. ammoniagenes cells obtained by ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis were complemented by transformation with fasA DNA but not with fasB DNA. The data indicate that B. ammoniagenes contains two related though differently expressed type I FASs. FasA represents the bulk of cellular FAS protein and catalyzes the synthesis of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, while the minor variant, FasB, cannot catalyze the synthesis of oleic acid.

Structure of a dehydratase-isomerase from the bacterial pathway for biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids: two catalytic activities in one active site

BACKGROUND

Escherichia coli beta-hydroxydecanoyl thiol ester dehydrase (dehydrase) is essential to the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, by shunting a 10-carbon intermediate from the saturated fatty acid pathway into the unsaturated fatty acid pathway. Dehydrase catalyzes reactions of dehydration and of double-bond isomerization on 10-carbon thiol esters of acyl carrier protein (ACP). The aim of this work is to elucidate mechanisms for the two enzymatic reactions, which occur in an unusual bifunctional active site, and to understand the specificity of the enzyme for substrates with 10-carbon fatty acyl chains.

RESULTS

Crystal structures at 2.0 A resolution for free dehydrase and for the enzyme modified by its classic, mechanism-based inactivator, 3-decynoyl-N-acetylcysteamine, have been determined. Dehydrase is a symmetric dimer with an unusual alpha+beta 'hot dog' fold. Each of the two independent active sites is located between the two subunits of the enzyme, and is a tunnel-shaped pocket completely isolated from the general solvent. Side chains of histidine from one subunit and aspartic acid from the other are the only potentially reactive protein groups in the active site.

CONCLUSION

A two-base mechanism by which the histidine and aspartic acid together catalyze dehydration and isomerization reactions is consistent with the active-site structure. The unique topology of the protein fold and the identification of the active-site components reveal features of predictive value for another enzyme, FabZ, which may be the non-specific dehydratase involved in elongation of fatty acyl chains. A positively charged area surrounding the entrance to the active site, which could interact with the negatively charged ACP, was also found.

Synthesis of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate, a key precursor of membrane lipids, in Bacillus subtilis

The Bacillus subtilis gpsA gene was cloned by complementation of an Escherichia coli gpsA strain auxotrophic for sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. The gene was sequenced and found to encode an NAD(P)H-dependent dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductase with a deduced molecular mass of 39.5 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence showed strong conservation with that of the E. coli homolog and to other procaryotic and eucaryotic dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductases. The physical location of gpsA on the B. subtilis chromosome was at about 200 degrees. Disruption of the chromosomal gpsA gene yielded B. subtilis strains auxotrophic for glycerol, indicating that the gpsA gene product is responsible for synthesis of the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate required for phospholipid synthesis. We also found that transformation of the classical B. subtilis glycerol auxotrophs with a gpsA-containing genomic fragment yielded transformants that grew in the absence of glycerol. In agreement with prior work, our attempts to determine the reductase activity in B. subtilis extracts were unsuccessful. However, expression of the B. subtilis gpsA gene in E. coli gave reductase activity that was only slightly inhibited by sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. Since the E. coli GpsA dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductase is very sensitive to allosteric inhibition by sn-glycerol 3-phosphate, these results indicate that the B. subtilis gpsA-encoded reductase differs from that of E. coli. It seems that B. subtilis regulates sn-glycerol 3-phosphate synthesis at the level of gene expression rather than through the E. coli mechanism of strong allosteric inhibition of an enzyme produced in excess.

The gene encoding the biotin-apoprotein ligase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We report the isolation, genomic mapping, and DNA sequence of the BPL1 gene encoding the biotin-apoprotein ligase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene was isolated by complementation of an Escherichia coli birA (biotin-apoprotein ligase) mutant indicating that the expressed yeast protein modified the essential biotinated protein of the bacterial host. The BPL1 gene encodes a protein of 690 residues (M(r) 76.4 kDa) with strong sequence similarities to the E. coli and human biotin-apoprotein ligases. BPL1 was mapped to chromosome IV, is allelic to the previously described ACC2 gene, and encodes the major (if not the only) biotin-apoprotein ligase activity of S. cerevisiae.

Expression of the Escherichia coli fabA gene encoding beta-hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase and transport to chloroplasts in transgenic tobacco

The fabA gene of Escherichia coli encodes beta-hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase (HDDase), a pivotal enzyme in the biosynthesis of the unsaturated fatty acid cis-vaccenic acid, through the anaerobic pathway. This enzyme is specific to bacterial fatty acid biosynthetic pathways, although other enzymes for fatty acid synthesis are very similar in plants and bacteria. We constructed chimaeric plant expression vectors, pfab21 and pfab22, carrying the fabA gene under the transcriptional control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter of 35S RNA. In pfab21, fabA was placed directly under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter; whereas in pfab22, the DNA sequence coding for the chloroplast-targeting transit peptide (TP) of the pea ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCo) small subunit was fused to the fabA gene in order to allow transport of HDDase to the chloroplast, the organelle responsible for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plants. Transgenic plants of Nicotiana tabacum were obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with pfab21 or pfab22. Expression of fabA transcripts of sizes expected from the chimaeric constructs was shown by RNA blot hybridization. The HDDase protein derived from pfab22 was correctly processed and transported to chloroplasts in transformed plants. The enzymatic activity of HDDase was also detected in chloroplasts isolated from the transformants derived from pfab22 (but not pfab21) and in total leaf protein of all transformants. However, no significant changes were observed in the fatty acid compositions, including cis-vaccenic acid, of leaf chloroplasts and self-fertilized seeds. These results are discussed in relation with the possible structural organization of plant fatty acid synthase.

Purification and characterization of an 'actomyosin' complex from Escherichia coli W3110

An 'actomyosin' complex was purified from Escherichia coli W3110 using selective precipitation. The complex contains three major components of 19.5, 18.5 and 17 kDa. The 19.5- and 17-kDa proteins were purified by electroelution, peptide mapped and N-terminally sequenced. The structural gene for the 17-kDa protein was found to have been previously identified in an operon containing several other genes including the essential lpxA, lpxB and dnaE. The possible function of the 17-kDa protein and the other 'actomyosin' components is discussed.

The presence of a novel type of surface polysaccharide in Rhizobium meliloti requires a new fatty acid synthase-like gene cluster involved in symbiotic nodule development

Bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules have been shown to play important roles in plant-bacterium interactions. Here we have demonstrated that the fix-23 loci, which compensate for exo mutations during symbiotic nodule development, are involved in the production of a novel polysaccharide that is rich in 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (Kdo) but is not the classical LPS. This molecule is likely to be a surface antigen since antiserum to whole Rhizobium meliloti cells reacts strongly with it, and since mutations in fix-23 result in an inability to produce this polysaccharide and to bind bacteriophage 16-3. It is likely that this Kdo-rich polysaccharide is analogous to certain Escherichia coli K-antigens which are anchored to the membrane via a phospholipid moiety. DNA sequence analysis of one gene cluster of this region revealed that the predicted protein products of six genes exhibit a high degree of homology and similar organization to those of the rat fatty acid synthase multifunctional enzyme domains.

Lipoic acid metabolism in Escherichia coli: sequencing and functional characterization of the lipA and lipB genes

Two genes, lipA and lipB, involved in lipoic acid biosynthesis or metabolism were characterized by DNA sequence analysis. The translational initiation site of the lipA gene was established, and the lipB gene product was identified as a 25-kDa protein. Overproduction of LipA resulted in the formation of inclusion bodies, from which the protein was readily purified. Cells grown under strictly anaerobic conditions required the lipA and lipB gene products for the synthesis of a functional glycine cleavage system. Mutants carrying a null mutation in the lipB gene retained a partial ability to synthesize lipoic acid and produced low levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activities. The lipA gene product failed to convert protein-bound octanoic acid moieties to lipoic acid moieties in vivo; however, the growth of both lipA and lipB mutants was supported by either 6-thiooctanoic acid or 8-thiooctanoic acid in place of lipoic acid. These data suggest that LipA is required for the insertion of the first sulfur into the octanoic acid backbone. LipB functions downstream of LipA, but its role in lipoic acid metabolism remains unclear.

Regulation of transcription of genes required for fatty acid transport and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli by FadR

Fatty acid biosynthesis and fatty acid degradation in Escherichia coli are co-ordinately regulated at the level of transcription by the product of the fadR gene, FadR. In the present work we investigate FadR interaction with the fabA and fadL promoters. The FadR-responsive operator within fabA, OA, was localized to a region -47 to -31 base pairs relative to the start of transcription using DNase I protection studies. The promoter and untranslated leader within fadL had two binding sites for FadR, OL1 at -25 to -9 and OL2 at -1 to +16 relative to the start of transcription. The binding affinity of FadR for OA and OL1 or OL2 was lower than that for the single site within fadB (OB) as measured using protein-DNA gel retention assays. Overall, these experiments demonstrated that the affinity of FadR binding for DNA containing the fadB, fadL and fabA promoters was OB > OL1, OL2 > OA. We could not distinguish separate binding affinities for OL1 or OL2. We demonstrated repression of fadL transcription and activation of fabA transcription in vitro using run-off transcription assays containing purified FadR and RNA polymerase.

Biosynthesis of the erythromycin macrolactone and a rational approach for producing hybrid macrolides

The three eryA genes involved in the formation of the polyketide portion of the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin in Saccharopolyspora erythraea, appear to be organized in a single transcriptional unit on the basis of the results of gene disruption experiments. An insertion sequence-like element of lower G + C content separates eryAI from eryAII. The organization of the enzymatic domains present in the eryA-encoded multifunctional polypeptides, determined by computer-assisted analysis, is presented. This has enabled the determination of a putative dehydratase domain. A rational approach for producing novel macrolides by introducing selected changes in polyketide synthase genes is outlined. The isolation of a lactone intermediate resulting from an early synthesis step in macrolactone formation is also presented.

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of the Escherichia coli fabD gene, encoding malonyl coenzyme A-acyl carrier protein transacylase

The Escherichia coli fabD gene encoding malonyl coenzyme A-acyl carrier protein transacylase (MCT) was cloned by complementation of a thermosensitive E. coli fabD mutant (fabD89). Expression of the fabD gene in an appropriate E. coli expression vector resulted in an accumulation of the MCT protein of up to 10% of total soluble protein, which was accompanied by an approximately 1,000-fold increase in the MCT activity. DNA sequence analysis and expression studies revealed that the fabD gene is part of an operon consisting of at least three genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. Comparison with available DNA and protein data bases suggest that a 3-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase and a ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductase gene are located immediately upstream and downstream, respectively, of fabD within this fab operon. Western immunoblot analysis with antiserum raised against wild-type E. coli MCT showed that the fabD89 allele encodes a polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 27,000 in addition to the normal MCT protein of 32,000. The nature of the temperature-sensitive fabD89 gene product is discussed.

Cloning, sequencing and distribution of the Salmonella typhimurium LT2 sialidase gene, nanH, provides evidence for interspecies gene transfer

The Salmonella typhimurium LT2 sialidase (neuraminidase, EC 3.2.1.18) structural gene, nanH, has been cloned and sialidase overproduced from multicopy plasmids in Escherichia coli. Sialidase expression was regulated positively by cAMP. In contrast, certain Tn1000 insertions located upstream of nanH coding sequences reduced sialidase activity. A nanH chromosomal insertion mutation constructed by marker exchange demonstrated a single sialidase gene copy in S. typhimurium LT2. The complete nucleotide sequence of nanH, encoding a 41,300 dalton polypeptide, was determined and the derived primary structure was similar to sialidases from Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium sordellii, Bacteroides fragilis, and Trypanosoma cruzi. Comparative sequence analysis, including codon usage and secondary structure predictions, indicated that the S. typhimurium and clostridial sialidases are homologous, strongly suggestive of an interspecies gene transfer event. At least two primary sequence motifs of the bacterial enzymes were detected in influenza A virus sialidases. The predicted secondary structure of the bacterial enzymes was strikingly similar to viral sialidase. From the population distribution of nanH detected within a collection of salmonellae, it was apparent that S. typhimurium obtained its nanH copy most recently from Salmonella arizonae. S. typhimurium LT2 is thus a genetic mosaic that differs from other strains of even the same serotype by nanH plus potentially additional characters linked to nanH. These results have relevance to the evolution and function of sialidases in pathogenic microbes, and to the origin of the sialic acids.

6-Deoxyerythronolide-B synthase 2 from Saccharopolyspora erythraea. Cloning of the structural gene, sequence analysis and inferred domain structure of the multifunctional enzyme

Sequencing of the eryA region of the erythromycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Saccharopolyspora erythraea has revealed another structural gene (ORF B), in addition to the previously characterised ORF A, which appears to encode a component of 6-deoxyerythronolide-B synthase, the enzyme that catalyses the first stage in the biosynthesis of the polyketide antibiotic erythromycin A. The nucleotide sequence of ORF B, which lies immediately adjacent to ORF A, has been determined. The predicted gene product of ORF B is a polypeptide of 374417 Da (3568 amino acids), which is highly similar to the product of ORF A and which likewise contains a number of separate domains, each with substantial amino acid sequence similarity to components of known fatty-acid synthases and polyketide synthases. The order of the predicted active sites along the chain from the N-terminus is 3-oxoacyl-synthase--acyltransferase--acyl-carrier-protein-- 3-oxoacyl-synthase--acyltransferase--dehydratase--enoylreductase-- oxoreductase--acyl-carrier-protein. The position of the dehydratase active site has been pinpointed for the first time for any polyketide synthase or vertebrate fatty-acid synthase. The predicted domain structure of 6-deoxyerythronolide-B synthase is strikingly similar to that previously established for vertebrate fatty-acid synthases. This analysis of the sequence supports the view that the erythromycin-producing polyketide synthase contains three multienzyme polypeptides, each of which accomplishes two successive cycles of polyketide chain extension. In this scheme, the role of the ORF B gene product is to accomplish extension cycles 3 and 4.

Organization of the enzymatic domains in the multifunctional polyketide synthase involved in erythromycin formation in Saccharopolyspora erythraea

Localization of the enzymatic domains in the three multifunctional polypeptides from Saccharopolyspora erythraea involved in the formation of the polyketide portion of the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin was determined by computer-assisted analysis. Comparison of the six synthase units (SU) from the eryA genes with each other and with mono- and multifunctional fatty acid and polyketide synthases established the extent of each beta-ketoacyl acyl-carrier protein (ACP) synthase, acyltransferase, beta-ketoreductase, ACP, and thioesterase domain. The extent of the enoyl reductase (ER) domain was established by detecting similarity to other sequences in the database. A segment containing the putative dehydratase (DH) domain in EryAII, with a potential active-site histidine residue, was also found. The finding of conservation of a portion of the DH-ER interdomain region in the other five SU, which lack these two functions, suggests a possible evolutionary path for the generation of the six SU.

Escherichia coli transcription factor that both activates fatty acid synthesis and represses fatty acid degradation

The fadR gene of Escherichia coli encodes a protein that acts as a negative regulator (repressor) of the inducible beta-oxidation pathway. We report that the FadR protein also functions as a positive transcriptional activator of the fabA gene, which encodes the enzyme introducing the double bond of the unsaturated fatty acids of E. coli.

Regulation of proline utilization in enteric bacteria: cloning and characterization of the Klebsiella put control region

Enteric bacteria can grow on proline as the sole nitrogen and carbon source. Expression of the proline utilization (put) operon in Klebsiella strains and Escherichia coli is responsive to nitrogen regulation. In contrast, Salmonella typhimurium cannot activate put operon expression when growing in medium with glucose as a carbon source and proline as the sole nitrogen source. To compare nitrogen regulatory sites in the control regions of the put operons in these three closely related genera, we cloned the Klebsiella put operon onto a plasmid. The putA and putP genes were localized on the plasmid by transposon mutagenesis. The DNA sequence of the put control region was determined and compared with those of the put control regions from S. typhimurium and E. coli. The overall size and organization of the put control region were very similar in all three bacteria. However, no obvious ntr regulatory sites were found in this region, and transcription of the put genes started at the same sites during growth with limiting or excess nitrogen. These results strongly suggested that the Klebsiella put operon may not be directly regulated by the ntr system.

Escherichia coli beta-hydroxydecanoyl thioester dehydrase reacts with native C10 acyl-acyl-carrier proteins of plant and bacterial origin

beta-Hydroxydecanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydrase catalyzes the essential step in the formation of unsaturated fatty acids in Escherichia coli. This reaction was characterized with native C10 acyl-acyl-carrier protein (ACP) structures in both an aqueous phase system and a substrate immobilization assay system. The dehydrase is equally active with E. coli ACP, recombinant ACP-I derived from spinach, or protein A:ACP-I fusion (acyl-thioesters). There were differences among the substrates in terms of the equilibrium product distribution. Both E. coli acyl-ACP and recombinant acyl-ACP-I as cosubstrates with beta-OH 10:0, trans-2 10:1, or cis-3 10:1 yielded about equal amounts (37 mol%) of the two monoenes regardless of the initial substrate. In contrast, the fusion acyl-ACP-I yielded only 17 mol% cis-3 10:1 with 49 mol% trans-2 10:1 present at equilibrium. These equilibrium values for native cis-3 10:1 are higher than those reported previously for the dehydrase using N-acetylcysteamine thioesters as substrates. The Km values for each beta-OH 10:0 ACP substrate were similar to each other and within the range of in vivo concentrations (5-10 microM). Dehydrase reactivity depends more on acyl chain length than ACP structure or origin and is therefore different from other branch point ACP-utilizing enzymes (plant and bacterial) which discriminate according to ACP structure (D. J. Guerra, J. B. Ohlrogge, and M. Frentzen, 1986, Plant Physiol. 82, 448-453).

Linkage map of Escherichia coli K-12, edition 8

The linkage map of Escherichia coli K-12 depicts the arrangement of genes on the circular chromosome of this organism. The basic units of the map are minutes, determined by the time-of-entry of markers from Hfr into F- strains in interrupted-conjugation experiments. The time-of-entry distances have been refined over the years by determination of the frequency of cotransduction of loci in transduction experiments utilizing bacteriophage P1, which transduces segments of DNA approximately 2 min in length. In recent years, the relative positions of many genes have been determined even more precisely by physical techniques, including the mapping of restriction fragments and the sequencing of many small regions of the chromosome. On the whole, the agreement between results obtained by genetic and physical methods has been remarkably good considering the different levels of accuracy to be expected of the methods used. There are now few regions of the map whose length is still in some doubt. In some regions, genetic experiments utilizing different mutant strains give different map distances. In other regions, the genetic markers available have not been close enough to give accurate cotransduction data. The chromosome is now known to contain several inserted elements apparently derived from lambdoid phages and other sources. The nature of the region in which the termination of replication of the chromosome occurs is now known to be much more complex than the picture given in the previous map. The present map is based upon the published literature through June of 1988. There are now 1,403 loci placed on the linkage group, which may represent between one-third and one-half of the genes in this organism.