Characterization of plasmids in halobacteria

Plasmids from Euryarchaeota

Many plasmids have been described in Euryarchaeota, one of the three major archaeal phyla, most of them in salt-loving haloarchaea and hyperthermophilic Thermococcales. These plasmids resemble bacterial plasmids in terms of size (from small plasmids encoding only one gene up to large megaplasmids) and replication mechanisms (rolling circle or theta). Some of them are related to viral genomes and form a more or less continuous sequence space including many integrated elements. Plasmids from Euryarchaeota have been useful for designing efficient genetic tools for these microorganisms. In addition, they have also been used to probe the topological state of plasmids in species with or without DNA gyrase and/or reverse gyrase. Plasmids from Euryarchaeota encode both DNA replication proteins recruited from their hosts and novel families of DNA replication proteins. Euryarchaeota form an interesting playground to test evolutionary hypotheses on the origin and evolution of viruses and plasmids, since a robust phylogeny is available for this phylum. Preliminary studies have shown that for different plasmid families, plasmids share a common gene pool and coevolve with their hosts. They are involved in gene transfer, mostly between plasmids and viruses present in closely related species, but rarely between cells from distantly related archaeal lineages. With few exceptions (e.g., plasmids carrying gas vesicle genes), most archaeal plasmids seem to be cryptic. Interestingly, plasmids and viral genomes have been detected in extracellular membrane vesicles produced by Thermococcales, suggesting that these vesicles could be involved in the transfer of viruses and plasmids between cells.

Archaeal extrachromosomal genetic elements

SUMMARY

Research on archaeal extrachromosomal genetic elements (ECEs) has progressed rapidly in the past decade. To date, over 60 archaeal viruses and 60 plasmids have been isolated. These archaeal viruses exhibit an exceptional diversity in morphology, with a wide array of shapes, such as spindles, rods, filaments, spheres, head-tails, bottles, and droplets, and some of these new viruses have been classified into one order, 10 families, and 16 genera. Investigation of model archaeal viruses has yielded important insights into mechanisms underlining various steps in the viral life cycle, including infection, DNA replication and transcription, and virion egression. Many of these mechanisms are unprecedented for any known bacterial or eukaryal viruses. Studies of plasmids isolated from different archaeal hosts have also revealed a striking diversity in gene content and innovation in replication strategies. Highly divergent replication proteins are identified in both viral and plasmid genomes. Genomic studies of archaeal ECEs have revealed a modular sequence structure in which modules of DNA sequence are exchangeable within, as well as among, plasmid families and probably also between viruses and plasmids. In particular, it has been suggested that ECE-host interactions have shaped the coevolution of ECEs and their archaeal hosts. Furthermore, archaeal hosts have developed defense systems, including the innate restriction-modification (R-M) system and the adaptive CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) system, to restrict invasive plasmids and viruses. Together, these interactions permit a delicate balance between ECEs and their hosts, which is vitally important for maintaining an innovative gene reservoir carried by ECEs. In conclusion, while research on archaeal ECEs has just started to unravel the molecular biology of these genetic entities and their interactions with archaeal hosts, it is expected to accelerate in the next decade.

Virgibacillus salarius sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from a Saharan salt lake

A Gram-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and moderately halophilic bacterium was isolated from a salt-crust sample collected from Gharsa salt lake (Chott el Gharsa), Tunisia. The newly isolated bacterium, designated SA-Vb1(T), was identified based on polyphasic taxonomy including genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization. Strain SA-Vb1(T) was closely related to the type strains of Virgibacillus marismortui and Virgibacillus olivae, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99.7 and 99.4 %, respectively. However, strain SA-Vb1(T) was distinguished from these two type strains on the basis of phenotypic characteristics and DNA-DNA relatedness (29.4 and 5.1 %, respectively). The genetic relationship between strain SA-Vb1(T) and Virgibacillus pantothenticus IAM 11061(T) (the type strain of the type species) and other type strains of the genus was 96-98 % based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 18.3-22.3 % based on DNA-DNA hybridization. Biochemical analysis resulted in determination of major fatty acids iso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0) (33.3, 29.2 and 9.8 %, respectively); phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were the main polar lipids and MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone ( approximately 100 %). The distinct characteristics demonstrated by strain SA-Vb1(T) represent properties of a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus salarius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SA-Vb1(T) (=JCM 12946(T) =DSM 18441(T)).

Insertion sequence diversity in archaea

Insertion sequences (ISs) can constitute an important component of prokaryotic (bacterial and archaeal) genomes. Over 1,500 individual ISs are included at present in the ISfinder database (www-is.biotoul.fr), and these represent only a small portion of those in the available prokaryotic genome sequences and those that are being discovered in ongoing sequencing projects. In spite of this diversity, the transposition mechanisms of only a few of these ubiquitous mobile genetic elements are known, and these are all restricted to those present in bacteria. This review presents an overview of ISs within the archaeal kingdom. We first provide a general historical summary of the known properties and behaviors of archaeal ISs. We then consider how transposition might be regulated in some cases by small antisense RNAs and by termination codon readthrough. This is followed by an extensive analysis of the IS content in the sequenced archaeal genomes present in the public databases as of June 2006, which provides an overview of their distribution among the major archaeal classes and species. We show that the diversity of archaeal ISs is very great and comparable to that of bacteria. We compare archaeal ISs to known bacterial ISs and find that most are clearly members of families first described for bacteria. Several cases of lateral gene transfer between bacteria and archaea are clearly documented, notably for methanogenic archaea. However, several archaeal ISs do not have bacterial equivalents but can be grouped into Archaea-specific groups or families. In addition to ISs, we identify and list nonautonomous IS-derived elements, such as miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements. Finally, we present a possible scenario for the evolutionary history of ISs in the Archaea.

Gas vesicle genes identified in Bacillus megaterium and functional expression in Escherichia coli

Gas vesicles are intracellular, protein-coated, and hollow organelles found in cyanobacteria and halophilic archaea. They are permeable to ambient gases by diffusion and provide buoyancy, enabling cells to move upwards in liquid to access oxygen and/or light. In halobacteria, gas vesicle production is encoded in a 9-kb cluster of 14 genes (4 of known function). In cyanobacteria, the number of genes involved has not been determined. We now report the cloning and sequence analysis of an 8,142-bp cluster of 15 putative gas vesicle genes (gvp) from Bacillus megaterium VT1660 and their functional expression in Escherichia coli. Evidence includes homologies by sequence analysis to known gas vesicle genes, the buoyancy phenotype of E. coli strains that carry this gvp gene cluster, the presence of pressure-sensitive, refractile bodies in phase-contrast microscopy, structural details in phase-contrast microscopy, structural details in direct interference-contrast microscopy, and shape and size revealed by transmission electron microscopy. In B. megaterium, the gvp region carries a cluster of 15 putative genes arranged in one orientation; they are open reading frame 1 and gvpA, -P, -Q, -B, -R, -N, -F, -G, -L, -S, -K, -J, -T, and -U, of which the last 11 genes, in a 5.7-kb gene cluster, are the maximum required for gas vesicle synthesis and function in E. coli. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a functional gas vesicle gene cluster in nonaquatic bacteria and the first example of the interspecies transfer of genes resulting in the synthesis of a functional organelle.

Physical map and set of overlapping cosmid clones representing the genome of the archaeon Halobacterium sp. GRB

We have constructed a complete, five-enzyme restriction map of the genome of the archaeon Halobacterium sp. GRB, based on a set of 84 overlapping cosmid clones. Fewer than 30 kbp, in three gaps, remain uncloned. The genome consists of five replicons: a chromosome (2038 kbp) and four plasmids (305, 90, 37, and 1.8 kbp). The genome of Halobacterium sp. GRB is similar in style to other halobacterial genomes by being partitioned among multiple replicons and by being mosaic in terms of nucleotide composition. It is unlike other halobacterial genomes, however, in lacking multicopy families of insertion sequences.

Gas vesicles

The gas vesicle is a hollow structure made of protein. It usually has the form of a cylindrical tube closed by conical end caps. Gas vesicles occur in five phyla of the Bacteria and two groups of the Archaea, but they are mostly restricted to planktonic microorganisms, in which they provide buoyancy. By regulating their relative gas vesicle content aquatic microbes are able to perform vertical migrations. In slowly growing organisms such movements are made more efficiently than by swimming with flagella. The gas vesicle is impermeable to liquid water, but it is highly permeable to gases and is normally filled with air. It is a rigid structure of low compressibility, but it collapses flat under a certain critical pressure and buoyancy is then lost. Gas vesicles in different organisms vary in width, from 45 to > 200 nm; in accordance with engineering principles the narrower ones are stronger (have higher critical pressures) than wide ones, but they contain less gas space per wall volume and are therefore less efficient at providing buoyancy. A survey of gas-vacuolate cyanobacteria reveals that there has been natural selection for gas vesicles of the maximum width permitted by the pressure encountered in the natural environment, which is mainly determined by cell turgor pressure and water depth. Gas vesicle width is genetically determined, perhaps through the amino acid sequence of one of the constituent proteins. Up to 14 genes have been implicated in gas vesicle production, but so far the products of only two have been shown to be present in the gas vesicle: GvpA makes the ribs that form the structure, and GvpC binds to the outside of the ribs and stiffens the structure against collapse. The evolution of the gas vesicle is discussed in relation to the homologies of these proteins.

Plasmid pHH1 of Halobacterium salinarium: characterization of the replicon region, the gas vesicle gene cluster and insertion elements

The DNA sequence of the 5.7 kb plasmid pHH9 containing the replicon region of the 150 kb plasmid pHH1 from Halobacterium salinarium was determined. The minimal region necessary for stable plasmid maintenance lies within a 2.9 kb fragment, as defined by transformation experiments. The DNA sequence contained two open reading frames arranged in opposite orientations, separated by an unusually high AT-rich (60-70% A+T) sequence of 350 bp. All H. salinarium strains (H. halobium, H. cutirubrum) investigated harbour endogenous plasmids containing the pHH1 replicon; however, these pHH1-type plasmids differ by insertions and deletions. Adjacent to the replicon, and separated by a copy of each of the insertion elements ISH27 and ISH26, is the 9 kb p-vac region required for gas vesicle synthesis. Analysis of these and other ISH element copies in pHH1 revealed that most of them lack the target DNA duplication usually found with recently transposed ISH elements. These results underline the plasticity of plasmid pHH1.

Detailed physical map and set of overlapping clones covering the genome of the archaebacterium Haloferax volcanii DS2

An integrated approach of "bottom up" and "top down" mapping has produced a minimal set of overlapping cosmid clones covering 96% of the 4140 kilobase-pairs (kbp) Haloferax volcanii DS2 genome and a completely closed physical map. This genome is partitioned into five replicons: a 2920 kbp chromosome and four plasmids, of 690 kbp (pHV4), 442 kbp (pHV3), 86 kbp(pHV1) and 6.4 kbp (pHV2). A restriction map for six infrequently-cutting restriction enzymes was constructed, representing a total of 903 sites in the cloned DNA. We have placed the two ribosomal RNA operons, the genes for 7 S RNA and for RNaseP RNA and 22 protein-coding genes on the map. Restriction site frequencies show significant variation in different portions of the genome. The regions of high site density correspond to halobacterial satellite or FII DNA which includes two small regions of the chromosome, the plasmids pHV1 and pHV2, and half of pHV4, but not pHV3.

Insertion elements and deletion formation in a halophilic archaebacterium

Deletion events that occur spontaneously in 36-kilobase-pair (kbp) plasmid pHH4 from the archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium were investigated. Four different deletion derivatives with sizes ranging from 5.7 to 17 kbp were isolated. Three of these deletion variants derived from pHH4 (pHH6 [17 kbp], pHH7 [16 kbp], and pHH8 [6.3 kbp]), whereas the 5.7-kbp plasmid pHH9 derived from pHH6. Strains containing pHH6, pHH7, or pHH9 each lacked the parental plasmid pHH4, while pHH8 occurred at a 1:1 ratio together with pHH4. Common to all of these plasmids was the 5.7-kbp region of pHH9 DNA. The regions containing the fusion site in the deletion derivatives were investigated and compared with the corresponding area of the parental plasmid. Each deletion occurred exactly at the terminus of an insertion element. In pHH6 and pHH7, a halobacterial insertion element (ISH2) was located at the deletion site. The DNA fused to ISH2 displayed a 7-base-pair (bp) (pHH7) or 10-bp (pHH6) sequence homology to the inverted repeat of ISH2. In the two smaller plasmids, pHH8 and pHH9, an ISH27 element was located at the deletion site. Most likely, all of these smaller plasmids resulted from an intramolecular transposition event. The ISH27 insertion sequence contains a 16-bp terminal inverted repeat and duplicates 5 bp of target DNA during the transposition with the specificity 5'ANNNT3'. Four ISH27 copies were analyzed, and two ISH27 element types were identified that have approximately 85% sequence similarity. The ISH27 insertion elements constitute a family which is related to the ISH51 family characterized for H. volcanii, another halophilic archaebacterium.

Shuttle vectors for the archaebacterium Halobacterium volcanii

Progress in archaebacterial molecular biology requires tools for genetic analysis. We describe vectors that can be selected and maintained in either Halobacterium volcanii or Escherichia coli. A genetic determinant for resistance to the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor mevinolin was isolated by "shotgun cloning" into a derivative of the endogenous H. volcanii plasmid pHV2, to form pWL2, which transforms sensitive H. volcanii to mevinolin resistance at high frequency. The resistance determinant, portions of pHV2, and an ampicillin- and tetracycline-resistance-conferring pBR322 derivative, pAT153, were ligated together to form the shuttle vectors pWL101 and pWL102. We describe conditions for the use of these vectors and provide preliminary definition of regions essential for drug resistance and for plasmid replication and maintenance.

Gene structure, organization, and expression in archaebacteria

Major advances have recently been made in understanding the molecular biology of the archaebacteria. In this review, we compare the structure of protein and stable RNA-encoding genes cloned and sequenced from each of the major classes of archaebacteria: the methanogens, extreme halophiles, and acid thermophiles. Protein-encoding genes, including some encoding proteins directly involved in methanogenesis and photoautotrophy, are analyzed on the basis of gene organization and structure, transcriptional control signals, codon usage, and evolutionary conservation. Stable RNA-encoding genes are compared for gene organization and structure, transcriptional signals, and processing events involved in RNA maturation, including intron removal. Comparisons of archaebacterial structures and regulatory systems are made with their eubacterial and eukaryotic homologs.

Transcription of genes involved in bacterio-opsin gene expression in mutants of a halophilic archaebacterium

Recent studies on the regulation of the bacterio-opsin (bop) gene of the archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium suggest that the brp and putative bat genes are involved in bop gene expression or purple membrane assembly. These two genes are located 526 and 1,602 base pairs, respectively, upstream of the bop gene and are both transcribed in the opposite orientation to the bop gene. Transcription of the bop, brp, and putative bat genes was characterized in the wild type, 11 Bop mutants, and a Bop revertant by using a series of RNA probes. Quantitation of the relative mRNA levels for these three genes in the wild type revealed that the brp and bat transcripts are present at approximately 2 and 4%, respectively, of bop mRNA levels under the growth conditions used. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of Bop mutants indicated that insertions in the brp gene affect expression of the putative bat gene. In addition, deletion of most of the bat gene resulted in virtually undetectable levels of bop and brp mRNAs. These and other results lead us to propose that (i) brp gene expression can affect bat gene expression and (ii) the putative bat gene is involved in activating bop and brp gene expression.

Characterization of a second gene involved in bacterio-opsin gene expression in a halophilic archaebacterium

Southern blot analysis and nucleotide sequencing of DNA from three bacterio-opsin-deficient mutants of the archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium (M86, W105, and W109) revealed that they each contain an alteration in a region 2,000 to 3,800 base pairs (bp) upstream of the bacterio-opsin gene (bop). Nucleotide sequence analysis of this region, which is also located downstream of the previously characterized brp gene, revealed that it contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 2,022 bp. This 2,022-bp ORF has a start codon which overlaps the stop codon of the brp gene and is read in the same direction. The ORF could encode an acidic protein of 73,334 daltons (674 amino acids) with a predicted secondary structure typical of a soluble protein. Bop mutant M86 contains a 1,883-bp deletion extending from bp 351 of the ORF, to 197 bp beyond the stop codon. Mutant W105 has an ISH2 element integrated at bp 1239 of the ORF, and mutant W109 has an ISH26 element integrated at bp 1889. Our results suggest that the ORF is a gene (designated bat for bacterio-opsin activator gene) involved in bop gene expression.

Evidence for two different gas vesicle proteins and genes in Halobacterium halobium

Most halobacteria produce gas vesicles (GV). The well-characterized species Halobacterium halobium and some GV+ revertants of GV- mutants of H. halobium produce large amounts of GV which have a spindlelike shape. Most other GV+ revertants of H. halobium GV- mutants and other recently characterized halobacterial wild-type strains possess GV with a cylindrical form. The number of intact particles in the latter isolates is only 10 to 30% of that of H. halobium. Analysis of GV envelope proteins (GVPs) by electrophoresis on phenol-acetic acid-urea gels showed that the GVP of the highly efficient GV-producing strains migrated faster than the GVP of the low-GV-producing strains. The relative molecular mass of the GVP was estimated to be 19 kilodaltons (kDa) for high-producing strains (GVP-A) and 20 kDa for low-producing strains (GVP-B). Amino acid sequence analysis of the first 40 amino acids of the N-terminal parts of GVP-A and GVP-B indicated that the two proteins differed in two defined positions. GVP-B, in relation to GVP-A, had Gly-7 and Val-28 always replaced by Ser-7 and Ile-28, respectively. These data suggest that at least two different gvp genes exist in H. halobium NRL. This was directly demonstrated by hybridization experiments with gvp-specific DNA probes. A fragment of plasmid pHH1 and a chromosomal fragment of H. halobium hybridized to the probes. Only a chromosomal fragment hybridized to the same gyp probes when both chromosomal and plasmid DNAs from the low-GV-producing halobacterial wild-type strains SB3 and GN101 were examined. These findings support the assumption that GVP-A is expressed by a pHH1-associated gvp gene and GVP-B by a chromosomal gvp gene.

Characterization of pHV2 from Halobacterium volcanii and its use in demonstrating transformation of an archaebacterium

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the 6354-base-pair plasmid pHV2 of the archaebacterium Halobacterium volcanii. This plasmid is present in approximately six copies per chromosome. We have generated a strain, H. volcanii WFD11, cured of pHV2 by treatment of liquid cultures with ethidium bromide. We describe PEG-mediated transformation of H. volcanii WFD11 with intact pHV2 and with a form of pHV2 marked by a 93-base-pair deletion generated in vitro.

23S ribosomal RNA mutations in halobacteria conferring resistance to the anti-80S ribosome targeted antibiotic anisomycin

Halobacterium (H.) halobium and H. cutirubrum mutants resistant to the anti-80S ribosome targeted inhibitor anisomycin were isolated. Three classes of mutants were obtained: Class I displayed a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to anisomycin of 10 micrograms/ml, class II of 25 micrograms/ml and class III of at least 400 micrograms/ml. In vitro polyphenylalanine synthesis assays demonstrated that in those cases tested resistance was a property of the large ribosomal subunit. By primer extension analysis, each mutation class could be correlated with a distinct base change within the peptidyltransferase loop of 235 rRNA. In class I A2472 was changed to C, in class II G2466 was changed to C and in the high-level resistant class III C2471 was replaced by U. A. double mutant - obtained by selection of a class I mutant for high-level anisomycin resistance - acquired the C2471 to U replacement of class III in addition to the class I mutation. The results provide information on the action of a eukaryotic protein synthesis inhibitor on archaebacterial ribosomes and demonstrate the suitability of organisms with a single rRNA transcriptional unit on the chromosome for direct selection of mutations in ribosomal RNA.

ISH51: a large, degenerate family of insertion sequence-like elements in the genome of the archaebacterium, Halobacterium volcanii

We describe a new family of repetitive elements in the genome of the archaebacterium Halobacterium volcanii. There are some 20-30 copies of this element, which we designate ISH51. Sequenced copies show typical insertion sequence characteristics (terminal inverted repeats, direct flanking repeats of "target site" DNA). However, members of the ISH51 family are highly heterogeneous, showing on average only 85% primary sequence homology; and some genomic copies appear to be severely truncated. Some ISH51 elements are clustered together in regions of relatively AT-rich DNA. There are at least five such AT-rich "islands" in the H. volcanii genome. Repetitive sequences homologous to ISH51 are found in the genomes of most Halobacterium and Halococcus species.

Magnesium and Manganese Content of Halophilic Bacteria

Magnesium and manganese contents were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in bacteria of several halophilic levels, in Vibrio costicola , a moderately halophilic eubacterium growing in 1 M NaCl, Halobacterium volcanii , a halophilic archaebacterium growing in 2.5 M NaCl, Halobacterium cutirubrum , an extremely halophilic archaebacterium growing in 4 M NaCl, and Escherichia coli , a nonhalophilic eubacterium growing in 0.17 M NaCl. Magnesium and manganese contents varied with the growth phase, being maximal at the early log phase. Magnesium and manganese molalities in cell water were shown to increase with the halophilic character of the logarithmically growing bacteria, from 30 mmol of Mg per kg of cell water and 0.37 mmol of Mn per kg of cell water for E. coli to 102 mmol of Mg per kg of cell water and 1.6 mmol of Mn per kg of cell water for H. cutirubrum . The intracellular concentrations of manganese were determined independently by a radioactive tracer technique in V. costicola and H. volcanii . The values obtained by 54 Mn loading represented about 70% of the values obtained by atomic absorption. The increase of magnesium and manganese contents associated with the halophilic character of the bacteria suggests that manganese and magnesium play a role in haloadaptation.

Restoration of bacterioopsin gene expression in a revertant of Halobacterium halobium

Restoration of bacterioopsin (bop) gene expression in a revertant of Halobacterium halobium was investigated. The phenotype of the revertant is the result of a translocation of the 588-base-pair (bp) sequence "ISH25", adjacent to an ISH24 insertion found in the parental mutant IV-4. These insertions are located about 1,400 bp upstream of the bop gene within the coding region of the putative brp (bacterioopsin-related protein) gene. The level at which the brp gene affects bop gene expression is unknown. Analysis of bop and brp gene transcription in the wild type, mutant IV-4, and the revertant supports the hypothesis that transcription of the putative brp gene is necessary for bop gene expression in the revertant. Eight insertion mutants of the Bop revertant were analyzed to further elucidate restoration of bop gene expression in the revertant. Bop mutants of the revertant were recovered with a frequency of about 10(-4) and were found to contain insertion elements in addition to ISH24 and "ISH25". Six-eighths of these mutants have the insertion element ISH2, and two mutants have previously uncharacterized insertion elements (ISH27 [1,400 bp] and ISH28 [1,000 bp]). ISH27 and ISH28 are confined to the more A + T-rich fraction of the H. halobium genome, as are most copies of other halobacterial insertion elements. The insertion sites in the Bop mutants of the revertant mapped within the coding region of the bop gene (three mutants), immediately upstream of the bop gene presumably in the bop promoter region (two mutants), or within a region from 241 to 449 bp upstream of the bop gene (three mutants). This distribution of insertion sites suggests that the integrity of the 526-bp region between the bop and the brp genes is important for bop gene expression in the revertant.

Genome organization in Halobacterium halobium: a 70 kb island of more (AT) rich DNA in the chromosome

The more A + T rich fractionated component (FII DNA) of the Halobacterium halobium genome constitutes one third of the total DNA and upon isolation consists of covalently closed circular DNA (pHH1 and minor cccDNA) and nonsupercoiled sequences. We have investigated the physical organization of the non cccDNA in FII by a chromosome walk using one copy of the halobacterial insertion element ISH1 as a start point. This chromosome walk led to the isolation of 160 kb of chromosomal DNA containing 70 kb of FII DNA covalently linked to more G + C rich sequences (FI DNA). Copies of three previously characterized insertion elements (ISH1, ISH2, and ISH26) as well as at least 10 other repeated sequences are clustered within this chromosomal FII DNA "island". Unique sequences are found in the FI DNA flanking the FII DNA island as well as in 40 kb of FI DNA surrounding the bacterio-opsin gene. The presence of pHH1 in H. halobium and closely related species correlates with the occurrence of the characterized chromosomal FII DNA island. Halophilic purple membrane producing isolates YC81819-9, GN101, SB3 and GRA lack pHH1 and the 70 kb FII DNA, but contain all of the FI DNA sequences tested. We propose that pHH1 and this chromosomal FII DNA are characteristic genomic components of H. halobium and closely related species, and, that the 70 kb FII DNA might represent a large insertion in the chromosome of H. halobium and closely related species. The conservation of both FI and FII DNA sequences can be used for strain classification and determination of evolutionary relationships among halo-bacteria.

Evidence for a plasmid in a methanogenic bacterium

Among 15 strains of methanogens, one plasmid, pMP1, was identified in the new coccoid isolate PL-12/M. It could not be detected in the cleared lysate, but it was detected in the viscous pellet. The plasmid had a molecular weight of ca. 4.6 x 10(6). A restriction enzyme cleavage map of the cloned plasmid was derived.

A plasmid in the archaebacterium Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

The archaebacterium Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg (DSM 2133) was found to contain a plasmid (pME2001) in covalently closed circular form. It was isolated by CsCl gradient centrifugation of total DNA in the presence of ethidium bromide. Multimers up to the hexamer were observed upon agarose gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy of a purified plasmid preparation. A restriction map was constructed. The length of plasmid pME2001 was determined to be approximately 4,500 bp. Southern hybridization of plasmid DNA to DNA extracted from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H (DSM1053) revealed the presence of a plasmid with homologous sequences in the delta H strain.

Genetic variability in Halobacterium halobium

Halobacterium halobium exhibits an extraordinary degree of spontaneous variability. Mutants which are defective in the formation of gas vacuoles (vac) arise at a frequency of 10(-2). Other easily detectable phenotypes, like the synthesis of bacterioruberin (Rub) or the synthesis of retinal (Ret) and bacterio-opsin (Ops), the two components which form the purple membrane (Pum) of H. halobium, are lost at a frequency of about 10(-4). With the same frequency a mutant type appears which exhibits an extremely high variability in these phenotypes. With the exception of the ret mutants, all spontaneously arising mutants show alterations, i.e., insertions, rearrangements, or deletions, in the plasmid pHH1. It appears that the introduction of one insertion into pHH1 triggers further insertions, which makes the identification of relationships between phenotypic and genotypic alterations rather difficult. From the analysis of a large number of spontaneous vac mutants and their vac+ revertants it can be concluded that the formation of the gas vacuoles is determined or controlled by plasmid genes. No such conclusion is yet possible for the rub mutants, although all mutants of this type so far analyzed exhibit a defined insertion. pum mutants which have lost the capability of forming bacterio-opsin carry insertions in the plasmid which are distributed over a rather large region of the plasmid. No strains of H. halobium could be obtained which had lost plasmid pHH1 completely.