Molecular cloning of the Escherichia coli gene for diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase

Re-evaluation of Diadenosine Tetraphosphate (Ap4A) From a Stress Metabolite to Bona Fide Secondary Messenger

Cellular homeostasis requires adaption to environmental stress. In response to various environmental and genotoxic stresses, all cells produce dinucleoside polyphosphates (Np_nNs), the best studied of which is diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap₄A). Despite intensive investigation, the precise biological roles of these molecules have remained elusive. However, recent studies have elucidated distinct and specific signaling mechanisms for these nucleotides in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This review summarizes these key discoveries and describes the mechanisms of Ap₄A and Ap₄N synthesis, the mediators of the cellular responses to increased intracellular levels of these molecules and the hydrolytic mechanisms required to maintain low levels in the absence of stress. The intracellular responses to dinucleotide accumulation are evaluated in the context of the "friend" and "foe" scenarios. The "friend (or alarmone) hypothesis" suggests that Ap_nN act as bona fide secondary messengers mediating responses to stress. In contrast, the "foe" hypothesis proposes that Ap_nN and other Np_nN are produced by non-canonical enzymatic synthesis as a result of physiological and environmental stress in critically damaged cells but do not actively regulate mitigating signaling pathways. In addition, we will discuss potential target proteins, and critically assess new evidence supporting roles for Ap_nN in the regulation of gene expression, immune responses, DNA replication and DNA repair. The recent advances in the field have generated great interest as they have for the first time revealed some of the molecular mechanisms that mediate cellular responses to Ap_nN. Finally, areas for future research are discussed with possible but unproven roles for intracellular Ap_nN to encourage further research into the signaling networks that are regulated by these nucleotides.

Inhibitors of the Diadenosine Tetraphosphate Phosphorylase Rv2613c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The intracellular concentration of diadenosine tetraphospate (Ap₄A) increases upon exposure to stress conditions. Despite being discovered over 50 years ago, the cellular functions of Ap₄A are still enigmatic. If and how the varied Ap₄A is a signal and involved in the signaling pathways leading to an appropriate cellular response remain to be discovered. Because the turnover of Ap₄A by Ap₄A cleaving enzymes is rapid, small molecule inhibitors for these enzymes would provide tools for the more detailed study of the role of Ap₄A. Here, we describe the development of a high-throughput screening assay based on a fluorogenic Ap₄A substrate for the identification and optimization of small molecule inhibitors for Ap₄A cleaving enzymes. As proof-of-concept we screened a library of over 42 000 compounds toward their inhibitory activity against the Ap₄A phosphorylase (Rv2613c) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). A sulfanylacrylonitril derivative with an IC₅₀ of 260 ± 50 nM in vitro was identified. Multiple derivatives were synthesized to further optimize their properties with respect to their in vitro IC₅₀ values and their cytotoxicity against human cells (HeLa). In addition, we selected two hits to study their antimycobacterial activity against virulent Mtb to show that they might be candidates for further development of antimycobacterial agents against multidrug-resistant Mtb.

Metallophosphoesterases: structural fidelity with functional promiscuity

Calcineurin-like metallophosphoesterases (MPEs) form a large superfamily of binuclear metal-ion-centre-containing enzymes that hydrolyse phosphomono-, phosphodi- or phosphotri-esters in a metal-dependent manner. The MPE domain is found in Mre11/SbcD DNA-repair enzymes, mammalian phosphoprotein phosphatases, acid sphingomyelinases, purple acid phosphatases, nucleotidases and bacterial cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases. Despite this functional diversity, MPEs show a remarkably similar structural fold and active-site architecture. In the present review, we summarize the available structural, biochemical and functional information on these proteins. We also describe how diversification and specialization of the core MPE fold in various MPEs is achieved by amino acid substitution in their active sites, metal ions and regulatory effects of accessory domains. Finally, we discuss emerging roles of these proteins as non-catalytic protein-interaction scaffolds. Thus we view the MPE superfamily as a set of proteins with a highly conserved structural core that allows embellishment to result in dramatic and niche-specific diversification of function.

Identity and function of a large gene network underlying mutagenic repair of DNA breaks

Mechanisms of DNA repair and mutagenesis are defined on the basis of relatively few proteins acting on DNA, yet the identities and functions of all proteins required are unknown. Here, we identify the network that underlies mutagenic repair of DNA breaks in stressed Escherichia coli and define functions for much of it. Using a comprehensive screen, we identified a network of ≥93 genes that function in mutation. Most operate upstream of activation of three required stress responses (RpoS, RpoE, and SOS, key network hubs), apparently sensing stress. The results reveal how a network integrates mutagenic repair into the biology of the cell, show specific pathways of environmental sensing, demonstrate the centrality of stress responses, and imply that these responses are attractive as potential drug targets for blocking the evolution of pathogens.

The phosphatomes of the multicellular myxobacteria Myxococcus xanthus and Sorangium cellulosum in comparison with other prokaryotic genomes

BACKGROUND

Analysis of the complete genomes from the multicellular myxobacteria Myxococcus xanthus and Sorangium cellulosum identified the highest number of eukaryotic-like protein kinases (ELKs) compared to all other genomes analyzed. High numbers of protein phosphatases (PPs) could therefore be anticipated, as reversible protein phosphorylation is a major regulation mechanism of fundamental biological processes.

METHODOLOGY

Here we report an intensive analysis of the phosphatomes of M. xanthus and S. cellulosum in which we constructed phylogenetic trees to position these sequences relative to PPs from other prokaryotic organisms.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

PREDOMINANT OBSERVATIONS WERE: (i) M. xanthus and S. cellulosum possess predominantly Ser/Thr PPs; (ii) S. cellulosum encodes the highest number of PP2c-type phosphatases so far reported for a prokaryotic organism; (iii) in contrast to M. xanthus only S. cellulosum encodes high numbers of SpoIIE-like PPs; (iv) there is a significant lack of synteny among M. xanthus and S. cellulosum, and (v) the degree of co-organization between kinase and phosphatase genes is extremely low in these myxobacterial genomes.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that there has been a greater expansion of ELKs than PPs in multicellular myxobacteria.

PrpE, a PPP protein phosphatase from Bacillus subtilis with unusual substrate specificity

Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium with a relatively large number of protein phosphatases. Previous studies have shown that some Ser/Thr phosphatases play an important role in the life cycle of this bacterium [Losick and Stragier (1992) Nature (London) 355, 601-604; Yang, Kang, Brody and Price (1996) Genes Dev. 10, 2265-2275]. In this paper, we report the biochemical properties of a putative, previously uncharacterized phosphatase, PrpE, belonging to the PPP family. This enzyme shares homology with other PPP phosphatases as well as with symmetrical diadenosine tetraphosphatases related to ApaH (symmetrical Ap(4)A hydrolase) from Escherichia coli. A His-tagged recombinant PrpE was purified from E. coli and shown to have Ni(2+)-dependent and okadaic acid-resistant phosphatase activity against a synthetic phosphorylated peptide and hydrolase activity against diadenosine 5',5"'-tetraphosphate. Unexpectedly, PrpE was able to remove phosphate from phosphotyrosine, but not from phosphothreonine or phosphoserine.

Disruption and overexpression of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe aph1 gene and the effects on intracellular diadenosine 5',5'''-P1, P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A), ATP and ADP concentrations

Diadenosine oligophosphates are ubiquitous compounds that were discovered over 30 years ago. Diadenosine 5',5"'-P(1), P(4)-tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) is the most studied member of this family, and its function in yeast is unknown. To investigate possible functions, we changed the intracellular Ap(4)A concentration in Schizosaccharomyces pombe via disruption and overexpression of the aph1 gene, which encodes an Ap(4)A hydrolase (Aph1). S. pombe Aph1 is 52% identical with a human tumour suppressor protein, Fhit, in a core region of 109 amino acids. Disruption of aph1 resulted in an 85% decrease in Ap(4)A hydrolase activity and a 290-fold increase in the intracellular Ap(4)A concentration. The disruption and subsequent increase in intracellular Ap(4)A concentration had no significant effect on the growth of S. pombe. Overexpression of the S. pombe aph1 gene, resulting in 17- and 84-fold increases in Ap(4)A hydrolase activity above wild-type levels, resulted in 60 and 80% decreases respectively in the intracellular Ap(4)A concentration. This represents the first report of a decrease in the intracellular Ap(4)A concentration in response to overexpression of a degradative enzyme in any eukaryotic organism. We describe a new S. pombe expression plasmid, pPOX, which was used to achieve the largest increase in expression of aph1. Overexpression of aph1 at the highest level resulted in a 46% increase in generation time in comparison with the control strain. Neither overexpression nor disruption had any effect on the intracellular ATP or ADP concentrations. This is the first report of ADP and ATP concentrations in S. pombe. These data also indicate that Aph1 functions in vivo to degrade Ap(4)A, and that high-level overexpression of this enzyme reduces the growth rate.

Specific and nonspecific enzymes involved in the catabolism of mononucleoside and dinucleoside polyphosphates

This review concerns enzymes that can degrade nucleoside 5'-tetra- and pentaphosphates (p(4)N and p(5)N) and those that can degrade various dinucleoside polyphosphates (Np(3-6)N'). Most of these enzymes are hydrolases, and they occur in all types of organisms. Certain fungi and protozoa also possess specific Np(n)N' phosphorylases. Specific p(4)N hydrolases have been demonstrated in mammals and in plants. In yeast, p(4)N and p(5)N are hydrolyzed by exopolyphosphatases. Among other hydrolases that can degrade these minor mononucleotides are phosphatases, apyrase, and (asymmetrical) Np(4)N' hydrolase, as well as the nonspecific adenylate deaminase. Np(n)N's are good substrates for Type I phosphodiesterases and nucleotide pyrophosphatases, and diadenosine polyphosphates are easily deaminated to diinosine polyphosphates by nonspecific adenylate deaminases. Specific Np(3)N' hydrolases occur in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Interestingly, the human fragile histidine triad (Fhit) tumor suppressor protein appears to be a typical Np(3)N' hydrolase. Among the specific Np(4)N' hydrolases are asymmetrically cleaving ones, which are typical of higher eukaryotes, and symmetrically cleaving enzymes found in Physarum polycephalum and in many bacteria. An enzyme that hydrolyzes both diadenosine tetraphosphate and diadenosine triphosphate has been found in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Its amino acid sequence is similar to that of the human Fhit/Np(3)N' hydrolase. Very recently, a typical (asymmetrical) Np(4)N' hydrolase has been demonstrated for the first time in a bacterium-the pathogenic Bartonella bacilliformis. Another novelty is the discovery of diadenosine 5', 5"'-P(1),P 6-hexaphosphate hydrolases in budding and fission yeasts and in mammalian cells. These enzymes and the (asymmetrical) Np(4)N' hydrolases have the amino acid motif typical of the MutT (or Nudix hydrolase) family. In contrast, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ap(4)A/Ap(3)A hydrolase, the human Fhit protein, and the yeast Np(n)N' phosphorylases belong to a superfamily GAFH, which includes the histidine triad proteins.

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.

Interplay of methionine tRNAs with translation elongation factor Tu and translation initiation factor 2 in Escherichia coli

According to their role in translation, tRNAs specifically interact either with elongation factor Tu (EFTu) or with initiation factor 2 (IF2). We here describe the effects of overproducing EFTu and IF2 on the elongator versus initiator activities of various mutant tRNAMet species in vivo. The data obtained indicate that the selection of a tRNA through one or the other pathway of translation depends on the relative amounts of the translational factors. A moderate overexpression of EFTu is enough to lead to a misappropriation of initiator tRNA in the elongation process, whereas overproduced IF2 allows the initiation of translation to occur with unformylated tRNA species. In addition, we report that a strain devoid of formylase activity can be cured by the overproduction of tRNAMetf. The present study brings additional evidence for the importance of formylation in defining tRNAMetf initiator identity, as well as a possible explanation for the residual growth of bacterial strains lacking a functional formylase gene such as observed in Guillon, J. M., Mechulam, Y., Schmitter, J.-M., Blanquet, S., and Fayat, G. (1992) J. Bacteriol. 174, 4294-4301.

Cloning of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene encoding diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) asymmetrical hydrolase: sequence similarity with the histidine triad (HIT) protein family

Diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) asymmetric hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.17) is a specific catabolic enzyme of Ap4A found in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We have previously described the partial purification of Ap4A hydrolase from S. pombe [Robinson, de la Peña and Barnes (1993) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1161, 139-148]. We determined the sequence of the N-terminal 20 amino acids of Ap4A hydrolase and designed two degenerate PCR primers based on the sequence. The 60 bp DNA fragment obtained by PCR, which is specific to Ap4A hydrolase, was used to isolate the Ap4A hydrolase gene, aph1, from S. pombe by screening a genomic DNA library in a multicopy plasmid. Ap4A hydrolase activity from the crude supernatant of a positive S. pombe transformant was about 25-fold higher than the control. There was no detectable stimulation of enzymic activity by phosphate. The aph1 gene from S. pombe contains three introns. The intron boundaries were confirmed by sequencing the cDNA of the aph1 gene from a S. pombe cDNA library. The deduced open reading frame of the aph1 gene codes for 182 amino acids. Two regions of significant local similarity were identified between the Ap4A hydrolase and the histidine triad (HIT) protein family [Séraphin (1992) DNA Sequence 3, 177-179]. HIT proteins are present in prokaryotes, yeast, plants and mammals. Their functions are unknown, except that the bovine protein inhibits protein kinase C in vitro. All four histidine residues which are conserved among the HIT proteins, including the HxHxH putative Zn(2+)-binding motif, are conserved in the Ap4A hydrolase. In addition, there are two regions of similarity between the Ap4A phosphorylases I and II from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Ap4A hydrolase from S. pombe. These regions overlap with the HIT protein similarity regions. The aph1 gene from S. pombe is the first asymmetrical Ap4A hydrolase gene to be cloned and sequenced.

Human diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase is a member of the MutT family of nucleotide pyrophosphatases

The cDNA and derived amino acid sequence of human diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase have been determined with the aid of the GenBank Expressed Sequence Tag database. This enzyme possesses a modification of the MutT sequence motif found in certain nucleotide pyrophosphatases. It is unrelated to the enzymes of diadenosine tetraphosphate catabolism found in prokaryotes and fungi.

Isolation and characterization of diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) hydrolase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe

An enzyme that catalyzes the asymmetric hydrolysis of Ap4A has been partially purified from the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The crude supernatant fraction from log-phase cells was fractionated by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Red A dye-ligand and QAE-Sepharose resins. Two peaks of Ap4A hydrolase activity, designated major and minor, were separated on the Red A dye-ligand resin. Both the major and minor Ap4A hydrolase have an apparent molecular mass of 49 kDa based on gel filtration chromatography. On a SDS polyacrylamide gel, a protein of 22 kDa exhibited Ap4A hydrolase activity. Both forms of the enzyme have a Km value in the range of 22 to 36 microM for Ap4A. Both forms of the enzyme asymmetrically hydrolyze Ap4A to AMP and ATP as determined by HPLC. Ap4A is the optimal substrate among several nucleotides and dinucleoside polyphosphates tested at 10 microM. A divalent metal cation is required for activity. Concentrations of Pi below 30 mM stimulate Ap4A hydrolase while higher concentrations inhibit the activity. Pi is not a substrate for this Ap4A-degradative enzyme. Fluoride, from 50 microM to 20 mM, has no significant effect on Ap4A hydrolase activity.

Oxidative stress responses in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium

Oxidative stress is strongly implicated in a number of diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disorders, and atherosclerosis, and its emerging as one of the most important causative agents of mutagenesis, tumorigenesis, and aging. Recent progress on the genetics and molecular biology of the cellular responses to oxidative stress, primarily in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, is summarized. Bacteria respond to oxidative stress by invoking two distinct stress responses, the peroxide stimulon and the superoxide stimulon, depending on whether the stress is mediated by peroxides or the superoxide anion. The two stimulons each contain a set of more than 30 genes. The expression of a subset of genes in each stimulon is under the control of a positive regulatory element; these genes constitute the OxyR and SoxRS regulons. The schemes of regulation of the two regulons by their respective regulators are reviewed in detail, and the overlaps of these regulons with other stress responses such as the heat shock and SOS responses are discussed. The products of Oxy-R- and SoxRS-regulated genes, such as catalases and superoxide dismutases, are involved in the prevention of oxidative damage, whereas others, such as endonuclease IV, play a role in the repair of oxidative damage. The potential roles of these and other gene products in the defense against oxidative damage in DNA, proteins, and membranes are discussed in detail. A brief discussion of the similarities and differences between oxidative stress responses in bacteria and eukaryotic organisms concludes this review.

Control of Escherichia coli lysyl-tRNA synthetase expression by anaerobiosis

Escherichia coli lysyl-tRNA synthetase was previously shown to occur as two distinct species encoded by either the lysS or the lysU gene. The expression of one of these genes, lysU, is under the control of cell growth conditions. To study the regulation of lysU, delta lysS strains were constructed. During aerobic growth at 37 degrees C or below, the amount of the lysU product in the cell is so reduced that delta lysS bacteria grow only poorly. The reduced expression of lysU is not related to the steady-state lysyl-tRNA synthetase concentration in the cell, since the expression of a lysU::lacZ fusion is insensitive to the absence of either lysS or lysU or to the addition of a multi-copy plasmid carrying either lysU or lysS. During anaerobic growth in rich medium, the lysU gene becomes strongly expressed and, in cell extracts, the amount of lysyl-tRNA synthetase activity originating from lysU may become seven times greater than the activity originating from lysS. In minimal medium, lysU expression is only slightly induced. Evidence that the sensitivity of lysU expression to anaerobiosis, as well as to low external pH conditions (E. W. Hickey and I. N. Hirshfield, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56:1038-1045, 1990), is governed at the level of transcription is provided.

Design and characterization of Escherichia coli mutants devoid of Ap4N-hydrolase activity

Escherichia coli strains with abnormally high concentrations of bis(5'-nucleosidyl)-tetraphosphates (Ap4N) were constructed by disrupting the apaH gene that encodes Ap4N-hydrolase. Variation deletions and insertions were also introduced in apaG and ksgA, two other cistrons of the ksgA apaGH operon. In all strains studied, a correlation was found between the residual Ap4N-hydrolase activity and the intracellular Ap4N concentration. In cells that do not express apaH at all, the Ap4N concentration was about 100-fold higher than in the parental strain. Such a high Ap4N level did not modify the bacterial growth rate in rich or minimal medium. However, while, as expected, the ksgA- and apaG- ksgA- strains stopped growing in the presence of this antibiotic at 600 micrograms/ml. The were not sensitive to kasugamycin, the apaH- apaG- ksgA- strain filamented and stopped growing in the presence of this antibiotic at 600 micrograms/ml. The growth inhibition was abolished upon complementation with a plasmid carrying an intact apaH gene. Trans addition of extra copies of the heat-shock gene dnaK also prevented the kasugamycin-induced filamentation of apaH- apaG- ksgA- strains. This result is discussed in relation to the possible involvement of Ap4N in cellular adaptation following a stress.

Expression of recombinant diaminopimelate epimerase in Escherichia coli. Isolation and inhibition with an irreversible inhibitor

Recombinant diaminopimelate epimerase is overproduced to give 1% of soluble protein when grown under the appropriate conditions in Escherichia coli. This compares with 0.02% of the constitutive level of wild-type enzyme. A new purification procedure now yields milligram quantities of homogeneous enzyme of high specific activity (192 U/mg). This has enabled sufficient amounts of enzyme both to compare with wild-type enzyme and to enable active site modification studies to be performed. Incubation of the enzyme with 2-(4-amino-4-carboxybutyl)-2-aziridine-carboxylic acid (AZIDAP), results in time-dependent irreversible inhibition. Tryptic digestion of the inactivated enzyme and peptide-mapping show that AZIDAP is specifically and covalently bound to the enzyme at a unique peptide. Determination of the amino acid sequence of this peptide and comparison with the sequence deduced from the DNA sequence of the dapF gene shows that Cys73 is labelled. Finally based on limited sequence similarities around this cysteine and active-site cysteines of proline racemase and 1-hydroxyproline 2-epimerase, together with mechanistic considerations, we propose that all three non-pyridoxal-phosphate-containing racemases/epimerases derive from a common evolutionary origin.

Hydrolysis of bis(5'-nucleosidyl) polyphosphates by Escherichia coli 5'-nucleotidase

Two enzymatic activities that split diadenosine triphosphate have been reported in Escherichia coli: a specific Mg-dependent bis(5'-adenosyl) triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.29) and the bis(5'-adenosyl) tetraphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.41). In addition to the activities of these two enzymes, a different enzyme activity that hydrolyzes dinucleoside polyphosphates is described. After purification and study of its molecular and kinetic properties, we concluded that it corresponded to the 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) that has been described in E. coli. The enzyme was purified from sonic extracts and osmotic shock fluid. From sonic extracts, two isoforms were isolated by chromatography on ion-exchange Mono Q columns; they had a molecular mass of about 100 kilodaltons (kDa). From the osmotic shock fluid, a unique form of 52 kDa was recovered. Mild heating transformed the 100-kDa isoform to a 52-kDa form, with an increase in activity of about threefold. The existence of a 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor described previously, which associates with the enzyme and is not liberated in the osmotic shock fluid, may have been responsible for these results. The kinetic properties and substrate specificities of both forms (52 and 100 kDa) were almost identical. The enzyme, which is known to hydrolyze AMP and uridine-(5')-diphospho-(1)-alpha-D-glucose, but not adenosine-(5')-diphospho-(1)-alpha-D-glucose, was also able to split adenosine-(5')-diphospho-(5)-beta-D-ribose, ribose-5-phosphate, and dinucleoside polyphosphates [diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P2-diphosphate,diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P3-triphosphate, diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate, and bis(5'-guanosyl) triphosphate]. The effects of divalent cations and pH on the rate of the reaction with different substrates were studied.

In vivo synthesis of adenylylated bis(5'-nucleosidyl) tetraphosphates (Ap4N) by Escherichia coli aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

The role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in the in vivo synthesis of adenylylated bis(5'-nucleosidyl) tetraphosphates (Ap4N) was studied by measuring the concentration of these nucleotides in Escherichia coli cells overproducing lysyl-, methionyl- phenylalanyl-, or valyl-tRNA synthetase. Overproduction of each aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (20- to 80-fold) was accompanied by a significant increase in intracellular Ap4N concentration (3- to 14-fold). As expected, non-adenylylated bis(5'-nucleosidyl) tetraphosphate concentration was not changed by synthetase overproduction. It was also verified that overproduction of an inactive methionyl-tRNA synthetase mutant did not modify Ap4N concentration. Ap4N accumulation during heat shock occurred in all strains studied. The increase factor (approximately 50-fold after 1 hr at 48 degrees C) was not changed by overproduction of any of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases studied, including that of the heat-inducible form of lysyl-tRNA synthetase from the lysU gene. Together, these results establish that aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are involved in Ap4N biosynthesis during exponential growth as well as during heat shock.

Overlap between pdxA and ksgA in the complex pdxA-ksgA-apaG-apaH operon of Escherichia coli K-12

We report that pdxA, which is required for de novo biosynthesis of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and pyridoxal phosphate, belongs to an unusual, multifunctional operon. The pdxA gene was cloned in the same 3.5-kilobase BamHI-EcoRI restriction fragment that contains ksgA, which encodes the 16S rRNA modification enzyme m6(2)A methyltransferase, and apaH, which encodes diadenosine tetraphosphatase (ApppA hydrolase). Previously, Blanchin-Roland et al. showed that ksgA and apaH form a complex operon (Mol. Gen. Genet. 205:515-522, 1986). The pdxA gene was located on recombinant plasmids by subcloning, complementation, and insertion mutagenesis, and chromosomal insertions at five positions upstream from ksgA inactivated pdxA function. DNA sequence analysis and minicell translation experiments demonstrated that pdxA encoded a 35.1-kilodalton polypeptide and that the stop codon of pdxA overlapped the start codon of ksgA by 2 nucleotides. The translational start codon of pdxA was tentatively assigned based on polypeptide size and on the presence of a unique sequence that was also found near the translational start of PdxB. This conserved sequence may play a role in translational control of certain pyridoxine biosynthetic genes. RNase T2 mapping of chromosomal transcripts confirmed that pdxA and ksgA were members of the same complex operon, yet about half of ksgA transcripts arose in vivo under some culture conditions from an internal promoter mapped near the end of pdxA. Transcript analysis further suggested that pdxA is not the first gene in the operon. These structural features support the idea that pyridoxine-biosynthetic genes are members of complex operons, perhaps to interweave coenzyme biosynthesis genetically with other metabolic processes. The results are also considered in terms of ksgA expression.

Studies on some specific Ap4A-degrading enzymes with the use of various methylene analogues of P1P4-bis-(5',5'''-adenosyl) tetraphosphate

Six new methylenephosphonate analogues of P1P4-bis-(5',5'''-adenosyl) tetraphosphate, Ap4A, having P2-P3 carbon bridges CF2, CCl2 and CH2CH2 or P1-P2 and P3-P4 carbon bridges CF2, CCl2 and CH2CH2 in the tetraphosphate chain, were examined as substrates or inhibitors for two specific Ap4A-degrading enzymes: (asymmetrical) Ap4A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.17) from yellow-lupin seeds and (symmetrical) Ap4A hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.41) from Escherichia coli. All analogues in which the central oxygen atom was replaced by a stable carbon bridge were hydrolysed by the asymmetrical hydrolase (CF2 greater than CCl2 greater than O greater than CHBr greater than CH2 greater than CH2CH2). As expected, these analogues were not hydrolysed by the symmetrical hydrolase, which was also unable to act on analogues having P1-P2 and P3-P4 carbon bridges.

An apaH mutation causes AppppA to accumulate and affects motility and catabolite repression in Escherichia coli

apaH- mutants lack the hydrolase responsible for degradation of AppppN dinucleotides in Escherichia coli and show a greater than or equal to 16-fold increase in AppppA under nonstress conditions. These mutants lack detectable activity of sigma F, a factor required for transcription of motility and chemotaxis genes. Expression of the flbB/flaI operon, thought to encode sigma F, is decreased in apaH- mutants, and there appears to be a general decrease in expression of genes regulated by cAMP-binding protein and cAMP as well.

Diadenosine 5",5"'P1,P4-tetraphosphatase in Drosophila embryos: developmental regulation and characterization

1. An enzyme has been isolated from Drosophila embryos which specifically hydrolyzes dinucleoside tetraphosphates to the corresponding nucleoside tri- and tetraphosphates, with Km values around 4 microM. 2. Nucleoside mono-, di- and triphosphates are competitive inhibitors with K1 values i the 0.01 mM range. 3. The inhibition is particularly strong by adenosine tetraphosphate (Ki = 10 nM). 4. The enzyme is maximally active at pH 7.5 and is quite stable at acid pH. 5. The enzyme requires divalent cations for activity: Co(2+) much greater than [corrected] Mn(2+) Mg(2+) x Co(2+) stimulated about 90-fold at 6 mM. 6. The specific stimulation by Co(2+) has been described before, but at lower concentrations, for the enzyme of procaryotes which splits diadenosine tetraphosphate symmetrically. Zn(2+) and Ca(2+) are inhibitors of the Drosophila enzyme. Co(2+) is also inhibitor in the presence of Mg(2+). 7. The Drosophila enzyme has essential sulphydryl group(s) and a molecular weight of 26,000. 8. Diadenosine tetraphosphatase is present in mature oocytes and increases after fertilization to reach a peak 1.5 hr later. 9. From this time to 3.5 hr the activity decreased to remain at a plateau until the end of embryogenesis. 10. The profile of activity is compatible with its involvement in the regulation of nuclear division.

Cloning E. coli genes by oligonucleotide hybridization

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Heat shock and hydrogen peroxide responses of Escherichia coli are not changed by dinucleoside tetraphosphate hydrolase overproduction

In Escherichia coli strains overproducing dinucleoside tetraphosphate hydrolase, the accumulation of dinucleoside tetraphosphates (AppppN, with N = A, C, G, or U) during heat shock or H2O2 treatment was reduced about 10-fold as compared with a control strain. This accumulation neither modified the pattern of the proteins induced by a temperature shift or H2O2 nor reduced the protection against oxidative damage induced by moderate H2O2 levels.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and chromosomal localization of dapF, the Escherichia coli gene for diaminopimelate epimerase

The Escherichia coli dapF gene was isolated from a cosmid library as a result of screening for clones overproducing diaminopimelate epimerase. Insertional mutagenesis was performed on the cloned dapF gene with a mini-Mu transposon, leading to chloramphenicol resistance. One of these insertions was transferred onto the chromosome by a double-recombination event, allowing us to obtain a dapF mutant. This mutant accumulated large amounts of LL-diaminopimelate, confirming the blockage in the step catalyzed by the dapF product, but did not require meso-diaminopimelate for growth. The dapF gene was localized in the 85-min region of the E. coli chromosome between cya and uvrD.

Specific magnesium-dependent diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P3-triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase in Escherichia coli

A specific Mg2+-dependent bis(5'-adenosyl)-triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.29) was purified 270-fold from Escherichia coli. The enzyme had a strict requirement for Mg2+. Other divalent cations, such as Mn2+, Ca2+, or Co2+, were not effective. The products of the reaction with bis(5'-adenosyl) triphosphate (Ap3A) as the substrate were ADP and AMP in stoichiometric amounts. The Km for Ap3A was 12 +/- 5 microM. Bis(5'-adenosyl) di-, tetra-, and pentaphosphates, NAD+, ATP, ADP, AMP, glucose 6-phosphate, p-nitrophenylphosphate, bis-p-nitrophenylphospate, and deoxyribosylthymine-5'-(4-nitrophenylphosphate) were not substrates of the reaction. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 36 kilodaltons (as determined both by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), an isoelectric point of 4.84 +/- 0.05, and a pH optimum of 8.2 to 8.5. Zn2+, a known potent inhibitor of rat liver bis(5'-adenosyl)-triphosphatase and bis(5'-guanosyl)-tetraphosphatase (EC 3.6 1.17), was without effect. The enzyme differs from the E. coli diadenosine 5',5'''-P1, P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase which, in the presence of Mn2+, also hydrolyzes Ap3A.

Intracellular 5',5'-dinucleoside polyphosphate levels remain constant during the Escherichia coli cell cycle

All AppppN and ApppN nucleotides (N = A, C, G, or U) occur in Escherichia coli. Measured cellular concentrations were 2.42 microM AppppA, 0.61 microM AppppC, 0.95 microM AppppG, 1.17 microM AppppU, 0.47 microM ApppA, 0.14 microM ApppC, 0.20 microM ApppG, and 0.12 microM ApppU. These concentrations remained constant during the cell cycle in synchronized exponentially growing cells.

The gene for Escherichia coli diadenosine tetraphosphatase is located immediately clockwise to folA and forms an operon with ksgA

The DNA sequences of the diadenosine tetraphosphatase gene (apaH) and of the flanking regions were determined. Three other genes were identified in the flanking regions: ksgA, apaG and folA encoding, respectively, a 16 S rRNA methyltransferase, an unidentified protein of Mr 13,826 and dihydrofolate reductase, with the order folA-apaH-apaG-ksgA. The apaH gene is thus located between folA and ksgA at 1 min on the Escherichia coli chromosome linkage map and folA is transcribed clockwise, whereas ksgA, apaG and apaH are transcribed in the opposite direction. It was shown that ksgA, apaG and apaH can be expressed from a polycistronic mRNA originating from a promoter (p1) located upstream of ksgA. However, another promoter (p2) was found within the ksgA structural gene. This promoter, active in vivo, can account for p1-independent expression of the two distal cistrons, apaG and apaH. Finally, the effect on diadenosine tetraphosphatase over-production of a frameshift mutation causing premature translational termination of apaG suggests that expression of apaG and apaH is coupled at the translational level.