Inducible system for the utilization of beta-glucosides in Escherichia coli. II. Description of mutant types and genetic analysis

Fate of the H-NS-repressed bgl operon in evolution of Escherichia coli

In the enterobacterial species Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, expression of horizontally acquired genes with a higher than average AT content is repressed by the nucleoid-associated protein H-NS. A classical example of an H-NS–repressed locus is the bgl (aryl-β,D-glucoside) operon of E. coli. This locus is “cryptic,” as no laboratory growth conditions are known to relieve repression of bgl by H-NS in E. coli K12. However, repression can be relieved by spontaneous mutations. Here, we investigated the phylogeny of the bgl operon. Typing of bgl in a representative collection of E. coli demonstrated that it evolved clonally and that it is present in strains of the phylogenetic groups A, B1, and B2, while it is presumably replaced by a cluster of ORFans in the phylogenetic group D. Interestingly, the bgl operon is mutated in 20% of the strains of phylogenetic groups A and B1, suggesting erosion of bgl in these groups. However, bgl is functional in almost all B2 isolates and, in approximately 50% of them, it is weakly expressed at laboratory growth conditions. Homologs of bgl genes exist in Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Erwinia species and also in low GC-content Gram-positive bacteria, while absent in E. albertii and Salmonella sp. This suggests horizontal transfer of bgl genes to an ancestral Enterobacterium. Conservation and weak expression of bgl in isolates of phylogenetic group B2 may indicate a functional role of bgl in extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli.

Horizontal gene transfer, an important mechanism in bacterial adaptation and evolution, requires mechanisms to avoid uncontrolled and possibly disadvantageous expression of the transferred genes. Recently, it was shown that the protein H-NS selectively silences genes gained by horizontal transfer in enteric bacteria. Regulated expression of these genes can then evolve and be integrated into the regulatory network of the new host. Our analysis of the catabolic bgl (aryl-β,D-glucoside) operon, which is silenced by H-NS in E. coli, provides a snapshot on the evolution of such a locus. Genes of the bgl operon were presumably gained by horizontal transfer from Gram-positive bacteria to ancestral enteric bacteria. In E. coli, the bgl operon co-evolved with the diversification of the species into four phylogenetic groups. In one phylogenetic group the bgl operon is functional. However, in two other phylogenetic groups, bgl accumulates disrupting mutations, and it is absent in the fourth group. This indicates that the H-NS–silenced bgl operon evolved differently in E. coli and is presumably positively selected in one phylogenetic group, while it is neutrally or negatively selected in the other groups.

Modeling feedback loops in the H-NS-mediated regulation of the Escherichia coli bgl operon

The histone-like nucleoid-associated protein H-NS is a global transcriptional repressor that controls approximately 5% of all genes in Escherichia coli and other enterobacteria. H-NS binds to DNA with low specificity. Nonetheless, repression of some loci is exceptionally specific. Experimental data for the E. coli bgl operon suggest that highly specific repression is caused by regulatory feedback loops. To analyze whether such feedback loops can account for the observed specificity of repression, here a model was built based on expression data. The model includes several regulatory interactions, which are synergy of repression by binding of H-NS to two regulatory elements, an inverse correlation of the rate of repression by H-NS and transcription, and a threshold for positive regulation by anti-terminator BglG, which is encoded within the operon. The latter two regulatory interactions represent feedback loops in the model. The resulting system of equations was solved for the expression level of the operon and analyzed with respect to different promoter activities. This analysis demonstrates that a small (3-fold) increase of the bgl promoter activity results in a strong (80-fold) enhancement of bgl operon expression. Thus, the parameters included into the model are sufficient to simulate specific repression by H-NS.

Hexose/Pentose and Hexitol/Pentitol Metabolism

Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium exhibit a remarkable versatility in the usage of different sugars as the sole source of carbon and energy, reflecting their ability to make use of the digested meals of mammalia and of the ample offerings in the wild. Degradation of sugars starts with their energy-dependent uptake through the cytoplasmic membrane and is carried on further by specific enzymes in the cytoplasm, destined finally for degradation in central metabolic pathways. As variant as the different sugars are, the biochemical strategies to act on them are few. They include phosphorylation, keto-enol isomerization, oxido/reductions, and aldol cleavage. The catabolic repertoire for using carbohydrate sources is largely the same in E. coli and in serovar Typhimurium. Nonetheless, significant differences are found, even among the strains and substrains of each species. We have grouped the sugars to be discussed according to their first step in metabolism, which is their active transport, and follow their path to glycolysis, catalyzed by the sugar-specific enzymes. We will first discuss the phosphotransferase system (PTS) sugars, then the sugars transported by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, followed by those that are taken up via proton motive force (PMF)-dependent transporters. We have focused on the catabolism and pathway regulation of hexose and pentose monosaccharides as well as the corresponding sugar alcohols but have also included disaccharides and simple glycosides while excluding polysaccharide catabolism, except for maltodextrins.

The histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS represses the Escherichia coli bgl operon downstream of the promoter

Specificity of repression by the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein and pleiotropic regulator, H-NS, is exceptionally high in case of the Escherichia coli bgl (beta-glucoside) operon. Here we present evidence that H-NS represses the operon at two levels. The binding of H-NS to an upstream silencer results in an approximately threefold repression of the catabolite gene regulator protein (CRP) dependent bgl promoter. In addition, H-NS binds to a silencer region located approximately 600-700 base pairs downstream of the promoter, within the coding region of first gene, bglG, resulting in a approximately sevenfold further decrease of expression. Repression by H-NS at the downstream silencer requires termination factor Rho and is reduced by translation of the bglG mRNA, but is independent of the promoter. This suggests that H-NS induces polarity of transcription by acting as a roadblock to the elongating RNA polymerase. The control of the bgl operon by H-NS at two levels results in a highly specific repression.

Silencing of the Escherichia coli bgl operon by RpoS requires Crl

Silencing of the Escherichia coli bgl operon is mediated by histone-like protein H-NS and affected by other pleiotropic regulators, including sigma factor RpoS. Silencing is relieved and the bgl operon is activated in hns mutants and by mutations that map in the vicinity of the bgl promoter. However, the expression level of activated bgl operon derivatives varies with the strain background. Here it is shown that the repression of the bgl operon by RpoS requires Crl. Crl is a protein that is necessary for the RpoS-dependent expression of the csgBA operon and that enhances the expression of other RpoS-dependent genes. In a Crl-negative strain RpoS had no effect on the bgl operon. The crl gene maps close to the proBA locus in the lac operon region and is deleted in many commonly used E. coli strains. Crl may therefore account for some of the observed strain-dependent variations of bgl operon expression levels and effects of pleiotropic regulators on bgl operon regulation.

Post-transcriptional enhancement of Escherichia coli bgl operon silencing by limitation of BglG-mediated antitermination at low transcription rates

The silent bgl operon of Escherichia coli is activated by spontaneous mutations that derepress its promoter. In addition, expression depends on specific transcriptional antitermination within the operon by the antiterminator protein BglG. Here, we show that BglG-mediated antitermination limits expression of the bgl operon when the cellular transcription rate is low. The expression levels of chromosomally encoded activated bgl operon alleles are low but increase significantly when BglG protein is provided in trans or when the expression is rendered independent of BglG-mediated antitermination by mutation of the terminator. Plasmid-encoded activated bgl operon alleles are expressed at high levels. Moreover, a moderate (threefold) further increase in the transcription rate of chromosomally encoded activated bgl operon alleles in an rpoS mutant can result in high (up to 50-fold increased) expression levels. These data show that the expression of the bgl operon does not correlate linearly with its cellular transcription rate. Moderate differences in the transcription initiation rate are amplified post-transcriptionally into large changes in the expression level of the operon by the requirement of a threshold for BglG-mediated antitermination. Implications for bgl operon regulation by global regulators H-NS, RpoS and others are discussed.

A mutation in a new gene, bglJ, activates the bgl operon in Escherichia coli K-12

A new mutation, bglJ4, has been characterized that results in the expression of the silent bgl operon. The bgl operon encodes proteins necessary for the transport and utilization of the aromatic beta-glucosides arbutin and salicin. A variety of mutations activate the operon and result in a Bgl+ phenotype. Activating mutations are located upstream of the bgl promoter and in genes located elsewhere on the chromosome. Mutations outside of the bgl operon occur in the genes encoding DNA gyrase and in the gene encoding the nucleoid associated protein H-NS. The mutation described here, bglJ4, has been mapped to a new locus at min 99 on the Escherichia coli K-12 genetic map. The putative protein encoded by the bglJ gene has homolgy to a family of transcriptional activators. Evidence is presented that increased expression of the bglJ product is needed for activation of the bgl operon.

Nucleotide sequences of the arb genes, which control beta-glucoside utilization in Erwinia chrysanthemi: comparison with the Escherichia coli bgl operon and evidence for a new beta-glycohydrolase family including enzymes from eubacteria, archeabacteria, and humans

The phytopathogenic bacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi, unlike other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, is able to metabolize the beta-glucosides, arbutin, and salicin. A previous genetic analysis of the E. chrysanthemi arb genes, which mediate beta-glucoside metabolism, suggested that they were homologous to the Escherichia coli K-12 bgl genes. We have now determined the nucleotide sequence of a 5,065-bp DNA fragment containing three genes, arbG, arbF, and arbB. Deletion analysis, expression in minicell systems, and comparison with sequences of other proteins suggest that arbF and arbB encode a beta-glucoside-specific phosphotransferase system-dependent permease and a phospho-beta-glucosidase, respectively. The ArbF amino acid sequence shares 55% identity with that of the E. coli BglF permease and contains most residues thought to be important for a phosphotransferase. One change, however, was noted, since BglF Arg-625, presumably involved in phosphoryl transfer, was replaced by a Cys residue in ArbF. An analysis of the ArbB sequence led to the definition of a protein family which contained enzymes classified as phospho-beta-glucosidases, phospho-beta-galactosidases, beta-glucosidases, and beta-galactosidases and originating from gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, archebacteria, and mammals, including humans. An analysis of this family allowed us (i) to speculate on the ways that these enzymes evolved, (ii) to identify a glutamate residue likely to be a key amino acid in the catalytic activity of each protein, and (iii) to predict that domain II of the human lactate-phlorizin hydrolase, which is involved in lactose intolerance, is catalytically nonactive. A comparison between the untranslated regions of the E. chrysanthemi arb cluster and the E. coli bgl operon revealed the conservation of two regions which, in the latter, are known to terminate transcription under noninducing conditions and be the target of the BglG transcriptional antiterminator under inducing conditions. ArbG was found to share a high level of similarity with the BglG antiterminator as well as with Bacillus subtilis SacT and SacY antiterminators, suggesting that ArbG functions as an antiterminator in regulating the expression of the E. chrysanthemi arb genes.

Mapping and molecular cloning of the phn (psiD) locus for phosphonate utilization in Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli phn (psiD) locus encodes genes for phosphonate (Pn) utilization, for phn (psiD) mutations abolish the ability to use as a sole P source a Pn with a substituted C-2 or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group such as 2-aminoethylphosphonate (AEPn) or methylphosphonate (MPn), respectively. Even though the E. coli K-12 phosphate starvation-inducible (psi) phn (psiD) gene(s) shows normal phosphate (Pi) control, Pn utilization is cryptic in E. coli K-12, as well as in several members of the E. coli reference (ECOR) collection which are closely related to K-12. For these bacteria, an activating mutation near the phn (psiD) gene is necessary for growth on a Pn as the sole P source. Most E. coli strains, including E. coli B, are naturally Phn+; a few E. coli strains are Phn- and are deleted for phn DNA sequences. The Phn+ phn(EcoB) DNA was molecularly cloned by using the mini-Mu in vivo cloning procedure and complementation of an E. coli K-12 delta phn mutant. The phn(EcoB) DNA hybridized to overlapping lambda clones in the E. coli K-12 gene library (Y. Kohara, K. Akiyama, and K. Isono, Cell 50:495-508, 1987) which contain the 93-min region, thus showing that the phn (psiD) locus was itself cloned and verifying our genetic data on its map location. The cryptic phn(EcoK) DNA has an additional 100 base pairs that is absent in the naturally Phn+ phn(EcoB) sequence. However, no gross structural change was detected in independent Phn+ phn(EcoK) mutants that have activating mutations near the phn locus.

Functional genes for cellobiose utilization in natural isolates of Escherichia coli

The genes for utilization of cellobiose are normally cryptic in both laboratory strains and natural isolates of Escherichia coli. A survey of natural isolates of E. coli reveals that functional genes for cellobiose utilization, while rare, are present. The fraction of E. coli that utilized cellobiose ranged from less than 0.01% in human fecal samples to 7% in fecal samples obtained from horses. Samples obtained from sheep, cows, dogs, and pigs contained 0.1 to 0.5% cellobiose-positive E. coli. Neither the previously identified cel genes nor the bgl genes from E. coli K-12 were expressed during growth on cellobiose by any of the 14 naturally occurring Cel+ isolates that were tested. All of the naturally occurring Cel+ isolates possessed a cel operon, but all were deleted for the major portion of the bgl operon. The functional cel+ genes from these natural isolates differed from the mutationally activated cel+ genes obtained in earlier studies in that (i) the mutationally activated cel+ genes were temperature sensitive, while the functional genes were not, and (ii) transport of cellobiose was inducible in the strains carrying functional cel+ genes, while it was expressed constitutively in strains carrying mutationally activated genes.

Biochemical genetics of the cryptic gene system for cellobiose utilization in Escherichia coli K12

The cellobiose catabolic system of Escherichia coli K12 is being used to study the role of cryptic genes in microbial evolution. Wild-type E. coli K12 do not utilize the beta-glucoside sugars, arbutin, salicin and cellobiose. A Cel+ (cellobiose utilizing) mutant which grows on cellobiose, arbutin, and salicin was isolated previously from wild-type E. coli K12. Biochemical assays indicate that a cel structural gene (celT) specifies a single transport protein that is a beta-glucoside specific enzyme of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. The transport protein phosphorylates beta-glucosides at the expense of phosphoenolpyruvate. A single phosphoglucosidase, specified by celH, hydrolyzes phosphorylated cellobiose, arbutin, and salicin. The genes of the cel system are expressed constitutively in the Cel+ mutant, whereas they are not expressed at a detectable level in the wild-type strain. The transport and hydrolase genes are simultaneously silenced or simultaneously expressed and thus constitute an operon. Cel+ strains which fail to utilize one or more beta-glucosides express the transport system at a lower level than do Cel+ strains which grow on all three beta-glucosides. Other strains inducibly express a gene which specifies transport of arbutin but not the other beta-glucosides. The arbutin transport gene, arbT, maps outside of the cel locus.

Novel E. coli mutants deficient in biosynthesis of 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine

Novel E. coli mutants deficient in biosynthesis of 5- methylaminomethyl -2-thiouridine were isolated based on a phenotype of reduced readthrough at UAG codons. They define 2 new loci trmE and trmF , near 83' on the E. coli map. These mutants are different from strains carrying trmC mutations, which are known to confer a methylation deficiency in biosynthesis of 5- methylaminomethyl -2-thiouridine. tRNA from mutants carrying trmE or trmF mutations was shown to carry 2-thiouridine instead of 5- methylaminomethyl -2-thiouridine. This deficiency affects the triplet binding properties of the mutant tRNA. Our results suggest that the 5- methylaminomethyl group stabilizes the basepairing of this modified nucleotide with G, most likely through direct interaction with the ribosomal binding site(s).

The role of 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenosine in readthrough and suppression of nonsense codons in Escherichia coli

Readthrough and suppression of nonsense codons was compared in Escherichia coli strains with and without a miaA mutation, which confers a loss of the isopentenyladenosine modification in transfer RNA. Generally speaking, our results conform to predictions based on previous literature. In addition, we showed that the miaA mutation in strain TRPX is itself a UAA mutation. An antagonism between miaA and rpsL mutations, which confer streptomycin resistance, was also discovered. Our data further suggest that slight alterations of the translation apparatus are easily detectable by monitoring readthrough and suppression of nonsense codons. Our findings are discussed in the context of old and recent reports.

Cryptic operon for beta-glucoside metabolism in Escherichia coli K12: genetic evidence for a regulatory protein

Escherichia coli K12 does not metabolize beta-glucosides such as arbutin and salicin because of lack of expression of the bglBSRC operon, which contains structural genes for transport (bglC) and hydrolysis (bglB) of phospho-beta-glucosides. Mutants carrying lesions in the cis-acting regulatory site bglR metabolize beta-glucosides as a consequence of expression of this cryptic operon (Prasad and Schaefler 1974). We isolated mutations promoting beta-glucoside metabolism that were unlinked to bglR; some of these mutations were shown to be amber. All of them were mapped at 27 min on the E. coli K12 linkage map and appeared to define a single gene, for which we propose the designation bglY. Utilization of beta-glucosides in bglY mutants appeared to be a consequence of expression of the bglBSRC operon, since bglB bglR and bglB bglY double mutants had the same phenotype. All bglY mutations analyzed were recessive to the wild-type bglY+ allele. Phospho-beta-glucosidase B and beta-glucoside transport activities are inducible in bglY mutants, as they are in bglR mutants. Metabolism of beta-glucosides in both bglR and bglY mutants required cyclic AMP. We propose that bglY encodes a protein acting as a repressor of the bglBSRC operon, active in both the presence and absence of beta-glucosides, whose recognition site would be within the bglR locus.

Characterization of two genetically separable inorganic phosphate transport systems in Escherichia coli

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport by wild-type cells of Escherichia coli grown in excess phosphate-containing media involves two genetically separable transport systems. Cells dependent upon the high affinity-low velocity Pst (phosphate specific transport) system have a Km of 0.43 +/- 0.2 microM Pi and a Vmax of 15.9 +/- 0.3 nmol of Pi (mg [dry weight]-1min-1) and will grow in the presence of arsenate in the medium. However, cells dependent upon the low affinity-high velocity Pit (Pi transport) system have a Km of 38.2 +/- 0.4 microM and a Vmax of 55 +/- 1.9 nmol of Pi (mg [dry weight]-1min-1), and these cells cannot grow in the presence of an arsenate-to-Pi ratio of 10 in the medium. Pi transport by both systems was sensitive to the energy uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol and the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide, whereas only the Pst system was very sensitive to sodium cyanide. Evidence is presented that Pi is transported as Pi or a very labile intermediate and that accumulated Pi does not exit through the Pst or Pit systems from glucose-grown cells. Kinetic analysis of Pi transport in the wild-type strain containing both the Pst and Pit transport systems revealed that each system was not operating at full capacity. In addition, Pi transport in the wild-type strain was completely sensitive to sodium cyanide (a characteristic of the Pst system).

Isolation and characterization of lambda b221poriCasnA, a plaque-forming specialized transducing phage carrying the origin of replication of the Escherichia coli chromosome

A specialized transducing phage lambda b221poriCasnA has been isolated carrying oriC the origin of chromosomal replication of Escherichia coli. All phage genes required for lytic growth are retained, thus the phage is capable of lytic growth. The presence of the oriC locus confers upon infecting phage DNA the ability to replicate as a plasmid using only host DNA replication functions. The presence of both oriC and ansA markers has allowed the development of a plaque assay for origin function which can be used to identify mutants at these loci. Comparison of restriction endonuclease cleavage sites present on lambda b221proiCasnA DNA to those on its parent, lambda b221 rex::Tn10 suggests the steps involved in the formation of the transducing phage.

Conditionally lethal amber mutations in the dnaA region of the Escherichia coli chromosome that affect chromosome replication

Three amber mutations, dna-801, dna-803, and dna-806, were isolated by localized mutagenesis of the dnaA-oriC region of the chromosome from an Escherichia coli strain carrying temperature-sensitive amber suppressors. When the mutations were not suppressed at 42 degrees C, the cells did not grow and DNA synthesis was arrested. They were very closely linked to each other and to the dnaA46 mutation. The mutant phenotype of each strain was converted to the wild type by infecting the mutants with specialized transducing phase lambda i21 dnaA-2 but not with lambda i21 tna. Derivatives of lambda i21 dnaA-2, each of which carried the amber mutation dna-801 dna-803, or dna-806, converted the dnaA mutant phenotype to Dna+ but did not convert rhe amber mutants to the wild-type phenotype. E. coli uvrB cells were irradiated with ultraviolet light and infected with each of these phage strains. An analysis of proteins synthesized in the cells revealed that two proteins with molecular weights of 50,000 and 43,000 were specified by lambda i21 dnaA-2 but not by lambda i21 tna. When the ultraviolet-irradiated cells did not carry an amber suppressor, the derivative phage with the amber mutation invariably failed to produce the 43,000-dalton protein, but when the host cell carried supF (tyrT), the protein was produced. The 50,000-dalton protein was unaffected.

Cloning and physical mapping of the dnaA region of the Escherichia coli chromosome

The dnaA gene of Escherichia coli K-12, supposedly present in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of specialized transducing phase lambda i21 dnaA-2, was cloned onto plasmid pBR322. The new plasmid was named pMCR501. Physical analyses of DNAs of lambda i21 dnaA-2 and pMCR501 revealed the following. The lambda i21 dnaA-2 DNA retained the delta sr I lambda 1-2 and ninR5 deletions and imm21 substitution which were originally present in the parental phage. The size reduction was compensated for by the insertion-substitution segment (tna-dnaA region) in lambda i21 dnaA-2 DNA. The fractional size of this segment was approximately 7 megadaltons (Md), or 10 kilobases, which was found to be the sum of the tna insertion subsegment of ca. 3.5 Md and the dnaA substitution subsegment of ca. 3.5 Md. Phage P1-mediated transductional mapping between the dnaA46 and tna mutations gave a cotransduction frequency of 84%, corresponding to approximately 5 kilobases. Thus, it is strongly suggested that the dnaA gene resides in the lambda i21 dnaA-2 DNA. Cleavage mapping with the restriction endonuclease of pMCR501 DNA confirmed that it was constructed by excising a BamHI fragment of 4.29 Md, containing the 3.5-Md dnaA substitution segment, from the lambda i21 dnaA-2 DNA, inserting it into the sole BamHI cleavage site on pBR322.

Unmasking of an essential thiol during function of the membrane-bound enzyme II of the phosphenolpyruvate beta-glucoside phosphotransferase system of Escherichia coli

beta-Glucoside transport by phosphoenolpyruvate-hexose phosphotransferase system in Escherichia coli is inactivated in vivo by thiol reagents. This inactivation is strongly enhanced by the presence of transported substrates. In a system reconstituted from soluble and membrane-bound components, only the particulate component, the membrane-bound enzyme IIbgl appeared as the target of N-ethylmaleimide inaction. The same feature was found in the case of methyl-alpha-D-glucoside uptake via enzyme IIglc. It is shown that the sensitizing effect of substrates is specific and not generalized, methyl-alpha-D-glucoside only sensitizes enzyme IIglc and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside only sensitizes enzyme IIbgl towards N-ethylmaleimide inactivation. The inactivation of enzyme IIbgl by thiol reagents is also promoted in vivo by fluoride inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis. In toluene-treated bacteria, the presence of phosphoenolpyruvate protects against inactivation by thiol reagents of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside phosphorylation. Both results suggest that the inactivator resistent form of enzyme IIbgl is an energized form of the enzyme.

Influence of the recF143 mutation of Escherichia coli K12 on prophage lambda induction

Prophage lambda induction in a recF143 mutant of E. coli K12 was studied. The recF143 (lambda) lysogen was inducible by UV irradiation or treatment with mitomycin C. However, the time required for the onset of derepression brought about by these treatments was longer in the recF143 mutant than in rec+ strains, suggesting that the induction pathway was altered in the recF143 mutant. The recF143 (lambda) lysogen was induced at very low doses of UV irradiation or mitomycin C treatment. Moreover, the presence of the recF143 mutation increased the sensitivity to thermal induction of a tif strain.

The frequency of P1 transduction of the genes of Escherichia coli as a function of chromosomal position: preferential transduction of the origin of replication

The frequencies with which the generalized transducing phage P1 transduced 26 selected markers on the E. coli. chromosome were measured. The frequencies were found to vary relative to argH+ = 1 from a maximum of 6.8 near the origin of replication to a minimum of 0.23 for a marker not far from the terminus. The low frequencies obtained for some markers were shown not to result from poor expression under the selective conditions employed. When plotted as a function of marker position on the chromosome the frequencies were found to exhibit a series of peaks and troughs which correspond to those in gene density noted by Bachmann et al. (1976). The possible relationship of these results to the structure of the E. coli chromosome and to the mechanism of generalized transduction are discussed.

Novel F prime factors able to replicate in Escherichia coli Hfr strains

A novel type of F' plasmid that can replicate extrachromosomally in cells of Hfr strains has been isolated. Genetic analysis of these plasmids indicates that all carry the dnaA-bglA region of the E. coli chromosome as well as ilv+ used as a selective marker. It is suggested that a specific site, designated poh+ (permissive on Hfr), is located in this region, and is essential for these plasmids to replicate in Hfr cells. The most interesting explanation, among others, would be that the poh+ site represents the replication origin of the bacterial chromosome.

Strains of Escherichia coli diploid for the chromosomal origin of DNA replication

F' strains of E. coli have been isolated which are merodiploid for various chromosomal segments between 66 and 78 minutes. Strains diploid for the chromosomal DNA between the genes bgl and mtl grow slowly, have a reduced DNA/mass and an increased cell size. These properties could result if the chromosomal replication origin and a second, extrachromosomal, copy of the origin (located in this case on the F') were to compete for a substance required to initiate replication. We therefore suggest that these strains are diploid for the chromosomal origin of replication and that, therefore, the origin is located between bgl and mtl, that is between 71 and 73 minutes on the E. coli chromosome.

A critical study of the taxonomic value of some tests of assimilation used for the classification of the sporogenous yeasts

Six texts of assimilation used in the taxonomy of yeasts, (lactose, maltose, cellobiose, trehalose, melibiose, sucrose) have been critically tested by the examination of intracellular enzymic systems. The results obtained among the sporogenous species of Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Hansenula, Debaryomyces indicate that cellobiose, lactose, maltose and trehalose tests no longer supply an important value for the speciation, because the number of cryptical osidases is so high.

Regulation of the beta-glucoside system in Escherchia coli K-12

In Escherichia coli wild-type cells, a mutation at the beta-glucoside regulatory gene (bglR(+) to bglR(-)) leads to simultaneous expression of inducible phospho-beta-glucosidase B (bglB(+)) and a beta-glucoside-specific species of enzyme II (beta-glucoside transport I [bglC(+)]); an additional mutation (bglS(+) to bglS4) allows these enzymes to be formed constitutively. The bgl alleles have been mapped in the following order: pyrE, bglA, bglB, bglS, bglR, bglC, ilvD. The back mutation in the regulatory allele (bglR(-) to bglR(+)) caused the cessation of the expression of the bglB(+), bglS(+) or bglS4, bglC(+) alleles. However, a mutation in a strain with bglB(+), bglS4, bglR8, bglC(+) alleles, at the ini site that lies between the bglS4 and the bglR8 allele, allowed the expression of the bglS4 and bglB(+) alleles, but showed no affect on the expression of the bglC(+) allele. It is suggested that the ini mutation possesses a promotor-type function that in the absence of regulatory allele function (bglR8) renews the functioning of only the bglS4 and bglB(+) alleles. The complementation studies have shown that the bglB(+), bglS(+) or bglS4, bglC(+) alleles are expressed only in cis to the bglR(-) allele. In the constitutive strain (bglB(+), bglS4, bglR(-), bglC(+)), the expressed bglS4 allele formed a soluble product that acts in trans over the bglB(+) and bglC(+) alleles and that appears effective only when the bglB(+) and the bglC(+) alleles are expressed in cis to the bglR(-) allele. It thus showed that the constitutive biosynthesis of phospho-beta-glucosidase B and beta-glucoside transport I is under positive control. Since the regulatory allele bglR(-) lies between the bglS4 and the blgC(+) alleles, and acts in cis, it appears that the mutation (bglR(+) to bglR(-)) allows the initiation of transcription in one direction to express the bglS4, bglB(+) alleles and in the other to express the bglC(+) allele. The structural genes bglB and bglC lie adjacent to the regulatory genes bglR and bglS, and the structural genes are coordinately controlled by the regulatory genes. It is, therefore, proposed that the bglB, bglS, bglR, bglC genes form a bgl operon.

Mutants of Escherichia coli defective in membrane phospholipid synthesis: mapping of the structural gene for L-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The structural gene for the biosynthetic l-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been mapped at min 71.5 on the Escherichia coli chromosome. This gene (gpsA) is co-transduced with the xyl, mtl, and pyrE loci. Three-factor conjugational crosses and the transduction data indicate that the order of loci in this region of the chromosone is mtl, gltE, gpsA, gadR, gadS, pyrE. Study of a temperature-sensitive gpsA mutant possessing a dehydrogenase of increased thermolability indicated that gpsA is the structural gene for the dehydrogenase. All dehydrogenase-deficient strains tested were mapped very close to the gpsA locus. Attempts at genetic complementation analysis were unsuccessful.

Genetic determination of the constitutive biosynthesis of phospho- -glucosidase A in Escherichia coli K-12

Escherichia coli wild-type cells form constitutively the enzyme phospho-beta-glucosidase A, which has a high affinity for phosphorylated aromatic beta-glucosides and a low affinity for phosphorylated beta-methyl-glucoside. Phospho-beta-glucosidase B and beta-glucoside permease I are formed in aromatic beta-glucoside-fermenting mutants. Mutants lacking phospho-beta-glucosidases A and B have been isolated. These mutants showed a reduced rate of inducibility of the beta-glucoside permease I. The restoration of phospho-beta-glucosidase A or B activity resulted in an increased rate of induction of the beta-glucoside permease I. The presence of the phospho-beta-glucosidases was not required for the constitutive biosynthesis of the beta-glucoside permease. Mutants selected for growth on beta-methyl-glucoside as carbon source showed an increased level of constitutive phospho-beta-glucosidase A activity. Gene bglD, the structural gene for phospho-beta-glucosidase A, was mapped between the pyrE locus and the cluster bgl loci, whereas bglE, the regulatory site determining the hyperproduction of phospho-beta-glucosidase A, was mapped between the bgl and ilv clusters. The bglE locus appears to have a regulatory effect on the expression of the bglD gene.

Inorganic phosphate transport in Escherichia coli: involvement of two genes which play a role in alkaline phosphatase regulation

Two classes of alkaline phosphatase constitutive mutations which comprise the original phoS locus (genes phoS and phoT) on the Escherichia coli genome have been implicated in the regulation of alkaline phosphatase synthesis. When these mutations were introduced into a strain dependent on a single system, the pst system, for inorganic phosphate (P(i)) transport, profound changes in P(i) transport were observed. The phoT mutations led to a complete P(i) (-) phenotype in this background, and no activity of the pst system could be detected. The introduction of the phoS mutations changed the specificity of the pst system so that arsenate became growth inhibitory. Changes in the phosphate source led to changes in the levels of constitutive alkaline phosphatase synthesis found in phoS and phoT mutants. When glucose-6-phosphate or l-alpha-glycerophosphate was supplied as the sole source of phosphate, phoT mutants showed a 3- to 15- fold reduction in constitutive alkaline phosphatase synthesis when compared to the maximal levels found in limiting P(i) media. However, these levels were still 100 times greater than the basal level of alkaline phosphatase synthesized in wild-type strains under these conditions. The phoS mutants showed only a two- to threefold reduction when grown with organic phosphate sources. The properties of the phoT mutants selected on the basis of constitutive alkaline phosphatase synthesis were similar in many respects to those of pst mutants selected for resistance to growth inhibition caused by arsenate. It is suggested that the phoS and phoT genes are primarily involved in P(i) transport and, as a result of this function, play a role in the regulation of alkaline phosphatase synthesis.

Isolation and characterization of mutations affecting the transport of hexose phosphates in Escherichia coli

Mutants of Escherichia coli defective in the hexose phosphate transport system were isolated. Negative selection by penicillin treatment or positive selection with phosphonomycin was employed. These mutants grew normally on all carbon sources other than hexose phosphates. The map location of the mutations in 18 independently isolated mutant strains was investigated by transduction crosses. All of the mutations were found to lie in the same region of the chromosome, in the region represented by min 72 on the Taylor map. The order of the genes in this region was found to be mtl-cysE-pyrE-uhp-bgl-ilv. Revertants of some of the mutants exhibited altered regulatory control of this transport system.

Specific distribution of R factors in Serratia marcescens strains isolated from hospital infections

Serratia marcescens strains from three hospitals in the city of New York were tested for antibiotic susceptibility patterns and the presence of transmissible antibiotic resistance factors. There appears to be a pattern characteristic for each hospital with regard to the sensitivity to nalidixic acid, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and sulfonamides, whereas the resistance to ampicillin, cephalothin, and streptomycin is similar in the strains isolated from all three hospitals. In one hospital, a single type of R factor was found which transfers resistance to streptomycin, kanamycin, ampicillin, and sulfonamides, whereas strains isolated from a second hospital transfer only ampicillin resistance. No R factors could be detected in multiply resistant Serratia strains isolated in a third hospital. The presence of a single type of R factor probably reflects the relative ecological isolation of S. marcescens and could be useful for epidemiological studies of hospital infections with Serratia.

Purification and characterization of beta-glucosidase of Alcaligenes faecalis

A cellobiose-utilizing bacterium isolated from sugar cane bagasse and identified as a strain of Alcaligenes faecalis (ATCC 21400) produced an inducible beta-glucoside-splitting enzyme. The enzyme was purified by a series of streptomycin and ammonium sulfate fractionations and by Sephadex and diethylaminoethyl column chromatography. The final preparation was purified 130-fold, with a recovery of about 10% of the initial enzyme activity. The enzyme had a wide pH range, with optimal activity at pH 6.0 to 7.0. The enzyme was stable in solution at pH 6.5 to 7.8 when kept at 30 C for 2 hr, but it was destroyed by temperatures above 55 C. At 58 and 60 C, the time required to inactivate 90% of the initial activity was 16 and 6.5 min, respectively. An activation energy of 9,500 cal/mole and a K(m) of 1.25 x 10(-4)m were obtained by using p-nitrophenyl beta-glucoside as a substrate. The K(i) value and hydrolysis of cellobiose by the enzyme indicated a high affinity of the enzyme for the cellobiose. The enzyme had its specificity on beta-glucosidic linkage and the rate of hydrolisis of glucosides depended upon the nature of the aglycon moiety. The inactivation studies showed the presence of sulfhydryl groups in the enzyme. The activity of the enzyme was easily destroyed by the Cu(++) and Hg(++) ions. The Michaelis-Menton relationship and the rate of heat inactivation indicated the presence of one type of noninteracting active site in the bacterial beta-glucosidase. Molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel filtration (Sephadex G-200) and sucrose density gradient, and a value of 120,000 to 160,000 was obtained.

Taxonomic investigations on expressed and cryptic phospho-beta-glucosidases in Enterobacteriaceae

In the Enterobacteriaceae, beta-glucosides are catabolized by a complex system formed of three permeases, with partly overlapping substrate specificities, and two hydrolytic enzymes, phospho-beta-glucosidase A and B, which hydrolyze only phosphorylated beta-glucosides. Some Enterobacteriaceae such as Klebsiella-Aerobacter (Enterobacter) possess the complete system; others possess only parts of it or may have a cryptic phospho-beta-glucosidase activity without permease activity. A screening test applied to strains belonging to several genera of Enterobacteriaceae showed that strains of Citrobacter, Hafnia, and Serratia exhibit a degree of similarity in phospho-beta-glucosidase activity and inducibility which could be useful in their taxonomic characterization; others, such as Aerobacter aerogenes, Erwinia, and Proteus vulgaris, are more heterologous. Owing to the presence of inducible phospho-beta-glucosidases A and B in Citrobacter, the fermentation of beta-methyl glucoside and the fermentation of arbutin in mixture with cellobiose could be of diagnostic value in the differentiation of Citrobacter from Salmonella. Wild-type strains of Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Salmonella are phenotypically similar in their inability to catabolize beta-glucosides, the presence of constitutive P-beta-glucosidase A, and the lack of beta-glucoside permeases I and II. Their beta-glucoside-fermenting mutants show, however, a phospho-beta-glucosidase and beta-glucoside permease activity which is characteristic for mutants from each genus. The differences in the phenotype of the mutants reflect probable differences in the presence of cryptic genes in the wild-type strains and could be of evolutionary significance.

Carbohydrate accumulation and metabolism in Escherichia coli: the close linkage and chromosomal location of ctr mutations

Six pleiotropic ctr mutations of Escherichia coli, affecting the ability to utilize 10 carbohydrates, were found to be closely linked to one another and to the mutation of strain MM6 causing lack of enzyme 1 of the phosphotransferase system. These mutations are located at 46 to 47 min on the E. coli map. Preliminary biochemical evidence indicates that the ctr mutants also lack enzyme 1, although they have a different phenotype from MM6.

Inducible system for the utilization of beta-glucosides in Escherichia coli. I. Active transport and utilization of beta-glucosides

Wild-type Escherichia coli strains (beta-gl(-)) do not split beta-glucosides, but inducible mutants (beta-gl(+)) can be isolated which do so. This inducible system consists of a beta-glucoside permease and an aryl beta-glucoside splitting enzyme. Both can be induced by aryl and alkyl beta-glucosides. In beta-gl(-) and noninduced beta-gl(+) cells, C(14)-labeled thioethyl beta-glucoside (TEG) is taken up by a constitutive permease, apparently identical with a glucose permease (GP). This permease has a high affinity for alpha-methyl glucoside and a low affinity for aryl beta-glucosides. No accumulation of TEG occurs in a beta-gl(-) strain lacking glucose permease (GP(-)). In induced beta-gl(+) strains, there appears a second beta-glucoside permease with low affinity for alpha-methyl glucoside and high affinity for aryl beta-glucosides. Autoradiography shows that TEG is accumulated by the beta-glucoside permease and glucose permease in two different forms (one being identical with TEG, the other probably phosphorylated TEG). In GP(+) beta-gl(+) strains with high GP activity, alkyl beta-glucosides induce the enzyme and the beta-glucoside permease after a prolonged induction lag, and they competitively inhibit the induction by aryl beta-glucosides. The induction lag and competition do not exist in GP(-) beta-gl(+) strains. It is assumed that phosphorylated alkyl and thioalkyl beta-glucosides inhibit the induction, and that this inhibition is responsible for the induction lag.