Functional features of an ssi signal of plasmid pGKV21 in Escherichia coli

A single-strand initiation (ssi) signal was detected on the Lactococcus lactis plasmid pGKV21 containing the replicon of pWV01 by its ability to complement the poor growth of an M13 phage derivative (M13??lac182) lacking the complementary-strand origin in Escherichia coli. This ssi signal was situated at the 229-nucleotide (nt) DdeI-DraI fragment and located within the 109 nt upstream of the nick site of the putative plus origin. SSI activity is orientation specific with respect to the direction of replication. We constructed an ssi signal-deleted plasmid and then examined the effects of the ssi signal on the conversion of the single-stranded replication intermediate to double-stranded plasmid DNA in E. coli. The plasmid lacking an ssi signal accumulated much more plasmid single-stranded DNA than the wild-type plasmid did. Moreover, deletion of this region caused a great reduction in plasmid copy number or plasmid maintenance. These results suggest that in E. coli, this ssi signal directs its lagging-strand synthesis as a minus origin of plasmid pGKV21. Primer RNA synthesis in vitro suggests that E. coli RNA polymerase directly recognizes the 229-nt ssi signal and synthesizes primer RNA dependent on the presence of E. coli single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) protein. This region contains two stem-loop structures, stem-loop I and stem-loop II. Deletion of stem-loop I portion results in loss of priming activity by E. coli RNA polymerase, suggesting that stem-loop I portion is essential for priming by E. coli RNA polymerase on the SSB-coated single-stranded DNA template.open5

Molecular characterization of a rab-related small GTP binding protein cDNA from rice (Oryza sativa L IR-36)

To study physiological roles of plant small GTP binding proteins, we isolated a cDNA clone (ORrab2) encoding the rab-related small GTP binding protein from rice (Oryza sativa L. IR-36) by using human cDNA rab2 as a probe. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ORrab2 gene shared all the conserved regions, important for GTPase/GTP binding activities, with those of other small GTP binding proteins. ORrab2 is a 1028 bp long cDNA, encodes a 23.2 kDa protein which shows 85.2% similarity on the amino acid sequence level to the Hrab2 protein, and was used as a probe. Through Southern and Northern blot analyses, we found that ORrab2 is a single copy gene and actively expressed at the stages of cell division and elongation. We investigated GTP binding abilities by a filter assay procedure. Deletion of a binding motif, GDTGVGKS, within an ORrab2 protein showed a significant decrease of GTP binding affinity, suggesting its important role in nucleotide binding.close4

MOLECULAR-CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RGA1 ENCODING A G-PROTEIN ALPHA-SUBUNIT FROM RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L IR-36)

A cDNA clone, RGA1, was isolated by using a GPA1 cDNA clone of Arabidopsis thaliana G protein ?? subunit as a probe from a rice (Oryza sativa L. IR-36) seedling cDNA library prepared from roots and leaves. Sequence analysis of genomic clone reveals that the RGA1 gene has 14 exons and 13 introns, and encodes a polypeptide of 380 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 44.5 kDa. The encoded protein exhibits a considerable degree of amino acid sequence similarity to all the other known G protein ?? subunits. A putative TATA sequence (ATATGA), a potential CAAT box sequence (AGCAATAC), and a cis-acting element, CCACGTGG (ABRE), known to be involved in ABA induction are found in the promoter region. The RGA1 protein contains all the consensus regions of G protein ?? subunits except the cysteine residue near the C-terminus for ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin. The RGA1 polypeptide expressed in Escherichia coli was, however, ADP-ribosylated by 10 ??M [adenylate-32P] NAD and activated cholera toxin. Southern analysis indicates that there are no other genes similar to the RGA1 gene in the rice genome. Northern analysis reveals that the RGA1 mRNA is 1.85 kb long and expressed in vegetative tissues, including leaves and roots, and that its expression is regulated by light.close54

Isolation and characterization of the 54-kDa and 22-kDa chitinase genes of Serratia marcescens KCTC2172

A DNA fragment (pCHI54225 containing two genes encoding a 54-kDa and a 22-kDa chitinase was isolated from a cosmid DNA library of Serratia marcescens KCTC2172. The complete nucleotide sequence of pCHI5422 consisting of 4581 bp was determined. The nucleotide sequence of the 22-kDa chitinase consists of 681 bp of open reading frame encoding 227 amino acids and is located 1422 bp downstream of the translation termination codon of the 54- kDa chitinase sequence. The 54-kDa chitinase gene consisted of 1497 bp in a single open reading frame encoding 499 amino acids. The genes encoding the 54-kDa and 22-kDa chitinase were separately subcloned in Escherichia coli and the individual chitinases were expressed and purified from the culture broth using chitin affinity chromatography. When chitohexaose was used as substrate, the major product of the enzymatic reaction of both the 54-kDa and 22-kDa chitinases was a (GlcNAc)2 dimer with a minor amount of monomer. The specific activity of the 54-kDa and 22-kDa chitinases were 300 ??M (min)-1 mg-1 and 17 ??M (min)-1 mg-1 on the natural swollen chitin, respectively.close182