scholarly journals Catabolite repression of the lac operon. The contribution of transcriptional repression

1969 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D Yudkin

1. Experiments were carried out to distinguish the contributions of transcriptional and translational repression to catabolite repression of the lac operon. 2. In strain EZ16-3-G of Escherichia coli the synthesis of thiogalactoside transacetylase is directed by a gene situated on an episome, and the operator, promotor and regulator genes that lay cis to this gene have been deleted, so that the normal mechanism for controlling transcription is abolished. The extent of catabolite repression in this strain was much less than that in wild-type strains. 3. The same episome is responsible for the synthesis of thiogalactoside transacetylase in strain RM32/F′d25, and in this strain a second lac operon directs the synthesis of β-galactosidase under the control of a wild-type operator–promotor–regulator system. The extent of catabolite repression of thiogalactoside transacetylase in strain RM32/F′d25 was substantially more than in strain EZ16-3-G, but less than that of β-galactosidase in strain RM32/F′d25. 4. Since the synthesis of thiogalactoside transacetylase in these organisms is presumably subject to translational repression only, it is concluded that in strain RM32/F′d25 the synthesis of β-galactosidase is subject to both transcriptional and translational repression. It is also concluded that the extent of translational repression varies between strains.

1971 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 579-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Yudkin

1. Experiments were devised to show whether the point mutations L8 and L29 in the lac promoter alleviate transient repression. 2. Several recombinants were picked from matings between a single F−p+strain and Hfr strains carrying mutations L8 and L29. All of the 19 p−recombinants tested proved to suffer no transient repression, whereas all of the eight p+recombinants tested suffered prolonged transient repression. 3. A diploid strain was constructed in which more than 90% of the thiogalactoside transacetylase is synthesized from the episome with a wild-type lac promoter, whereas 100% of the β-galactosidase is synthesized from the chromosome with a promoter carrying mutation L8. In this diploid the synthesis of thiogalactoside transacetylase suffered transient repression but the synthesis of β-galactosidase did not. 4. Exactly similar results were obtained with a diploid strain in which the chromosomal promoter carried mutation L29. 5. The same diploid strains were used in experiments to show whether mutations L8 and L29 alleviate the severe catabolite repression caused by growth in glucose plus gluconate. In both strains glucose+gluconate repressed the synthesis of β-galactosidase much less than the synthesis of thiogalactoside transacetylase. 6. These and previously reported results can be explained by assuming (a) that both mutations L8 and L29 render the lac promoter partially, but not completely, insensitive to catabolite repression, and (b) that transient repression is an exceptionally severe form of catabolite repression.


1969 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D Yudkin

1. Catabolite repression of β-galactosidase and of thiogalactoside transacetylase was studied in several strains of Escherichia coli K 12, in an attempt to show whether a single site within the structural genes of the lac operon co-ordinately controls translational repression for the two enzymes. In all experiments the rate of synthesis of the enzymes was compared in glycerol–minimal medium and in glucose–minimal medium. 2. In a wild-type strain, glucose repressed the synthesis of the two enzymes equally. 3. The possibility that repression was co-ordinate was investigated by studies of mutant strains that carry deletions in the genes for β-galactosidase or galactoside permease or both. In all of the strains with deletions, the repression of thiogalactoside transacetylase persisted, and it is concluded that there is no part of the structural gene for β-galactosidase that is essential for catabolite repression of thiogalactoside transacetylase. 4. Subculture of one strain through several transfers in rich medium greatly increased its susceptibility to catabolite repression by glucose. It is concluded that unknown features of the genotype can markedly affect sensitivity to catabolite repression. 5. These results make it clear that one cannot draw valid conclusions about the effect of known genotypic differences on catabolite repression from a comparison of two separate strains; to study the effect of a particular genetic change in a lac operon it is necessary to construct a partially diploid strain so that catabolite repression suffered by one lac operon can be compared with that suffered by another. 6. Four such partial diploids were constructed. In all of them catabolite repression of β-galactosidase synthesized by one operon was equal in extent to catabolite repression of thiogalactoside transacetylase synthesized by the other. 7. Taken together, these results suggest that catabolite repression of β-galactosidase and thiogalactoside transacetylase is separate but equal.


2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 440-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Woegerbauer ◽  
Bernard Jenni ◽  
Florian Thalhammer ◽  
Wolfgang Graninger ◽  
Heinz Burgmann

ABSTRACT Transfer of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli wild-type strains is possible by transformation under naturally occurring conditions in oligotrophic, aquatic environments containing physiologic concentrations of calcium. In contrast, transformation is suppressed in nitrogen-rich body fluids like urine, a common habitat of uropathogenic strains. Current knowledge indicates that transformation of these E. coli wild-type strains is of no relevance for the acquisition of resistance in this clinically important environment.


1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (10) ◽  
pp. 3018-3024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Balsalobre ◽  
Jörgen Johansson ◽  
Bernt Eric Uhlin ◽  
Antonio Juárez ◽  
Francisco J. Muñoa

ABSTRACT The Hha protein belongs to a new family of regulators involved in the environmental regulation of virulence factors. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the hha mutation on the overall protein pattern of Escherichia coli cells by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The growth medium osmolarity clearly influenced the effect of the hhamutation. The number of proteins whose expression was altered inhha cells, compared with wild-type cells, was three times larger at a high osmolarity than at a low osmolarity. Among the proteins whose expression was modified by the hha allele, both OmpA and protein IIAGlc of the phosphotransferase system could be identified. As this latter enzyme participates in the regulation of the synthesis of cyclic AMP and hence influences the catabolite repression system, we tested whether the expression of thelacZ gene was also modified in hha mutants. This was the case, suggesting that at least some of the pleiotropic effects of the hha mutation could be caused by its effect on the catabolite repression system.


Author(s):  
John H. Nisbet ◽  
Henry S. Slayter

Wild - type strains of Escherichia coli are known to contain as many as four endogenous nucleases (Ref. 1). These are commonly found associated with the ribosomes after extraction from the cell, but may be removed, with the exception of RNase IV, by washing the ribosomes in NH4Cl (at 0.2 M and higher concentrations). We have examined the effect of these nucleases on the 50S ribosomal subunit of one wild-type strain, K12 (Hfr 3000), by incubating the unwashed particles at 37° in the presence of varying magnesium concentrations.At 10-4 molar magnesium (slower at 10-3 molar), the 50S particle is converted to a species sedimenting at about 44S. About 20% of the total O.D260 is liberated at the same time. Continued incubation leads to the release of more O.D260 material while the RNA remaining in the 44S (Fig. 1) particle is progressively cleaved, eventually to the point where it consists of one principal fragment of molecular weight 0.42 x 106 daltons and several lesser fragments. The ribosomal RNA and proteins have been characterized by acrylamide gel electrophoresis.


Genetics ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward C Cox ◽  
Gerald E Degnen ◽  
Mary L Scheppe

ABSTRACT We report here on a study of a mutator gene (mutS) that causes transition mutations in Escherichia coli. We have used the trpA system to show that A:T→G:C and G:C→A:T transitions occur. Not all A:T pairs are equally susceptible to mutS action however, since the A:T pair at the trpA223 site reverts at a frequency similar to, if not identical with, the frequency in a mut  + background. Presumably this is a consequence of neighboring bases, because other A:T pairs are reverted by mutS in the same gene; and an A:T pair in the lac operon is reverted at two widely separated points on the chromosome, and in two orientations relative to the trp sense strand. In addition, we have shown that the mutS1 allele is recessive to wild type, and trans active.


1991 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 751-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Bradley

Escherichia coli strains CA46(pColG) and CA58(pColH) each apparently synthesized two generally similar bactericidal colicin proteins whose molecular weights were approximately 5 500 and 100 000. These proteins were more resistant to trypsin than representative colicins A, D, E1, and V. The smooth wild-type strains harbouring plasmids pColG and pColH were serotyped O169:NM and O30:NM, respectively, being typically associated with nonpathogenic E. coli of human origin. Rough and semirough variants, which were selected using resistance to novobiocin, were intrinsically insensitive to almost as many colicins (10 tested) as their parents. For this reason the wild-type strains would not be useful for identifying colicins G and H on the basis of immunity. The O antigenic side chains of both wild-type strains shielded three of the six bacteriophage protein receptors tested. Key words: colicin, protein, plasmid, O antigen, bacteriophage.


Microbiology ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 129 (10) ◽  
pp. 3111-3120 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Scotland ◽  
N. P. Day ◽  
B. Rowe

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