scholarly journals REGULATION OF NEWLY EVOLVED ENZYMES. III EVOLUTION OF THE ebg REPRESSOR DURING SELECTION FOR ENHANCED LACTASE ACTIVITY

Genetics ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-201
Author(s):  
Barry G Hall ◽  
Norma D Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Enzyme Synthesis ◽  
Lactase Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Regulatory Mutation ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Lactose Induction ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Lactose Utilization ◽  
Selection For

ABSTRACT The evolution of lactose utilization by lacZ deletion strains of E. coli occurs via mutations in the ebg genes. We show that one kind of mutation in the regulatory gene ebgR results in a repressor which retains the ability to repress synthesis of ebg enzymes, but which permits 4.5-fold more ebg enzyme synthesis during lactose induction than does the wild-type repressor. A comparison between the growth rate of various ebg  + strains on lactose and the amount of ebg enzyme synthesized by these strains shows that the rate of enzyme synthesis permitted by the wild-type repressor is insufficient for growth on lactose as a sole carbon source by a cell with the most active ebg lactase yet isolated. We conclude, therefore, that the evolution of lactose utilization requires both a structural and a regulatory mutation.

EVOLUTION OF A REGULATED OPERON IN THE LABORATORY

Genetics ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 101 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 335-344
Author(s):  
Barry G Hall
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Model System ◽  
Lactose Permease ◽  
Lac Operon ◽  
Regulatory Mutation ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Metabolic Functions ◽  
Lactose Utilization

ABSTRACT The evolution of new metabolic functions is being studied in the laboratory using the EBG system of E. coli as a model system. It is demonstrated that the evolution of lactose utilization by lacZ deletion strains requires a series of structural and regulatory gene mutations. Two structural gene mutations act to increase the activity of ebg enzyme toward lactose, and to permit ebg enzyme to convert lactose into allolactose, an inducer of the lac operon. A regulatory mutation increases the sensitivity of the ebg repressor to lactose, and permits sufficient ebg enzyme activity for growth. The resulting fully evolved ebg operon regulates its own expression, and also regulates the synthesis of the lactose permease.

scholarly journals The Acidaminococcus sp. Cas12a nuclease recognizes GTTV and GCTV as non-canonical PAMs

2019 ◽  
Vol 366 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Jacobsen ◽  
Chunyu Liao ◽  
Chase L Beisel
Keyword(s):  
Dna Cleavage ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Cleavage Efficiency ◽  
Protospacer Adjacent Motif ◽  
Short Palindromic Repeat ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Validation Experiments

ABSTRACT The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) nuclease Acidaminococcus sp. Cas12a (AsCas12a, also known as AsCpf1) has become a popular alternative to Cas9 for genome editing and other applications. AsCas12a has been associated with a TTTV protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) as part of target recognition. Using a cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL)-based PAM screen, we discovered that AsCas12a can also recognize GTTV and, to a lesser degree, GCTV motifs. Validation experiments involving DNA cleavage in TXTL, plasmid clearance in Escherichia coli, and indel formation in mammalian cells showed that AsCas12a was able to recognize these motifs, with the GTTV motif resulting in higher cleavage efficiency compared to the GCTV motif. We also observed that the -5 position influenced the activity of DNA cleavage in TXTL and in E. coli, with a C at this position resulting in the lowest activity. Together, these results show that wild-type AsCas12a can recognize non-canonical GTTV and GCTV motifs and exemplify why the range of PAMs recognized by Cas nucleases are poorly captured with a consensus sequence.

scholarly journals REGULATION OF NEWLY EVOLVED ENZYMES. IV. DIRECTED EVOLUTION OF THE EBG REPRESSOR

Genetics ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-681
Author(s):  
Barry G Hall
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Directed Evolution ◽  
Enzyme Synthesis ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT In Escherichia coli, the wild-type repressor of ebg (evolved β-galactosidase) enzyme synthesis, specified by the ebgR  + gene, responds very weakly to lactulose (fructose-β-D-galactopyranoside). Selection for a functional repressor that responds strongly to lactulose as an inducer reveals the existence of ebgR+L mutants, which occur spontaneously at a frequency of about 2 x 10-10. ebgR+L mutants are pleiotropic in that they specify ebg repressor with a greatly increased response to lactulose, lactose, galactose-arabinoside and methyl-galactoside as inducers. Selection of ebgR+L mutants is discussed within the framework of directed evolution of a regulatory function.

scholarly journals Se(VI) Reduction and the Precipitation of Se(0) by the Facultative Bacterium Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1 Are Regulated by FNR

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1914-1920 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Yee ◽  
J. Ma ◽  
A. Dalia ◽  
T. Boonfueng ◽  
D. Y. Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Reductase Activity ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Enterobacter Cloacae ◽  
Elemental Selenium ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
First Order ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Reaction Constants ◽  
Genetic Regulator

ABSTRACT The fate of selenium in the environment is controlled, in part, by microbial selenium oxyanion reduction and Se(0) precipitation. In this study, we identified a genetic regulator that controls selenate reductase activity in the Se-reducing bacterium Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1. Heterologous expression of the global anaerobic regulatory gene fnr (fumarate nitrate reduction regulator) from E. cloacae in the non-Se-reducing strain Escherichia coli S17-1 activated the ability to reduce Se(VI) and precipitate insoluble Se(0) particles. Se(VI) reduction by E. coli S17-1 containing the fnr gene occurred at rates similar to those for E. cloacae, with first-order reaction constants of k = 2.07 × 10−2 h−1 and k = 3.36 × 10−2 h−1, respectively, and produced elemental selenium particles with identical morphologies and short-range atomic orders. Mutation of the fnr gene in E. cloacae SLD1a-1 resulted in derivative strains that were deficient in selenate reductase activity and unable to precipitate elemental selenium. Complementation by the wild-type fnr sequence restored the ability of mutant strains to reduce Se(VI). Our findings suggest that Se(VI) reduction and the precipitation of Se(0) by facultative anaerobes are regulated by oxygen-sensing transcription factors and occur under suboxic conditions.

ucFabV Requires Functional Reductase Activity to Confer Reduced Triclosan Susceptibility in Escherichia coli

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 394-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor L. Fischer ◽  
Robert J. White ◽  
Katherine F.K. Mares ◽  
Devin E. Molnau ◽  
Justin J. Donato
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Reductase Activity ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Enoyl Acp Reductase ◽  
Selection For

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> We previously identified the Triclo1 fosmid in a functional metagenomic selection for clones that increased triclosan tolerance in <i>Escherichia coli</i>. The active enzyme encoded by Triclo1 is ucFabV. Although ucFabV is homologous to FabV from other organisms, ucFabV contains substitutions at key positions that would predict differences in substrate binding. Therefore, a detailed characterization of ucFabV was conducted to link its biochemical activity to its ability to confer reduced triclosan sensitivity. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> ucFabV and a catalytic mutant were purified and used to reduce crotonoyl-CoA in vitro. The mutant and wild-type enzymes were introduced into <i>E. coli</i>, and their ability to confer triclosan tolerance as well as suppress a temperature-sensitive mutant of FabI were measured. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Purified ucFabV, but not the mutant, reduced crotonoyl-CoA in vitro. The wild-type enzyme confers increased triclosan tolerance when introduced into <i>E. coli</i>, whereas the mutant remained susceptible to triclosan<i>. </i>Additionally, wild-type ucFabV, but not the mutant, functionally replaced FabI within living cells. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> ucFabV confers increased tolerance through its function as an enoyl-ACP reductase. Furthermore, ucFabV is capable of restoring viability in the presence of compromised FabI, suggesting ucFabV is likely facilitating an alternate step within fatty acid synthesis, bypassing FabI inhibition.

scholarly journals Exoribonuclease and Endoribonuclease Activities of RNase BN/RNase Z both Function in Vivo

2012 ◽  
Vol 287 (42) ◽  
pp. 35747-35755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanmay Dutta ◽  
Arun Malhotra ◽  
Murray P. Deutscher
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
X Ray ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Phage T4 ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Rnase Z

Escherichia coli RNase BN, a member of the RNase Z family of endoribonucleases, differs from other family members in that it also can act as an exoribonuclease in vitro. Here, we examine whether this activity of RNase BN also functions in vivo. Comparison of the x-ray structure of RNase BN with that of Bacillus subtilis RNase Z, which lacks exoribonuclease activity, revealed that RNase BN has a narrower and more rigid channel downstream of the catalytic site. We hypothesized that this difference in the putative RNA exit channel might be responsible for the acquisition of exoribonuclease activity by RNase BN. Accordingly, we generated several mutant RNase BN proteins in which residues within a loop in this channel were converted to the corresponding residues present in B. subtilis RNase Z, thus widening the channel and increasing its flexibility. The resulting mutant RNase BN proteins had reduced or were essentially devoid of exoribonuclease activity in vitro. Substitution of one mutant rbn gene (P142G) for wild type rbn in the E. coli chromosome revealed that the exoribonuclease activity of RNase BN is not required for maturation of phage T4 tRNA precursors, a known specific function of this RNase. On the other hand, removal of the exoribonuclease activity of RNase BN in a cell lacking other processing RNases leads to slower growth and affects maturation of multiple tRNA precursors. These findings help explain how RNase BN can act as both an exo- and an endoribonuclease and also demonstrate that its exoribonuclease activity is capable of functioning in vivo, thus widening the potential role of this enzyme in E. coli.

scholarly journals Ubiquitous selection for mecA in community-associated MRSA across diverse chemical environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Snitser ◽  
Dor Russ ◽  
Laura K. Stone ◽  
Kathy K. Wang ◽  
Haleli Sharir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Synthetic Compounds ◽  
Antibiotic Drugs ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Selection For

AbstractCommunity-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is threatening public health as it spreads worldwide across diverse environments. Its genetic hallmark, the mecA gene, confers resistance to many β-lactam antibiotics. Here, we show that, in addition, mecA provides a broad selective advantage across diverse chemical environments. Competing fluorescently labelled wild-type and mecA-deleted CA-MRSA USA400 strains across ~57,000 compounds supplemented with subinhibitory levels of the β-lactam drug cefoxitin, we find that mecA provides a widespread advantage across β-lactam and non β-lactam antibiotics, non-antibiotic drugs and even diverse natural and synthetic compounds. This advantage depends on the presence of cefoxitin and is strongly associated with the compounds’ physicochemical properties, suggesting that it may be mediated by differential compounds permeability into the cell. Indeed, mecA protects the bacteria against increased cell-envelope permeability under subinhibitory cefoxitin treatment. Our findings suggest that CA-MRSA success might be driven by a cell-envelope mediated selective advantage across diverse chemical compounds.

scholarly journals The Escherichia coli O157 Flagellar Regulatory Gene flhC and Not the Flagellin Gene fliC Impacts Colonization of Cattle

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 2894-2905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather S. Dobbin ◽  
Carolyn J. Hovde ◽  
Christopher J. Williams ◽  
Scott A. Minnich
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Oral Dose ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Regulatory Mutant ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

ABSTRACT A virulent European Escherichia coli O157:H − isolate is nonmotile due to a 12-bp deletion in the flagellar regulatory gene flhC. To investigate the contribution of flhC in the relationship between E. coli O157:H7 and cattle, we constructed a similar flhC regulatory mutant in the well-characterized strain ATCC 43894. There was no difference in the growth rate between the wild type and this regulatory mutant, but phenotypic arrays showed substrate utilization differences. Survival in the bovine gastrointestinal tract and colonization of the rectoanal junction mucosa were assessed. Mixtures of both strains were given orally or rectally to steers or administered into the rumen of cattle dually cannulated at the rumen and duodenum. One day post-oral dose, most rectal/fecal isolates (74%) were the regulatory mutant, but by 3 days post-oral dose and throughout the 42-day experiment, ≥80% of the isolates were wild type. Among steers given a rectal application of both strains, wild-type isolates were the majority of isolates recovered on all days. The regulatory mutant survived better than the wild type in both the rumen and duodenum. To test the role of motility, a filament mutant (ΔfliC) was constructed and similar cattle experiments were performed. On all days post-oral dose, the majority of isolates (64% to 98%) were the filament mutant. In contrast, both strains were recovered equally post-rectal application. Thus, the regulatory mutant survived passage through the bovine gastrointestinal tract better than the wild type but failed to efficiently colonize cattle, and the requirement of flhC for colonization was not dependent on a functional flagellum.

scholarly journals ON THE EVOLUTION OF NEW METABOLIC FUNCTIONS IN DIPLOID ORGANISMS

Genetics ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 1007-1017
Author(s):  
Barry G Hall
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Structural Gene ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Metabolic Functions ◽  
Lactose Utilization

ABSTRACT Evolution of lactose utilization via the ebg system of Escherichia coli requires both structural gene (ebgA) and regulatory gene (ebgR) mutations. Because evolution of new metabolic functions in diploids might be subject to constraints not present in haploid organisms, merodiploid strains carrying a wild-type and an evolved ebgA allele, or a wild-type and an evolved ebgR allele were constructed. I show that heterozygosity at ebgA does not significantly affect the selective advantage of the evolved ebgA allele; whereas heterozygosity at ebgR eliminates the selective advantage of the evolved ebgR allele. It is suggested that, in diploid organisms, evolution of new functions for systems under negative control would be very difficult.

scholarly journals Balance between promiscuity and specificity in phage λ host range

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Andrews ◽  
Stanley Fields
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Host Resistance ◽  
Fitness Landscape ◽  
Tail Fiber ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
General Ability ◽  
Novel Host ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Resistance To Viruses

AbstractAs hosts acquire resistance to viruses, viruses must overcome that resistance to re-establish infectivity, or go extinct. Despite the significant hurdles associated with adapting to a resistant host, viruses are evolutionarily successful and maintain stable coevolutionary relationships with their hosts. To investigate the factors underlying how pathogens adapt to their hosts, we performed a deep mutational scan of the region of the λ tail fiber tip protein that mediates contact with the λ host, E. coli. Phages harboring amino acid substitutions were subjected to selection for infectivity on wild type E. coli, revealing a highly restrictive fitness landscape, in which most substitutions completely abrogate function. By comparing this lack of mutational tolerance to evolutionary diversity, we highlight a set of mutationally intolerant and diverse positions associated with host range expansion. Imposing selection for infectivity on three λ-resistant hosts, each harboring a different missense mutation in the λ receptor, reveals hundreds of adaptive variants in λ. We distinguish λ variants that confer promiscuity, a general ability to overcome host resistance, from those that drive host-specific infectivity. Both processes may be important in driving adaptation to a novel host.

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