Use of new Escherichia coli/Streptomyces conjugative vectors to probe the functions of the two groEL-like genes of Streptomyces albus G by gene disruption.

Streptomyces albus G contains two groEL-like genes encoding three related proteins [Guglielmi et al., J. Bacteriol. 173 (1991) 7374-7381; Mazodier et al., J. Bacteriol. 173 (1991) 7382-7386]. Two proteins, HSP58 and HSP18, are synthesized from a single start codon site in groEL1. HSP18 may be a processed form of HSP58 or the result of early termination after frameshifting. The third protein, HSP56 is encoded by groEL2. In order to determine the physiological roles of these different proteins, both groEL genes were mutagenized by using a new approach for obtaining insertions in the streptomycete chromosome. Escherichia coli plasmids containing fragments homologous to groEL1 or groEL2 are unable to replicate in Streptomyces. They were introduced into S. albus by conjugation with E. coli. We then screened for mutants in which groEL1 or groEL2 had been disrupted due to recombination events (single or double crossover) at specific sites. Using this approach, the functionally indispensable domain of HSP58 was localized to within 249 amino acids of the N-terminus. HSP58 was not detected in the mutant generated by the most upstream insertion into the groEL1 coding sequence. However, HSP18 was synthesized in this mutant after heat shock. This groEL1 mutant was not impaired in growth in the 30-41 degrees C temperature range and SDS-PAGE analysis showed its overall pattern of gene expression to be indistinguishable from the parental strain. The inability to generate strains containing groEL2 disruptions strongly suggests that HSP56 is indispensable for growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Construction of a series of pSAM2-based integrative vectors for use in actinomycetes.

We have developed vectors which allowed integration of cloned DNA at a single site in the chromosome of Streptomyces lividans 66. These vectors made use of (1) an Escherichia coli replicon, (2) a thiostrepton (Th)- and a streptomycin/spectinomycin-resistance gene for selection in Streptomyces, (3) a 3.5-kb fragment of the Streptomyces integrative plasmid pSAM2 containing its xis and int genes as well as its attachment site, attP, to direct the integration of the vectors at the chromosomal pSAM2 attachment site attB, (4) the origin of transfer of the IncP broad-host-range plasmid RK2 which allowed the mobilization of the vectors from E. coli to S. lividans, and (5) the Th-inducible tipA promoter to permit regulated transcription of cloned genes. We demonstrated that pPM927, a plasmid which contained all of these elements, was able to transfer cloned fragments from E. coli to S. lividans by conjugation, stably integrate into the chromosome, and express cloned genes from the tipA promoter. Furthermore, since pPM927 contained the pBR322 replicon, cloned fragments could be conveniently recovered from the S. lividans chromosome for analysis in E. coli by cleavage of genomic DNA isolated from transformed strains, intramolecular ligation and transformation. Since we have shown that the pSAM2 attB site forms part of a conserved prokaryotic tRNA gene, these integrative vectors are potentially useful tools for analysis and expression of genes in diverse bacteria.

Characterization of two groEL genes in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).

Two Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) groEL-like genes, groEL1 and groEL2, were cloned and characterized. Pulsed-field-gel electrophoresis located these genes, which were not adjacent, in the same segment of the chromosome. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that groEL1, but not groEL2, was preceded by a groES-like gene. Northern blots showed that heat shock induced the accumulation of transcripts corresponding to groES (0.7 kb), groES/EL1 (2.3 kb) and groEL2 (2.1 kb). Unique transcription start points and promoters were located for groES/EL1 and groEL2, having -10 and -35 hexamers similar to eubacterial vegetative promoters. Regions located 5' to the groES/EL1 or groEL2 structural genes contain 'GCACTCN9GAGTGC' motifs conserved upstream from the heat-shock genes of other bacteria.

Molecular cloning and overexpression of the glucosamine synthetase gene from Escherichia coli.

A recombinant plasmid carrying a 4.6 kg restriction endonuclease NcoI-ClaI fragment of genomic DNA from Escherichia coli K12 was constructed. This plasmid complements the glmS mutation. Subcloning into pUC18 gave plasmid pGM10 encoding the structural gene of glucosamine synthetase, as judged by overexpression of enzyme activity and the isolation in high yield of the pure protein.

Purification and characterization of a peripheral protein from the sheep erythrocyte membrane.

A peripheral protein of the sheep red blood cell membrane has been purified to homogeneity. This protein is completely released from the membrane by osmotic shock. Its amino acid composition, molecular weight and subunit structure have been determined. Antibodies against this protein have been obtained in rabbits.

The immune response of CBA mice to OSRA, a peripheral protein from the sheep erythrocyte membrane.

The capacity of a membrane protein from sheep erythrocytes (osmotic shock released antigen: OSRA) to elicit an immune response in CBA mice was investigated. While all OSRA preparations tested are antigenically identical en indistinguishable with respect to physicochemical characteristics, they are not equally efficient in stimulating immunocompetent lymphocytes for antibody production upon a primary immunization (immunogenic versus antigenic OSRA). Both antibody-forming and (T and B) memory cells are generated in mice primed with immunogenic OSRA. Evidence is presented that the failure of antigenic OSRA to induce a primary response to SRBC determinants is related to its inability to stimulate unprimed T-cells. OSRA appears to be a major antigenic determinant of the sheep erythrocyte membrane since it specifically inhibits up to 60% of an anti-SRBC response.

Systemic necrotizing vasculitides in severe alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.

We describe the clinical presentation and outcome in a series of eight patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis and severe alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency followed up at three Swedish hospitals during 1968-92. We also review six other cases reported in the literature during the same period. Diagnosis of severe AAT deficiency was based on the presence of the PiZZ phenotype, or low plasma total trypsin inhibitory capacity, or a low plasma AAT concentration (10-40% of the normal mean value) and presence of the PiSZ or PiFZ phenotype. The diagnosis of systemic vasculitis was biopsy-verified in all eight patients. Pretreatment laboratory findings, treatment protocol, and outcome were reviewed in each of the 14 patients. Of the eight patients in the Swedish series, six had systemic vasculitis of the microscopic polyangiitis form, one had Wegener's granulomatosis, and another had Henoch-Schönlein purpura. In the series as a whole (n = 14), median age at diagnosis was 48 years (range 44-84), the median number of affected organs was eight, and all 14 patients had skin involvement, and either renal or joint involvement (in most cases both); 71% (10/14) had emphysema; 57% (8/14) had hepatic abnormalities (two having cirrhosis, two fibrosis, and one multiple aneurysms in hepatic arteries); one patient who presented with acute ulcerative colitis developed manifest vasculitic syndrome three years later; and 64% (9/14) died, the major cause of death being renal failure. This syndrome, characterized by multiple organ involvement and fatal outcome, has been underdiagnosed. Physicians should be alert to the presence of the PiZ AAT deficiency gene in patients with systemic vasculitis, especially when the course is progressive or when the patient also has emphysema or cirrhosis. Awareness of those features may aid prompt recognition and enable early treatment.

Characterization of Streptomyces albus 18-kilodalton heat shock-responsive protein.

In Streptomyces albus during the heat shock response, a small heat shock protein of 18 kDa is dramatically induced. This protein was purified, and internal sequences revealed that S. albus HSP18 showed a marked homology with proteins belonging to the family of small heat shock proteins. The corresponding gene was isolated and sequenced. DNA sequence analysis confirmed that the hsp18 gene product is an analog of the 18-kDa antigen of Mycobacterium leprae. No hsp18 mRNA could be detected at 30 degrees C, but transcription of this gene was strongly induced following heat shock. The transcription initiation site was determined by nuclease S1 protection. A typical streptomycete vegetative promoter sequence was identified upstream from the initiation site. Disruption mutagenesis of hsp18 showed that HSP18 is not essential for growth in the 30 to 42 degrees C temperature range. However, HSP18 is involved in thermotolerance at extreme temperatures.

The ATPase ClpX is conditionally involved in the morphological differentiation of Streptomyces lividans.

ATP-dependent proteases of the ClpP type are widespread in eubacteria. These proteolytic complexes are composed of a proteolytic subunit and an ATPase subunit. They are involved in the degradation of denatured proteins, but also play a role in specific regulatory pathways. In Streptomyces lividans strains which lack the proteolytic subunit ClpP1, cell cycle progression has been shown to be blocked at early stages of growth. In this study, we examined the role of the ATPase subunit ClpX, a possible partner of the products of the clpP1 operon. A clpX mutant was obtained and it was shown that its growth was impaired only on acidic medium. Thus, the clpX phenotype differs from the clpP1 phenotype, indicating that these two components have only partially overlapping roles. We also analyzed the expression of clpX. Although clpX expression is increased under heat-shock conditions in many bacteria, we found that this is not the case in S. lividans.

Negative regulation of the heat shock response in Streptomyces.

All organisms respond to a sudden increase in temperature by inducing the synthesis of a set of proteins called heat shock proteins (HSPs). Although the induction of HSPs is a universal response, a diversity of mechanisms control HSP synthesis in different organisms. In Streptomyces, the synthesis of major HSPs, such as the widespread molecular chaperones DnaK, ClpB, GroEL and HSP18, is negatively controlled at the transcriptional level by at least three different repressors. The control of groE gene expression involves an inverted repeat (called the CIRCE element) that is highly conserved among eubacteria, and the HrcA repressor. The dnaK operon and clpB belong to the HspR /HAIR regulon. The HspR repressor-HAIR operator system is used in some bacteria but is not widespread. In particular, it has not been found in gram-positive bacteria with low G+C content. Transcription of hsp18, which encodes a small HSP, is regulated by the RheA repressor. This repressor, which has intrinsic thermosensor activity, has to date been identified only in Streptomyces.

Heat induction of hsp18 gene expression in Streptomyces albus G: transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation.

In Streptomyces albus G, HSP18, a protein belonging to the small heat shock protein family, could be detected only at high temperature. The nucleotide sequence of the DNA region upstream from hsp18 contains an open reading frame (orfY) which is in the opposite orientation and 150 bp upstream. This open reading frame encodes a basic protein of 225 amino acids showing no significant similarity to any proteins found in data banks. Disruption of this gene in the S. albus chromosome generated mutants that synthesized hsp18 RNA at 30 degrees C, suggesting that orfY plays either a direct or indirect role in the transcriptional regulation of the hsp18 gene. In addition, thermally induced expression of the hsp18 gene is subject to posttranscriptional regulation. In the orfY mutant, although hsp18 RNA was synthesized at a high level at 30 degrees C, the HSP18 protein could not be detected except after heat shock. Synthesis of the HSP18 protein in the orfY mutant was also heat inducible when transcription was inhibited by rifampin. Furthermore, when wild-type cultures of S. albus were shifted from high temperature to 30 degrees C, synthesis of the gene product could no longer be detected, even though large amounts of hsp18 RNA were present.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin screening of 18-year-old men.

In 11 128 apparently healthy 18-year-old men screened for alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) 44 had an alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) level of 50% or less of the transferrin reference. In 42 of the 44 the Pi types were: five Pi Z, 10 Pi SZ, three Pi MZ, one presumptive Pi M-, one Pi FM, and 22 Pi M. Probably all Pi Z and most of the Pi SZ subjects were identified. The transferrin reference, however, is probably less reliable for the study of this age group, and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin may provide a more valid reference for the AAT screening procedure. In the clinical investigation the additive risk factor of smoking was discovered in eight of 15 individuals with AATD Pi Z or Pi SZ. We believe screening for Pi Z and probably also Pi SZ AATD should be done before young people start smoking or train for jobs in polluted environments.

The RheA repressor is the thermosensor of the HSP18 heat shock response in Streptomyces albus.

Microorganisms have mechanisms to sense their environment and rapidly adapt to survive changes in conditions. In Streptomyces albus, various transcriptional repressors mediate the induction of heat shock genes. The RheA repressor regulates the synthesis of HSP18, a small heat shock protein, which plays a role in thermotolerance. The RheA protein was purified to determine how it responds rapidly to temperature. Gel retardation assays and footprinting experiments identified the specific target of RheA as an inverted repeat (TGTCATC 5N GATGACA) located in Phsp18, PrheA which is the common promoter region of the divergon. Gel retardation assays detected RheA-complexes formed with the hsp18-rheA promoters. The complexes did not form at higher temperature. In vitro transcription experiments showed that RheA is an autoregulatory protein and that its activity is inhibited by high temperature. The temperature-induced derepression by RheA is reversible. Dichroism circular spectroscopy revealed a reversible change of RheA conformation in relation with the temperature that could represent a transition between an active and an inactive form. Our experiments demonstrate that RheA acts as a cellular thermometer in hsp18 regulation.

The clpP multigenic family in Streptomyces lividans: conditional expression of the clpP3 clpP4 operon is controlled by PopR, a novel transcriptional activator.

The clpP genes are widespread among living organisms and encode the proteolytic subunit of the Clp ATP-dependent protease. These genes are present in a single copy in most eubacteria. However, five clpP genes were identified in Streptomyces coelicolor. The clpP1 clpP2 operon was studied: mutations affected the growth cycle in various Streptomyces. Here, we report studies of the expression of the clpP3 clpP4 operon in Streptomyces lividans. The clpP3 operon was induced in a clpP1 mutant strain, and the regulation of expression was investigated in detail. The product of the putative regulator gene, downstream from clpP4, was purified. Gel migration shift assays and DNase I footprinting showed that this protein binds to the clpP3 promoter and recognizes a tandem 6 bp palindromic repeat (TCTGCC-3N-GGCAGA). In vivo, this DNA-binding protein, named PopR, acts as an activator of the clpP3 operon. Studies of popR expression indicate that the regulator is probably controlled at the post-transcriptional level.

The chromosomal integration site of the Streptomyces element pSAM2 overlaps a putative tRNA gene conserved among actinomycetes.

The pSAM2 element of Streptomyces ambofaciens integrates site-specifically in the genome of different Streptomyces species by recombination between a 58 bp sequence common to the plasmid (attP) and the chromosome (attB). Southern hybridization analysis showed that sequences similar to the pSAM2 attB site were found in other actinomycetes (Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Micromonospora) as well as unrelated bacteria (Bacillus circulans, Escherichia coli, Clostridium botulinum, Bordetella pertussis, and Legionella pneumophila). Hybridizing fragments from B. circulans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were cloned and sequenced. Comparison of these sequences with the sequence of the integration zone of S. ambofaciens revealed a conserved region of 76 bp which overlapped with the attB site. This conserved sequence was similar to the Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli tRNA(pro1) genes as well as a number of eucaryotic tRNA genes and had a proline-tRNA-like cloverleaf structure. Furthermore, the Streptomyces lividans attB site of the Streptomyces glaucescens element pIJ408 was also found to overlap a potential tRNA gene (tRNA(thr)). We note here that these two putative tRNA genes as well as those which overlap the attB site of the elements SLP1 of Streptomyces coelicolor and pMEA100 of Nocardia mediterranei all contain the site where integrative recombination takes place. These presumptive actinomycete tRNA genes lack the 3' terminal CCA sequence found in most procaryotic tRNA genes.

Disruption of hspR, the repressor gene of the dnaK operon in Streptomyces albus G.

hspR is the distal gene of the Streptomyces albus dnaK operon. It encodes a protein similar to GlnR, the repressor of the Bacillus subtilis glutamine synthetase gene. Transcriptional analysis showed that disruption of hspR led to constitutive high-level expression of the dnaK operon, SDS-PAGE analysis revealed over-production and accumulation of the chaperone DnaK at low temperature HSP94, a heat-inducible protein cross-reacting with anti-CipB antibodies, was also shown to be constitutively overexpressed at low temperature in the hspR mutant. Those features were lost when the mutant was complemented in trans by an intact copy of hspR. The hspR mutant was impaired in its growth on solid rich medium: colonies grow slowly at 30 degrees C. However, formation of aerial mycelium and sporulation was not prevented. In liquid culture growth curves of the mutant and the wild type were similar. The kinetics of groEL gene induction were not modified by the hspR null mutation, indicating that HspR was not directly involved in the control of groEL transcription. Thus, in contrast with B. subtilis and other Gram-positive bacteria, transcription of Streptomyces dnaK and groEL operons is not controlled by the same regulator.

Intergeneric conjugation between Escherichia coli and Streptomyces species.

We have constructed Escherichia coli-Streptomyces shuttle plasmids which are capable of conjugal transfer from E. coli to Streptomyces spp. These plasmids contained the pBR322 and pIJ101 origins of replication and the RK2 (IncP) origin of transfer. The transfer of plasmid was specifically dependent the presence of a 760-base-pair, cis-acting, oriT-containing fragment and on RP4 (IncP) functions supplied in trans. Conditions of mating and selection of exconjugants were analyzed with Streptomyces lividans as recipient. Plasmid transfer to other Streptomyces species was also demonstrated.

hrcA, encoding the repressor of the groEL genes in Streptomyces albus G, is associated with a second dnaJ gene.

Expression of the principal chaperones of the heat shock stimulon of Streptomyces albus G are under the negative control of different repressors. The dnaK operon is regulated by hspR, the last gene of the operon (dnaK-grpE-dnaJ-hspR). hsp18, encoding a member of the small heat shock protein family, is regulated by orfY, which is in the opposite orientation upstream of hsp18. The groES-groEL1 operon and the groEL2 gene are regulated differently. They present tandem copies of the CIRCE element found in the 5' region of many heat shock genes and shown to act in Bacillus subtilis as an operator for a repressor encoded by hrcA (hrc stands for heat regulation at CIRCE). We report the identification in S. albus of a new heat shock operon containing hrcA and dnaJ homologs. Disruption of hrcA increased the transcription of the groES-groEL1 operon and of the groEL2 gene. These features were lost when the mutant was complemented in trans by an intact copy of hrcA. Despite considerable accumulation of the GroE chaperones in the hrcA mutant, there was no effect on formation of the aerial mycelium and sporulation, indicating that neither hrcA nor the level of groE gene expression is directly involved in the regulation of Streptomyces morphological differentiation.

A clinical isolate of transposon Tn5 expressing streptomycin resistance in Escherichia coli.

The central region of transposon Tn5 carries three antibiotic resistance markers: neo, ble, and str. The str gene codes for a phosphotransferase that inactivates streptomycin. This activity is phenotypically expressed in several gram-negative bacteria but not in Escherichia coli. We identified a Tn5 variant in E. coli clinical isolates that express streptomycin resistance. This transposon carries a 6-base-pair deletion within the str gene, near the 3' end. The same kind of mutation had been previously obtained experimentally from Tn5.