ParA-mediated plasmid partition driven by protein pattern self-organization.

DNA segregation ensures the stable inheritance of genetic material prior to cell division. Many bacterial chromosomes and low-copy plasmids, such as the plasmids P1 and F, employ a three-component system to partition replicated genomes: a partition site on the DNA target, typically called parS, a partition site binding protein, typically called ParB, and a Walker-type ATPase, typically called ParA, which also binds non-specific DNA. In vivo, the ParA family of ATPases forms dynamic patterns over the nucleoid, but how ATP-driven patterning is involved in partition is unknown. We reconstituted and visualized ParA-mediated plasmid partition inside a DNA-carpeted flowcell, which acts as an artificial nucleoid. ParA and ParB transiently bridged plasmid to the DNA carpet. ParB-stimulated ATP hydrolysis by ParA resulted in ParA disassembly from the bridging complex and from the surrounding DNA carpet, which led to plasmid detachment. Our results support a diffusion-ratchet model, where ParB on the plasmid chases and redistributes the ParA gradient on the nucleoid, which in turn mobilizes the plasmid.

Identification of a peptide sequence that improves transport of macromolecules across the intestinal mucosal barrier targeting goblet cells.

In this study, we demonstrated that the CSKSSDYQC-peptide ligand which was identified from a random phage-peptide library through an in vivo phage display technique with rats could prominently improve the transport efficiency of macromolecules, such as large filamentous phage particles (M13 bacteriophage), across the intestinal mucosal barrier. Synthetic CSKSSDYQC-peptide ligands significantly inhibited the binding of phage P1 encoding CSKSSDYQC-peptide ligands to the intestinal mucosal tissue and immunohistochemical analysis showed that the CSKSSDYQC-peptide ligands could be transported across the intestinal mucosal barrier via goblet cells as their specific gateway. Thus, we inferred that CSKSSDYQC-peptide ligand might have a specific receptor on the goblet cells and transported from intestinal lumen to systemic circulation by transcytosis mechanism. These results suggest that CSKSSDYQC-ligand could be a promising tool for development of an efficient oral delivery system for macromolecular therapeutics in the carrier-drug conjugate strategy.

Inorganic polyphosphate essential for lytic growth of phages P1 and fd.

Transduction frequency with phage P1 had been observed to be very low in Escherichia coli K-12 mutants lacking the operon (ppk1-ppx) responsible for the synthesis of inorganic polyphosphate (poly P). We now find that these mutants, for lack of poly P, are lysogenic for P1 and when infected with phage P1 produce only approximately 1% the number of infective centers compared with the WT host. Both phage adsorption and release were unaffected. The host-encoded P1 late-gene transcriptional activator, SspA, failed to show the transcriptional increase in the mutant, observed in the WT. UV induction of a P1-infected mutant resulted in a 200-fold increase in the production of infectious phage particles. The lysogenized P1 (P1mut) and P1 progeny from the mutant host (Deltappk1-ppx) produced plaques of differing morphologies, whereas P1 progeny from the WT yielded only small, clear plaques. Two discernable variants, one producing small and clear plaques (P1small) and the other large plaques with turbid rims (P1large), had broader host range and produced larger burst sizes in WT compared with P1. Transmission electron microscopy showed P1mut had contractile sheath defects. Thus, the lack of poly P/PPK1 in the mutant host resulted in the formation of defective P1 particles during intracellular growth. A filamentous phage, fd, also failed to produce plaques on a mutant lawn. Although fd adsorbed to the F-pilus, its DNA failed to enter the mutant host.

[Preparation and identification of phage-displayed ICAM-1-mimic peptide].

AIM: To obtain bioactive ICAM-1 mimetic peptide. METHODS: Phages displaying P1 and P2 were prepared by phage amplication and PEG precipitation. The binding between phage-displayed peptides and anti-ICAM-1 mAb 15.2 was evaluated by sandwich ELISA and competitive ELISA. Bioactivities of P1 and P2 was detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Phage-displayed peptides P1 and P2 could specifically bind to mAb 15.2, and the binding could be competitively inhibited by ICAM-1. Immunohistochemical staining showed that P1 and P2 could mimic the binding of ICAM-1 to its receptor LFA-1. CONCLUSION: Phage-displayed peptides P1 and P2 are bioactive just as native ICAM-1.

Application of Cre-loxP system to the urinary tract and cancer gene therapy.

The bacteriophage P1-derived Cre-loxP system is a powerful and versatile tool for in vivo DNA recombination. It is widely used in gene targeting research. The combination of the Cre-loxP system and a specific promoter enables conditional "knockout" of a target gene in a particular tissue or cell type. It has also made it possible to delete genes in adult animals that are essential for embryogenesis. This system is also used to enhance tissue- or tumor-specific promoter activities that are useful for gene therapy of certain types of cancer. It is expected that this simple and effective system will be further utilized in various research applications.

Mechanism of protein remodeling by ClpA chaperone.

ClpA, a newly discovered ATP-dependent molecular chaperone, remodels bacteriophage P1 RepA dimers into monomers, thereby activating the latent specific DNA binding activity of RepA. We investigated the mechanism of the chaperone activity of ClpA by dissociating the reaction into several steps and determining the role of nucleotide in each step. In the presence of ATP or a nonhydrolyzable ATP analog, the initial step is the self-assembly of ClpA and its association with inactive RepA dimers. ClpA-RepA complexes form rapidly and at 0 degrees C but are relatively unstable. The next step is the conversion of unstable ClpA-RepA complexes into stable complexes in a time- and temperature-dependent reaction. The transition to stable ClpA-RepA complexes requires binding of ATP, but not ATP hydrolysis, because nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs satisfy the nucleotide requirement. The stable complexes contain approximately 1 mol of RepA dimer per mol of ClpA hexamer and are committed to activating RepA. In the last step of the reaction, active RepA is released upon exchange of ATP with the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog and ATP hydrolysis. Importantly, we discovered that one cycle of RepA binding to ClpA followed by ATP-dependent release is sufficient to convert inactive RepA to its active form.

Expression in Escherichia coli of rat neurotensin receptor fused to membrane proteins from the membrane-containing bacteriophage PRD1.

Bacteriophage PRD1 is a membrane-containing phage which could be used for expression of foreign membrane proteins such as neurotensin receptor (NTR), a seven-helix G-protein coupled receptor. To ensure recognition of NTR by the phage system six different fusion genes were constructed, each encoding a different phage integral membrane protein fused to the N-terminus of NTR, and expression of the fusion proteins in Escherichia coli was analysed. Here we report the identification of two fusion constructs that retained the function of NTR in E. coli. This provides the basis to develop the phage system as a heterologous expression system for seven-helix receptors.