Systematic analysis of SigD-regulated genes in Bacillus subtilis by DNA microarray and Northern blotting analyses.

The SigD-regulated genes in Bacillus subtilis were systematically analyzed by comparing the pattern of transcripts derived from wild-type cells with those from sigD mutant cells using DNA microarray technology. One hundred and fifty-eight genes were found to be SigD-dependent candidates, 46 of which being known SigD-regulated genes. Northern blot analysis revealed that 18 of the remaining genes were SigD-dependent. The SigD consensus sequence was newly identified in the upstream regions of nine operons (11 genes): ybdO, yfmT-yfmS, hemAT, yjcP-yjcQ, yjfB, ylqB, yoaH, yscB and yxkC, and the other seven genes were assumed to be indirectly affected by a SigD mutation. Furthermore, yviE-yviF are likely to be SigD-dependent genes, because three independent sets of array data for yviE and yviF indicated they are SigD-dependent, and these genes are neighbors of flgL and hag transcribed by SigD RNA polymerase.

Organization and expression of the Bacillus subtilis sigY operon.

We investigated the organization and expression of the Bacillus subtilis sigY operon, the first gene of which codes for sigmaY, a member of the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) family of sigma factors. The sigY operon, comprising six genes (sigY, yxlC, D, E, F, and G), was induced upon nitrogen starvation; it was continuously transcribed from the 31st base upstream of sigY to a neighboring convergent gene, yxlH, resulting in a 4.2-kb mRNA. The expression of the sigY operon was also positively autoregulated through sigmaY, suggesting that its transcription is likely to be directed by sigmaY. Deletion analysis of the sigY promoter, which was localized by primer extension, revealed the promoter region of sigY with the "-10" and "-35" sequences of CGTC and TGAACG, respectively. The latter sequence was distinct from those recognized by sigmaW, sigmaX, and sigmaM. The sigmaY-directed transcription of sigY was under negative regulation involving YxlD. sigY disruption affected sporulation induced by nitrogen starvation, but sigY induction upon nitrogen starvation was not associated with the sporulation process. The organization and function of the sigY operon are significantly conserved in several microorganisms living in adverse living environments.

DNA microarray analysis of Bacillus subtilis sigma factors of extracytoplasmic function family.

Target gene candidates of the seven extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors of Bacillus subtilis have been surveyed using DNA microarray analysis of mRNA extracted from cells grown in Luria-Bertani broth, in which an ECF sigma factor gene was placed under the control of the spac promoter on multicopy plasmid pDG148 and overexpressed. The number of target candidates for each of the sigma factors varied greatly, and a total of 278 genes were selected. Interestingly, the above target gene candidates shared only one gene out of 94 target genes of the general stress sigma B that have been reported in the literature thus far. Furthermore, lacZ-fusion experiments based on the results of DNA microarray analysis indicated that each ECF sigma factor directs transcription of its own operon, with the exception of sigZ. The DNA microarray data collected in this study are available at the KEGG Expression Database web site (http://www.genome.ad.jp/kegg/expression/).

Heavy-ion-induced mutations in the gpt delta transgenic mouse: effect of p53 gene knockout.

The influence of the loss of p53 gene on heavy-ion-induced mutations was examined by constructing a new line of transgenic mice, p53 knockout (p53(-/-)) gpt delta. In this mouse model, deletions in lambda DNA integrated into the mouse genome are preferentially selected as Spi(-) phages, which can then be subjected to molecular analysis. Mice were exposed to 10 Gy of whole-body carbon-ion irradiation. The carbon ions were accelerated to 135 MeV/u by the RIKEN Ring Cyclotron. The p53 defect markedly enhanced the Spi(-) mutant frequency (MF) in the kidneys of mice exposed to C-ion irradiation: the Spi(-) MF increased 4.4- and 2.8-fold over the background level after irradiation in p53(-/-) and p53(+/+) mice, respectively. There was no significant difference in the background Spi(-) MF between p53(-/-) and p53(+/+) mice. Sequence analysis of the Spi(-) mutants indicated that the enhancement of kidney Spi(-) MF in p53(-/-) mice was primarily due to an increase in complex or rearranged-type deletions. In contrast to the kidney, the p53 defect had no effect on the Spi(-) MF in liver: Spi(-) MF increased 3.0- and 2.7-fold after the irradiation in p53(-/-) and p53(+/+) mice, respectively. Our results suggest that p53 suppresses deletion mutations induced by heavy-ion irradiation in an organ-specific manner.

Novel culture system of mesenchymal stromal cells from human subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the delivery of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hASCs) has great potential as regenerative therapy. This was performed to develop a method for expanding hASCs by reducing the amount of serum required. We demonstrate that hASCs were able to expand efficiently in media containing 2% serum and fibroblast growth factor-2. These cells, or low serum cultured hASCs (hLASCs), expressed cell surface markers similar to those on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and could be differentiated into cells of mesenchymal lineage. Of interest, hLASCs secreted higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) than hASCs cultured in 20% serum (hHASCs). Moreover, hLASC-conditioned media significantly increased endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and decreased EC apoptosis compared to that obtained from hHASCs or control media only. Antibodies against VEGF and HGF virtually negated these effects. When hASCs were administered into the ischemic hindlimbs of nude rats, hLASCs improved blood flow, increased capillary density, and raised the levels of VEGF and HGF in the muscles as compared with hHASCs. In conclusion, we demonstrate a novel low serum culture system for hASCs, which may have great potential in regenerative cell therapy for damaged organs in the clinical setting.

Whole-genome analysis of genes regulated by the Bacillus subtilis competence transcription factor ComK.

The Bacillus subtilis competence transcription factor ComK is required for establishment of competence for genetic transformation. In an attempt to study the ComK factor further, we explored the genes regulated by ComK using the DNA microarray technique. In addition to the genes known to be dependent on ComK for expression, we found many genes or operons whose ComK dependence was not known previously. Among these genes, we confirmed the ComK dependence of 16 genes by using lacZ fusions, and three genes were partially dependent on ComK. Transformation efficiency was significantly reduced in an smf disruption mutant, although disruption of the other ComK-dependent genes did not result in significant decreases in transformation efficiency. Nucleotide sequences similar to that of the ComK box were found for most of the newly discovered genes regulated by ComK.

Identification of additional TnrA-regulated genes of Bacillus subtilis associated with a TnrA box.

Bacillus subtilis TnrA is a global regulator that responds to the availability of nitrogen sources and both activates and represses many genes during nitrogen-limited growth. In order to obtain a holistic view of the gene regulation depending on TnrA, we performed a genome-wide screening for TnrA-regulated genes associated with a TnrA box. A combination of DNA microarray hybridization and a genome-wide search for TnrA boxes allowed us to find 36 TnrA-regulated transcription units associated with a putative TnrA box. Gel retardation assaying, using probes carrying at least one putative TnrA box and the deletion derivatives of each box, indicated that 17 out of 36 transcription units were likely TnrA targets associated with the TnrA boxes, two of which (nasA and nasBCDEF) possessed a common TnrA box. The sequences of these TnrA boxes contained a consensus one, TGTNANAWWWTMTNACA. The TnrA targets detected in this study were nrgAB, pucJKLM, glnQHMP, nasDEF, oppABCDF, nasA, nasBCDEF and ywrD for positive regulation, and gltAB, pel, ywdIJK, yycCB, yttA, yxkC, ywlFG, yodF and alsT for negative regulation, nrgAB and gltAB being well-studied TnrA targets. It was unexpected that the negatively regulated TnrA targets were as many as the positively regulated targets. The physiological role of the TnrA regulon is discussed.

Differential effect of green tea catechins on three endothelial cell clones isolated from rat adipose tissue and on human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

By single colony isolation from the cells in stromal vascular fraction (SVF) dispersed from rat adipose tissues, we isolated three independent clones with different proliferation potential. All clones showed cobblestone-like morphology at the confluence and incorporated fluorescent Dil acetylated low density lipoprotein. When plated on Matrigel, they formed a capillary network-like structure. These rat adipose tissue endothelial cell (RATEC) clones showed higher expression of wnt2, wnt4, wnt5a, wnt5b, fzd1 and fzd5 whereas lower expression of cell cycle controlling genes such as CIP1, KIP1, KIP2, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, CDKN2C and CDKN2D compared to human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). As reported for HUVEC, the growth of RATEC was inhibited by green tea catechins such as epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epicatechin and epigallocatechin gallate but with higher sensitivity than HUVEC. The sensitivity of RATEC to catechins was higher for the cultures with low plating density and for the clone with higher proliferation potential.

The Bacillus subtilis ywkA gene encodes a malic enzyme and its transcription is activated by the YufL/YufM two-component system in response to malate.

A transcriptome comparison of a wild-type Bacillus subtilis strain growing under glycolytic or gluconeogenic conditions was performed. In particular, it revealed that the ywkA gene, one of the four paralogues putatively encoding a malic enzyme, was more transcribed during gluconeogenesis. Using a lacZ reporter fusion to the ywkA promoter, it was shown that ywkA was specifically induced by external malate and not subject to glucose catabolite repression. Northern analysis confirmed this expression pattern and demonstrated that ywkA is cotranscribed with the downstream ywkB gene. The ywkA gene product was purified and biochemical studies demonstrated its malic enzyme activity, which was 10-fold higher with NAD than with NADP (kcat/Km 102 and 10 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively). However, physiological tests with single and multiple mutant strains affected in ywkA and/or in ywkA paralogues showed that ywkA does not contribute to efficient utilization of malate for growth. Transposon mutagenesis allowed the identification of the uncharacterized YufL/YufM two-component system as being responsible for the control of ywkA expression. Genetic analysis and in vitro studies with purified YufM protein showed that YufM binds just upstream of ywkA promoter and activates ywkA transcription in response to the presence of malate in the extracellular medium, transmitted by YufL. ywkA and yufL/yufM could thus be renamed maeA for malic enzyme and malK/malR for malate kinase sensor/malate response regulator, respectively.

Additional targets of the Bacillus subtilis global regulator CodY identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation and genome-wide transcript analysis.

Additional targets of CodY, a GTP-activated repressor of early stationary-phase genes in Bacillus subtilis, were identified by combining chromatin immunoprecipitation, DNA microarray hybridization, and gel mobility shift assays. The direct targets of CodY newly identified by this approach included regulatory genes for sporulation, genes that are likely to encode transporters for amino acids and sugars, and the genes for biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids.

Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (MtlD) is required for mannitol and glucitol assimilation in Bacillus subtilis: possible cooperation of mtl and gut operons.

We found that mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (MtlD), a component of the mannitol-specific phosphotransferase system, is required for glucitol assimilation in addition to GutR, GutB, and GutP in Bacillus subtilis. Northern hybridization of total RNA and microarray studies of RNA from cells cultured on glucose, mannitol, and glucitol indicated that mannitol as the sole carbon source induced hyperexpression of the mtl operon, whereas glucitol induced both mtl and gut operons. The B. subtilis mtl operon consists of mtlA (encoding enzyme IICBA(mt1)) and mtlD, and its transcriptional regulator gene, mtlR, is located 14.4 kb downstream from the mtl operon on the chromosome. The mtlA, mtlD, and mtlR mutants disrupted by the introduction of the pMUTin derivatives MTLAd, MTLDd, and MTLRd, respectively, could not grow normally on either mannitol or glucitol. However, the growth of MTLAd on glucitol was enhanced by IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside). This mutant has an IPTG-inducible promoter (Pspac promoter) located in mtlA, and this site corresponds to the upstream region of mtlD. Insertion mutants of mtlD harboring the chloramphenicol resistance gene also could not grow on either mannitol or glucitol. In contrast, an insertion mutant of mtlA could grow on glucitol but not on mannitol in the presence or absence of IPTG. MtlR bound to the promoter region of the mtl operon but not to a DNA fragment containing the gut promoter region.