Radioisotope uptake as a measure of synthesis of messenger RNA.

Exogenously supplied radioactive uracil (or guanine) enters the intracellular pools of RNA precursors in Escherichia coli only as nucleotides are removed from these pools by net synthesis of RNA. Consequently uptake of uracil over a short period does not measure the sum of the synthesis of all forms of RNA, unstable and stable, as is often supposed. Uptake of uracil during changing conditions of growth may be influenced by changes in types of RNA's being made; under such conditions that no stable RNA is being made, the synthesis of unstable forms may be greatly underestimated.

Regulation of bacterial growth.

Is the control of bacterial metabolism so complex? The answer can be found in a simple experiment. Two cultures of bacteria are grown in different mediums. One contains as the carbon and nitrogen sources a mixture of amino acids, while the other contains only glucose and ammonia, so that the cells must synthesize all of the amino acids. The results show that insofar as the cells in both cultures grow at comparable rates, they will have the same composition in terms of DNA, RNA, and protein (30). To explain this phenomena I have argued that through the control mechanisms responsible for the distribution of substrates in intermediary metabolism, the substrates of protein synthesis are produced at concentrations and rates commensurate with the ability of the environment to support growth. The provision of these substrates relative to the ability of the protein forming system to utilize them regulates the synthesis of ribosomal and transfer RNA, which, after adjustment for various modulating influences, such as nonfunctioning ribosomes or ribosomal RNA turnover, brings the number of functioning ribosomes to a point in keeping with the provision of external nutrients. The synthesis of messenger (or total) RNA, ribosomal proteins, and DNA, and the process of cell division, for example, are subject to their own controls, but through the burden they each place on intermediary metabolism, they provide a means for partitioning the cell's metabolic resources. It might be noted that this view may not be very far from the idea once held that the rate at which each of the transfer RNA's was changed by amino acids regulate the synthesis of bacterial RNA, but growth regulation is clearly more complicated than implied by that model (76).

Nucleoside triphosphate termini from RNA synthesized in vivo by Escherichia coli.

Alkaline hydrolyzates of RNA made in vivo by Escherichia coli contain ribonucleoside-3'-monophosphate-5'-triphosphates. These probably arise by hydrolysis of the initial nucleoside triphosphate from the 5' terminus of the nascent RNA chains. Logarithmically growing cultures, labeled for 45 seconds with (32)P-labeled phosphate, yield about 2000 molecules of labeled tetraphosphate per cell, this yield increasing only slightly with continued labeling. Only the tetraphosphates of adenosine and guanosine have been found in Escherichia coli, and these two are present in approximately equal amounts.

Fragmentary 5S rRNA gene in the human mitochondrial genome.

The human mitochondrial genome contains a 23-nucleotide sequence that is homologous to a part of the 5S rRNA's of bacteria. This homology, the structure of the likely transcript, and the location of the sequence relative to the mitochondrial rRNA genes suggest that the sequence represents a fragmentary 5S rRNA gene.

Regulation of RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli during a shift-up transition.

These experiments investigate two aspects of RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli ML30 during the transition from a relatively slow rate of growth to a more rapid one: (1) the number of growing RNA molecules per cell, and (2) the average time required for addition of a nucleotide onto a growing RNA chain. Cells were grown at 30 degrees C in a glucose-minimal salts medium and shifted-up by the addition of Casamino acids. Measurements were made of the rates of incorporation over short intervals (e.g. 5,8,12, and 16 s) of [3-H]guanine into the internal and 3'-terminal nucleotides of RNA. After correction for the specific activities of the intracellular GTP pools, and for the rate of [3-H]guanine accumulation at the 3'-terminus of non-growing RNA, the rates of chain elongation were calculated. It was found that cells growing at a rate of 0.9 generations/h contain approx. 4800 RNA molecules, growing at a rate of 28 nucleotides/s per chain. Cells growing exponentially at the postshift-up rate (1.2 generations/h) contain 7000 RNA molecules per unit equivalent cell mass, which are growing at a rate of 32 nucleotides/s per molecule. Three min after shift-up, cells contain the same number or slightly fewer (10%) growing RNA molecules than cells prior to shift-up, 4300, and these are being elongated at a rate of about 32 nucleotides per s. The results are consistent with the view that in the range of growth rates studied, the total rate of RNA synthesis is regulated through a limitation in the number of functioning RNA polymerase molecules, each working at a relatively constant, presumably maximal, average rate.

Isolation of the transfer RNA genes of bacteriophage T4 and transfer RNA synthesis in vitro.

Non-glucosylated T4 DNA was restricted with the endonuclease EcoRI and the mixture of DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis and transcribed with purified Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. Three purified fragments were shown to act as templates for tRNA synthesis. A smaller fragment, shown to be hybridizable to 32P-labeled T4 tRNA was not transcribable. It was concluded that the promoter for T4 tRNA synthesis had been separated from the structural genes in the smaller fragment by EcoRI and that the distal portion of the tRNA gene cluster lacks internal promoters which display in vitro activity. Preparations of non-glucosylated T4 DNA were never fully restricted with EcoRI and when the larger purified fragments carrying the tRNA were restricted with excess enzyme only a slight cleavage to yield the smaller fragments was obtained. The property of the DNA-limiting complete restriction is not know.

Ribosomal subunit entry into polysomes in yeast.

The kinetics of entry of newly synthesized 40 S and 60 S ribosomal subunits into yeast polysomes is described. The entry times for 40 S and 60 S subunits were found to be 3 and 8 min, respectively. The kinetics of entry of 40 S subunits into large polysomes is found to be different from the kinetics of entry of 60 S subunits into large polysomes.

Plotting genetic maps on a microcomputer.

Maps of genetic linkage and restriction enzyme cleavage sites can be quickly prepared on an IBM PC microcomputer with the commercially available program Lotus 1-2-3. Data can be entered on the keyboard or imported from other programs. The maps can be displayed on the screen or with a printer or plotter. These procedures should be useful in the research laboratory, in preparing figures for publication and in teaching.

Use of the lac repressor in constructing sequential deletions and a new sequencing vector.

Large sequencing projects require an efficient strategy to generate a series of overlapping clones. This can be accomplished by protecting one end of a linear DNA molecule while sequential deletions are introduced into the other end by exonuclease digestion. We demonstrate that the lac repressor can protect the ends of linear nucleotide sequences from digestion by exonuclease if these ends contain the lac operator sequence. To exploit this, we have inserted the lac operator sequence between the primer-binding site and multiple cloning site of an M13 sequencing vector. Linearizing the replicative form and binding lac repressor protein protects the end next to the vector sequences. Sequential deletions are then introduced into the insert by digesting with exonuclease III or BAL 31. Because the rate and time of digestion are readily controlled, the region brought next to the sequencing primer site, after religation, can be selected in a timed series of reactions. This minimizes the screening needed to isolate an overlapping series of clones and facilitates sequencing of long regions.

Heart-specific splice-variant of a human mitochondrial ribosomal protein (mRNA processing; tissue specific splicing).

It has been proposed that splice-variants of proteins involved in mitochondrial RNA processing and translation may be involved in the tissue specificity of mitochondrial DNA disease mutations (Fischel-Ghodsian, 1998. Mol. Genet. Metab. 65, 97-104). To identify and characterize the structural components of mitochondrial RNA processing and translation, the Mammalian Mitochondrial Ribosomal Consortium has been formed. The 338 amino acid (aa) residues long MRP-L5 was identified (O'Brien et al., 1999. J. Biol. Chem. 274, 36043-36051), and its transcript was screened for tissue specific splice-variants. Screening of the EST databases revealed a single putative splice-variant, due to the insertion of an exon consisting of 89 nucleotides prior to the last exon. Screening of multiple cDNA libraries revealed this inserted exon to be present only in heart tissue, in addition to the predominant MRP-L5 transcript. Sequencing of this region confirmed the EST sequence, and showed in the splice-variant a termination triplet at the beginning of the last exon. Thus the inserted exon replaces the coding sequence of the regular last exon, and creates a new 353 aa long protein (MRP-L5V1). Sequence analysis and 3D modeling reveal similarity between MRP-L5 and threonyl-t-RNA synthetases, and a likely RNA binding site within MRP-L5, with the C-terminus in proximity to the RNA binding site. Sequence analysis of MRP-L5V1 also suggests a likely transmembrane domain at the C-terminus. Thus it is possible that the MRP-L5V1 C-terminus could interfere with RNA binding and may have gained a transmembrane domain. Further studies will be required to elucidate the functional significance of MRP-L5V1.

Cleavage of Nonglucosylated Bacteriophage T4 deoxyribonucleic acid by Restriction Endonuclease Eco RI.

DNAs lacking the glucosyl modification (Glc-) and additionally lacking the 6-methylaminopurine (N6-methyladenine) modification (Glc-, MeAde-) were prepared from appropriate T4 mutants. These DNAs were cleaved by the purified restriction endonuclease Eco TI from Escherichia coli. Normally modified DNA (Glc+, MeAde+) was not attached. The Eco RII and the hemophilus enzymes Hin dII and Hin dIII do not attack Glc-, MeAde- T DNA, possibly due to the presence of 6-hydroxymethylcytosine. Eco RI produces approximately 40 specific fragments from Glc- DNA ranging in molecular weights from 0.3 to 10.5 X 10-6.

Initiation and transcription of a set of transfer ribonucleic acid genes in vitro.

Using RNA polymerase purified from Escherichia coli, DNA isolated from the bacteriophage T4, and a bacterial supernatant fraction containing the necessary processing enzymes, a set of transfer RNAs can be formed in vitro. To characterize the site or sites of initiation of this tRNA transcription, rifampicin-resistant complexes of RNA polymerase, DNA, and either ATP (UTP and CTP) or GTP (UTP and CTP) were formed, and tRNA was transcribed from these stabilized sites. It is concluded that transcription of the entire set is initiated by ATP. To study the transcription of the tRNAs, the time sequence of the appearance of individual species was determined during synchronous transcription of a preformed RNA polymerase-DNA complex. The appearance of three RNA species is found to be consistent with the sequential transcription of a large polycistronic cluster; the order and distances, inferred from the times of transcription, are as required by the existing gene map. It is concluded that the initiation of tRNA transcription can occur, without accessory factors, with the insertion of ATP at a single or a few closely spaced sites, and that the tRNAs encoded by the bacteriophage T4 are present in a single operon.

Yeast mutant, rna 1, affects the entry into polysomes of ribosomal RNA as well as messenger RNA.

The entry of newly labeled ribosomal subunits and mRNA into polysomes was examined in the yeast mutant rna1. The entry of both types of RNA into polysomes is inhibited rapidly at the restrictive temperature. Analysis of the labeling of the ATP pool and the kinetics of synthesis and processing of mRNA at the restrictive temperature leads to the conclusion that the primary defect in the mutant affects transport of both ribosomes and messenger across the nuclear membrane.