Proteins encoded by plasmid DNA are specifically labeled in uv-irradiated cells of Escherichia coli carrying recA and uvrA mutations because extensive degradation of the chromosome DNA occurs concurrently with amplification of plasmid DNA.

Simple method for identification of plasmid-coded proteins. [Escherichia coli, uv radiation]

Directed mutagenesis and molecular modelling have been used to identify a set of amino-acid side chains in glutathione reductase that confer specificity for the coenzyme NADP+. Systematic replacement of these amino acids, all of which occur in a 'fingerprint' structural motif in the NADP+-binding domain, leaves the substrate specificity unchanged but converts the enzyme into one displaying a marked preference for the coenzyme NAD+.

Redesign of the coenzyme specificity of a dehydrogenase by protein engineering

We describe a family of highly conserved, Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) sequences, 14 of which have been identified in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and a further three in other enterobacterial species (Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Vibrio cholerae). ERIC sequences are 126 bp long and appear to be restricted to transcribed regions of the genome, either in intergenic regions of polycistronic operons or in untranslated regions upstream or downstream of open reading frames. ERIC sequences are highly conserved at the nucleotide sequence level but their chromosomal locations differ between species. Several features of ERIC sequences resemble those of REP sequences (Stern et al., 1984) although the nucleotide sequence is entirely different. The question of whether ERICs have a specific function, or represent a form of 'selfish' DNA, is discussed.

ERIC sequences: a novel family of repetitive elements in the genomes of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and other enterobacteria

Flavoproteins are a class of enzymes catalyzing a very broad spectrum of redox processes by different chemical mechanisms. This review describes the best studied of these mechanisms and discusses factors possibly governing reactivity and specificity.

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Mechanisms of flavoprotein-catalyzed reactions.

We describe cDNA clones for a cell surface proteoglycan that bears both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate and that links the cytoskeleton to the interstitial matrix. The cDNA encodes a unique core protein of 32,868 D that contains several structural features consistent with its role as a glycosamino-glycan-containing matrix anchor. The sequence shows discrete cytoplasmic, transmembrane, and NH2-terminal extracellular domains, indicating that the molecule is a type I integral membrane protein. The cytoplasmic domain is small and similar in size but not in sequence to that of the beta-chain of various integrins. The extracellular domain contains a single dibasic sequence adjacent to the extracellular face of the transmembrane domain, potentially serving as the protease-susceptible site involved in release of this domain from the cell surface. The extracellular domain contains two distinct types of putative glycosaminoglycan attachment sites; one type shows sequence characteristics of the sites previously described for chondroitin sulfate attachment (Bourdon, M. A., T. Krusius, S. Campbell, N. B. Schwartz, and E. Ruoslahti. 1987. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 84:3194-3198), but the other type has newly identified sequence characteristics that potentially correspond to heparan sulfate attachment sites. The single N-linked sugar recognition sequence is within the putative chondroitin sulfate attachment sequence, suggesting asparagine glycosylation as a mechanism for regulating chondroitin sulfate chain addition. Both 5' and 3' regions of this cDNA have sequences substantially identical to analogous regions of the human insulin receptor cDNA: a 99-bp region spanning the 5' untranslated and initial coding sequences is 67% identical and a 35-bp region in the 3' untranslated region is 81% identical in sequence. mRNA expression is tissue specific; various epithelial tissues show the same two sizes of mRNA (2.6 and 3.4 kb); in the same relative abundance (3:1), the cerebrum shows a single 4.5-kb mRNA. This core protein cDNA describes a new class of molecule, an integral membrane proteoglycan, that we propose to name syndecan (from the Greek syndein, to bind together).

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Molecular cloning of syndecan, an integral membrane proteoglycan.

The nucleotide sequence of the aceF gene, which encodes the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component (E2) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli K12, has been determined using the dideoxy chain-termination method. The aceF gene comprises 1887 base pairs (629 codons excluding the initiation codon AUG); it is preceded by a short intercistronic segment of 14 base pairs containing a good ribosomal binding site, and it is followed closely by a potential rho-independent terminator. The results extend by 1980 base pairs the previously sequenced segment of 3780 base pairs containing the structural gene (aceE) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1) and they confirm that aceE and aceF are the proximal and distal genes of the ace operon.



The amino terminus, carboxy-terminal sequence and amino acid composition of the acetyltransferase subunit predicted from the nucleotide sequence are in excellent agreement with previous studies with the purified protein. The predicted molecular weight (Mr= 65959) confirms experimental values derived from sedimentation equilibrium analysis and indicates that the higher values (78 000–89 000) that have been reported are due to unusual features of the protein that lead to anomalous mobilities during sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in gel filtration. The primary structure fully supports conclusions, based on limited tryptic proteolysis, that the acetyltransferase subunit possesses two heterologous domains: the lipoyl domain and the subunit binding and catalytic domain. The lipoyl domain corresponds to the amino-terminal segment of the protein. It is acidic and contains three remarkably homologous repeating units of approximately 100 amino acids, each possessing a potential lipoyl binding site and a region that is characteristically rich in alanine and proline residues. The subunit binding and catalytic domain occupies most of the residual polypeptide in the carboxy-terminal segment.

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1983.tb07490.x

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli K12. Nucleotide sequence encoding the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component.

The nucleotide sequence of a 1980-base-pair segment of DNA, containing the lpd gene encoding the lipoamide dehydrogenase component (E3) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli K 12, has been determined by the dideoxy chain-termination method. The lpd structural gene comprises 1419 base pairs (473 codons, excluding the initiating AUG codon). It is preceded by a good promoter and an excellent ribosome binding site and it ends with a typical rho-independent terminator sequence. The results confirm that the lpd gene is an independent gene linked to, but not part of, the ace operon that encodes the E1 and E2 components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The location and transcriptional polarity of the lpd gene relative to the restriction map of the corresponding region of DNA, are completely consistent with previous genetic and post-infection labelling studies. The composition, Mr (50554 or 51274 if the FAD cofactor is included), aminoterminal sequence and carboxy-terminal sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence are in excellent agreement with previous studies on the purified enzyme. The enzyme also exhibits a remarkable degree of sequence homology with peptides of the pig heart enzyme and with other pyridine nucleotide disulphide oxidoreductases whose sequences have been defined: human erythrocyte glutathione reductase and plasmid-encoded mercuric reductase.

Nucleotide sequence of the lipoamide dehydrogenase gene of Escherichia coli K12.

The nucleotide sequence of a 3780-base-pair segment of DNA containing the aceE gene encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli, has been determined by the dideoxy chain-termination method. The aceE structural gene comprises 2655 base pairs (885 codons, excluding the initiation codon AUG), it is preceded by a good ribosome binding site and several potential RNA polymerase binding sites. Its polarity and location in the restriction map of the corresponding segment of DNA are consistent with it being the proximal gene in the ace operon, as defined in previous genetic and post-infection labelling studies. The relative molecular mass (99474), composition (885 amino acids), amino-terminal residue and carboxy-terminal sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence are in excellent agreement with published information obtained from studies with the purified pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1). The nucleotide sequence also contains a second gene (gene A) situated upstream of the aceE gene. It appears to be an independent gene containing 708 base pairs (236 codons) and encoding a weakly expressed product (protein A; Mr = 27049) of unknown function.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli K12. Nucleotide sequence encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase component.

Genetic reconstruction and functional analysis of the repeating lipoyl domains in the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli

The dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli contains three highly homologous lipoyl domains ( ca . 100 residues) that are tandemly repeated to form the N-terminal half of the polypeptide chain. These lipoyl domains are linked to a much larger ( ca . 300 residues) subunit-binding domain that aggregates to form the octahedral inner core of the complex and also contains the acetyltransferase active site. Selective in vitro deletions in the E2p gene ( aceF )have allowed the creation of truncated E2p chains in which one or more of the lipoyl domains has been excised. Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to change individual residues. The effects of these deletions and mutations on the assembly, catalytic activity and active-site coupling in the complex are assessed.

Hilary M. Lewis

Papers

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli K12. Nucleotide sequence encoding the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component.

Nucleotide sequence of the lipoamide dehydrogenase gene of Escherichia coli K12.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli K12. Nucleotide sequence encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase component.

Genetic reconstruction and functional analysis of the repeating lipoyl domains in the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Multi-Enzyme Complex of Escherichia coli: Genetic Reconstruction and Functional Analysis of the Lipoyl domains