Showing papers on "Lactococcus lactis published in 1983"

Plasmid complements of Streptococcus lactis NCDO 712 and other lactic streptococci after protoplast-induced curing.

Abstract: The production and regeneration of bacterial protoplasts promoted the loss of three different plasmid-specified traits in Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis strains. The loss of five different plasmids, including small multicopy molecules, was readily detected in Streptococcus lactis 712 by screening lysates of random protoplast regenerants on agarose gels. In this strain sequential rounds of protoplast regeneration were used to produce a plasmid-free strain and derivatives carrying only single molecules from the plasmid complement. During these experiments a 33-megadalton plasmid, pLP712, was found to encode genes for lactose and protein utilization. Only this plasmid was required for normal growth and acid production in milk; the remaining four plasmids appeared to be cryptic. Lactose-defective derivatives of a strain carrying only pLP712 were readily isolated. Although these derivatives included instances of plasmid loss, deletions of pLP712 were frequently found. Many different deleted derivatives of pLP712, including some in which the lactose or protein utilization determinant or both were lost, were isolated. The molecular instability of pLP712 largely accounted for previous observations of plasmid complements in S. lactis 712 after lactose determinant curing or transfer by conjugation and transduction. Curing of cryptic molecules from multiple plasmid complements by protoplast regeneration may prove to be generally valuable in lactic streptococci and other gram-positive species.

Plasmid linkage of the D-tagatose 6-phosphate pathway in Streptococcus lactis: effect on lactose and galactose metabolism.

Abstract: The three enzymes of the D-tagatose 6-phosphate pathway (galactose 6-phosphate isomerase, D-tagatose 6-phosphate kinase, and tagatose 1,6-diphosphate aldolase) were absent in lactose-negative (Lac-) derivatives of Streptococcus lactis C10, H1, and 133 grown on galactose. The lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system and phospho-beta-galactosidase activities were also absent in Lac- derivatives of strains H1 and 133 and were low (possibly absent) in C10 Lac-. In all three Lac- derivatives, low galactose phosphotransferase system activity was found. On galactose, Lac- derivatives grew more slowly (presumably using the Leloir pathway) than the wild-type strains and accumulated high intracellular concentrations of galactose 6-phosphate (up to 49 mM); no intracellular tagatose 1,6-diphosphate was detected. The data suggest that the Lac phenotype is plasmid linked in the three strains studied, with the evidence being more substantial for strain H1. A Lac- derivative of H1 contained a single plasmid (33 megadaltons) which was absent from the Lac- mutant. We suggest that the genes linked to the lactose plasmid in S. lactis are more numerous than previously envisaged, coding for all of the enzymes involved in lactose metabolism from initial transport to the formation of triose phosphates via the D-tagatose 6-phosphate pathway. Images

Plasmid linkage of a bacteriocin-like substance in Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis strain WM4: transferability to Streptococcus lactis.

Abstract: Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis strain WM4 transferred lactose-fermenting and bacteriocin-producing (Bac+) abilities to S. lactis LM2301, a lactose-negative, streptomycin-resistant (Lac- Strr), plasmid-cured derivative of S. lactis C2. Three types of transconjugants were obtained: Lac+ Bac+, Lac+ Bac-, and Lac-Bac+.S. diacetylactis WM4 possessed plasmids of 88, 33, 30, 5.5, 4.8, and 3.8 megadaltons (Mdal). In Lac+ Bac+ transconjugants, lactose-fermenting ability was linked to the 33-Mdal plasmid and bacteriocin-producing ability to the 88-Mdal plasmid. Curing the 33-Mdal plasmid from Lac+ Bac+ transconjugants resulted in loss of lactose-fermenting ability but not bacteriocin-producing ability (Lac- Bac+). These strains retained the 88-Mdal plasmid. Curing of both plasmids resulted in a Lac- Bac- phenotype. The Lac+ Bac- transconjugant phenotype was associated with a recombinant plasmid of 55 or 65 Mdal. When these transconjugants were used as donors in subsequent matings, the frequency of Lac transfer was about 2.0 X 10(-2) per recipient plated, whereas when Lac+ Bac+ transconjugants served as donors, the frequency of Lac transfer was about 2.0 X 10(-5) per recipient plated. Also, Lac- Bac+ transconjugants were found to contain the 88-Mdal plasmid. The data indicate that the ability of WM4 to produce bacteriocin is linked to an 88-Mdal conjugative plasmid and that lactose-fermenting ability resides on a 33-Mdal plasmid. Images

Intracellular hexose-6-phosphate:phosphohydrolase from Streptococcus lactis: purification, properties, and function.

Abstract: An intracellular hexose 6-phosphate:phosphohydrolase (EC 3132) has been purified from Streptococcus lactis K1 Polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme revealed one major activity staining protein and one minor inactive band The Mr determined by gel permeation chromatography was 36,500, but sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a single polypeptide of apparent Mr 60,000 The enzyme exhibited a marked preference for hexose 6-phosphates, and the rate of substrate hydrolysis (at 5 mM concentration) decreased in the order, galactose 6-phosphate greater than 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate greater than fructose 6-phosphate greater than mannose 6-phosphate greater than glucose 6-phosphate Hexose 1-phosphates, p-nitrophenylphosphate, pyrophosphate, and nucleotides were not hydrolyzed at a significant rate In addition, the glycolytic intermediates comprising the intracellular phosphoenolpyruvate potential in the starved cells (phosphoenolpyruvate and 2- and 3-phosphoglyceric acids) were not substrates for the phosphatase Throughout the isolation, the hexose 6-phosphate:phosphohydrolase was stabilized by Mn2+ ion, and the purified enzyme was dependent upon Mn2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, or Co2+ for activation Other divalent metal ions including Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+, and Ni2+ were unable to activate the enzyme, and the first four cations were potent inhibitors Enzymatic hydrolysis of 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate was inhibited by fluoride when Mg2+ was included in the assay, but only slight inhibition occurred in the presence of Mn2+, Fe2+, or Co2+ The inhibitory effect of Mg2+ plus fluoride was specifically and completely reversed by Fe2+ ion The hexose 6-phosphate:phosphohydrolase catalyzes the in vivo hydrolysis of 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate in stage II of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent futile cycle in S lactis (J Thompson and B M Chassy, J Bacteriol 151:1454-1465, 1982)

Involvement of lactose enzyme II of the phosphotransferase system in rapid expulsion of free galactosides from Streptococcus pyogenes.

Abstract: Streptococcus pyogenes accumulated thiomethyl-beta-galactoside as the 6-phosphate ester due to the action of the phosphoenolpyruvate:lactose phosphotransferase system. Subsequent addition of glucose resulted in rapid efflux of the free galactoside after intracellular dephosphorylation (inducer expulsion). Efflux was shown to occur in the apparent absence of the galactose permease, but was inhibited by substrate analogs of the lactose enzyme II and could not be demonstrated in a mutant of S. lactis ML3 which lacked this enzyme. The results suggest that the enzymes II of the phosphotransferase system can catalyze the rapid efflux of free sugar under appropriate physiological conditions.

Isolation of a recombination-deficient mutant of Streptococcus lactis ML3.

Abstract: A recombination-deficient mutant of Streptococcus lactis ML3 designated MMS36 was isolated on the basis of its sensitivity to methyl methanesulfonate. This mutant also displayed sensitivity to UV irradiation. The inability of MMS36 to mediate homologous recombination was demonstrated by transduction of plasmid-linked lactose fermenting ability but not chromosomally mediated streptomycin resistance.

[Fragmentation of the lactose-protease plasmid in lactose-negative derivatives of Streptococcus lactis and S. lactis ssp. diacetylactis].

Abstract: DNA analysis showed the presence of plasmids in all 29 strains of mesophilic lactic streptococci. Their number ranged from 1 to 9 and their molecular weight extended from 1.8 to 45 megadaltons (Md). Comparison of the plasmid profiles from 9 strains of Streptococcus lactis, 3 strains of S. lactis ssp. diacetylactis and from their Lac-,Prt-variants was carried out. In most of the strains, a single plasmid of 27 to 45 Md carried both the lactose and protease (lac and prt) determinants. In Lac- variants, this composite plasmid may at times be lost; in most derivatives, this plasmid was fragmented into several smaller plasmids. Fragmentation resulted in the inactivation of lac genes and often of prt genes; sometimes prt genes remained intact in one of these new plasmids. Fragmentation of the plasmid may also take place without inactivation of these metabolic genes. Restriction analysis of the lactose-protease plasmid from 3 strains of S. lactis and from one Lac-variant confirmed the plasmid fragmentation phenomenon, and led to a proposal for physical mapping of the plasmid and preliminary localization of the lac-prt genes.