Skip to main content
Log in

Transcription of ribosomal protein genes carried on F′ plasmids ofEscherichia coli

  • Published:
Molecular and General Genetics MGG Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The transcriptional activity of the DNA sequences coding for certain ribosomal proteins has been measured inEscherichia coli. Two partial diploid strains were isolated from matings of arecA -, argD-, aroE- recipient and an Hfr with an origin at 69.5 min. One contained an F′ element carrying the genes from 69.5 to 72.7 min including therpsL locus (72.4) and the second was diploid for the genes from 69.5 to 71.5 min but did not include any mapped ribosomal protein loci. The molecular weights of the plasmids were estimated to be 140 and 110×106 daltons, respectively. The extent of in vivo transcription of the chromosomal genes on the plasmid and the ribosomal protein mRNA fraction of the total cellular RNA were calculated from DNA-RNA liquid hybridization experiments using both DNA and RNA excess procedures. The results indicated a high degree of transcriptional activity concentrated in the ribosomal protein sequences with 83% of the F′ chromosomal sequences transcribed into mRNA products representing about 0.12% of the total cellular RNA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bachmann, B.J., Low, K.B., Taylor, A.L.: Recalibrated linkage map ofEscherichia coli K-12. Bact. Rev.40, 116–167 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brickman, E., Soll, L., Beckwith, J.: Genetic characterization of mutations affecting catabolite-sensitive operons inE. coli, including deletions of the gene for adenyl cyclase. J. Bact.116, 582–587 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Britten, R.J., Graham, D.E., Neufeld, B.R.: Analysis of repeating DNA sequences by reassociation, p. 363–418. In: L. Grossman and K. Moldave (eds.), Methods in enzymology, Vol. XXIX E. New York: Academic Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Champney, W.S., Kushner, S.R.: A proposal for a uniform nomenclature for the genetics of bacterial protein synthesis. Molec. gen. Genet.147, 145–151 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A.J., Margulies, A.D.: Isolation and characterization of recombination-deficient mutants ofEscherichia coli K-12. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)53, 451–459 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clewell, D.B., Helinski, D.R.: Supercoiled circular DNA-protein complex inEscherichia coli: Purification and induced conversion to an open circular form. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)62, 1159–1166 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clowes, R.C.: Molecular structure of bacterial plasmids. Bact. Rev.36, 361–405 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R., Vapnek, D.:In vivo transcription of R-plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid inEscherichia coli strains with altered antibiotic resistance levels and/or conjugal proficiency. J. Bact.125, 1148–1155 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Demerec, M., Adelberg, E.A., Clark, A.J., Hartman, P.E.: A proposal for a uniform nomenclature in bacterial genetics. Genetics54, 61–76 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, P.P.: Synthesis of individual ribosomal proteins inEscherichia coli B/r. J. molec. Biol.89, 223–232 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, P.P., Nomura, M.: Stringent control of ribosomal protein gene expression inEscherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)71, 3819–3823 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, P.P., Nomura, M.: Stringent control of the transcriptional activities of ribosomal protein genes inEscherichia coli. Nature (Lond.)255, 460–465 (1975a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, P.P., Nomura, M: Regulation of the expression of ribosomal protein genes inEscherichia coli. J. molec. Biol.97, 61–76 (1975b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, W.J.: Biomedical computer programs, pp. 541–575. Los Angeles: University of California Press 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, W., Kim, B.: Potassium transport loci inEscherichia coli K-12. J. Bact.108, 639–644 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Freifelder, D.: Isolation of extrachromosomal DNA from bacteria, pp. 153–163. In: L. Grossman and K. Moldave (eds.), Methods in enzymology, Vol. XXI D. New York: Academic Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Galau, G.A., Britten, R.J., Davidson, E.H.: A measurement of the sequence complexity of polysomal messenger RNA in sea urchin embryos. Cell2, 9–20 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gesteland, R.F.: Isolation and characterization of ribonuclease I mutants ofEscherichia coli. J. molec. Biol.16, 67–84 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Itikawa, H., Baumberg, S., Vogel, H.J.: Enzymatic basis for genetic suppression. Accumulation and deacylation of N-acetylglutamic γ-semialdehyde in enterobacterial mutants. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)159, 547–550 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaskunas, S.R., Lindahl, L., Nomura, M.: Specialized transducing phages for ribosomal protein genes ofEscherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)72, 6–10 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaskunas, S.R., Nomura, M., Davies, J.: Genetics of bacterial ribosomes, p. 333–368. In: M. Nomura, A. Tissieres, and P. Lengyel (eds.), Ribosomes. Cold Spring Harbor, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaltschmidt, E., Kahan, L., Nomura, M.:In vitro synthesis of ribosomal proteins directed byEscherichia coli DNA. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)71, 446–450 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjeldgaard, N.O., Gausing, K.: Regulation of biosynthesis of ribosomes, p. 369–392. In: M. Nomura, A. Tissieres, and P. Lengyel (eds.), Ribosomes, Cold Spring Harbor, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindahl, L., Jaskunas, S.R., Dennis, P.P., Nomura, M.: Cluster of genes inEscherichia coli for ribosomal proteins, ribosomal RNA and RNA polymerase subunits. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)72, 2743–2747 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Low, K.B.: Formation of merodiploids in matings with a class of rec- recipient strains ofEscherichia coli K-12. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)60, 160–167 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Low, K.B.:Escherichia coli K-12 F-prime factors, old and new. Bact. Rev.36, 587–607 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maaloe, O., Hanawalt, P.C.: Thymine deficiency and the normal DNA replication cycle. I. J. molec. Biol.3, 144–155 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matney, T.S., Goldschmidt, E.P., Erwin, N.S., Scroggs, R.A.: A preliminary map of genomic sites for F-attachment inEscherichia coli K12. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun.17, 278–281 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J.H.: Experiments in molecular genetics. Cold Spring Harbor, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Melli, M., Whitfield, C., Rao, K.V., Richardson, M., Bishop, J.O.: DNA-RNA hybridization in vast DNA excess. Nature (Lond.) New Biol.231, 8–12 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Molin, S., Meyenburg, K. von, Gullov, K., Maaloe, O.: The size of transcriptional units for ribosomal proteins inEscherichia coli. Molec. gen. Genet.129, 11–26 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nomura, M., Engbaek, F.: Expression of ribosomal protein genes as analyzed by bacteriophage μ-induced mutations. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)69 1526–1530 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawson, J.R.Y., Boerma, C.L.: A measurement of the fraction of chloroplast DNA transcribed during chloroplast development inEuglena gracilis. Biochemistry15, 588–592 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlessinger, D.: Ribosome formation inEscherichia coli, pp. 393–416. In: M. Nomura, A. Tissieres and P. Lengyel (eds.), Ribosomes. Cold Spring Harbor, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparling, P.F., Modolell, J., Takeda, Y., Davis, B.D.: Ribosomes fromEscherichia coli merodiploids heterozygous for resistance to streptomycin and to spectinomycin. J. molec. Biol.37, 407–421 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Studier, F.W.: Sedimentation studies of the size and shape of DNA. J. Molec. Biol.11, 373–390 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vapnek, D., Rupp, W.D.: Identification of individual sex-factor DNA strands and their replication during conjugation in thermosensitive DNA mutants ofEscherichia coli. J. molec. Biol.60, 413–424 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vapnek, D., Spingler, E.: Asymmetry and extent ofin vivo transcription of R-plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid inEscherichia coli. J. Bact.120, 1274–1278 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, R.J., Parker, J., Fiil, N.P., Flaks, J.G., Friesen, J.D.: New chromosomal location for structural genes of ribosomal proteins. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)72, 2765–2769 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Willetts, N., Clark, A.J., Low, K.B.: Genetic location of certain mutations conferring recombination deficiency inEscherichia coli. J. Bact.97, 244–249 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by H.G. Wittmann

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seals, A.A., Champney, W.S. & Kushner, S.R. Transcription of ribosomal protein genes carried on F′ plasmids ofEscherichia coli . Molec. Gen. Genet. 150, 183–191 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00695398

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00695398

Keywords

Navigation