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Structural organization, nucleotide sequence, and regulation of the Haemophilus influenzae rec-1+ gene.

ABSTRACT: The Haemophilus influenzae rec-1+ protein plays a central role in DNA metabolism, participating in general homologous recombination, recombinational (postreplication) DNA repair, and prophage induction. Although many H. influenzae rec-1 mutants have been phenotypically characterized, little is known about the rec-1+ gene at the molecular level. In this study, we present the genetic organization of the rec-1+ locus, the DNA sequence of rec-1+, and studies of the transcriptional regulation of rec-1+ during cellular assault by DNA-damaging agents and during the induction of competence for genetic transformation. Although little is known about promoter structure in H. influenzae, we identified a potential rec-1+ promoter that is identical in 11 of 12 positions to the bacterial sigma 70-dependent promoter consensus sequence. Results from a primer extension analysis revealed that the start site of rec-1+ transcription is centered 6 nucleotides downstream of this promoter. We identified potential DNA binding sites in the rec-1+ gene for LexA, integration host factor, and cyclic AMP receptor protein. We obtained evidence that at least one of the proposed cyclic AMP receptor protein binding sites is active in modulating rec-1+ transcription. This finding makes rec-1+ control circuitry novel among recA+ homologs. Two H. influenzae DNA uptake sequences that may function as a transcription termination signal were identified in inverted orientations at the end of the rec-1+ coding sequence. In addition, we report the first use of the Escherichia coli lacZ operon fusion technique in H. influenzae to study the transcriptional control of rec-1+. Our results indicate that rec-1+ is transcriptionally induced about threefold during DNA-damaging events. Furthermore, we show that rec-1+ can substitute for recA+ in E. coli to modulate SOS induction of dinB1 expression. Surprisingly, although 5% of the H. influenzae genome is in the form of single-stranded DNA during competence for genetic transformation, an event that could be a potent SOS-inducing signal, we failed to detect significant changes in rec-1+ transcription during the induction of genetic competence.

SUBMITTER: Zulty JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC206870 | biostudies-other | 1993 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Structural organization, nucleotide sequence, and regulation of the Haemophilus influenzae rec-1+ gene.

Zulty J J JJ Barcak G J GJ

Journal of bacteriology 19931101 22

The Haemophilus influenzae rec-1+ protein plays a central role in DNA metabolism, participating in general homologous recombination, recombinational (postreplication) DNA repair, and prophage induction. Although many H. influenzae rec-1 mutants have been phenotypically characterized, little is known about the rec-1+ gene at the molecular level. In this study, we present the genetic organization of the rec-1+ locus, the DNA sequence of rec-1+, and studies of the transcriptional regulation of rec- ...[more]

PMID: 8226674

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Project description:The occurrence of fimbria gene clusters in nonencapsulated Haemophilus influenzae strains from chronic bronchitis patients (n = 58), patients with acute otitis media (n = 13), and healthy carriers (n = 12) was determined by DNA hybridization and PCR, based on sequences of fimbriate H. influenzae type b. Although an average of 18% of all nonencapsulated strains had a fimbria gene cluster consisting of hifA to hifE inserted in the chromosome between purE and pepN, differences in the frequency of fimbria cluster-positive strains were observed, depending on the source of isolates. The compositions of the fimbria gene clusters of seven strains from chronic bronchitis patients and one strain from an otitis media patient were analyzed in more detail. After enrichment for fimbria expression, the promoter of the gene cluster contained 10 TA repeats (n = 2), leading to optimal positioning between the -10 and -35 promoter regions. The promoter regions of five fimbria-negative strains were sequenced; four were found to have nine TA repeats, and one had only four TA repeats. The protein sequence of three ganglioside GM1-specific HifA adhesins consisted of conserved regions intermingled with regions of sequence diversity. hifA appeared to be flanked by intergenic regions that varied between strains and contained both direct and inverted DNA repeats. Since noncoding DNA between hifA and purE has not been found in H. influenzae type b, these DNA sequences are probably not essential for fimbria expression. An analysis of strains lacking the gene cluster revealed the presence of similar sequences in 13 of 15 strains from chronic bronchitis patients, 5 of 5 strains from otitis media patients, and 3 of 5 strains from healthy carriers. The lengths of these intergenic regions were the same for multiple isolates of strains obtained during persistent infections. The presence or absence and the composition of the fimbria gene cluster and other sequences between the flanking genes purE and pepN suggest that the fimbria gene cluster was originally contained on a mobile element.

Dataset Information

Structural organization, nucleotide sequence, and regulation of the Haemophilus influenzae rec-1+ gene.

Publications

Structural organization, nucleotide sequence, and regulation of the Haemophilus influenzae rec-1+ gene.

Similar Datasets

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