Project description:In a previous study we adopted an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach to determine the physiological response of E. coli O157:H7 Sakai during exponential phase growth under steady-state conditions relevant to low temperature and water activity conditions experienced during meat carcass chilling in cold air (Kocharunchitt et al., 2012). The findings of that study provide a baseline of knowledge of the physiology of this pathogen, with the response of E. coli O157:H7 to steady-state conditions of combined cold and osmotic stress. To provide an insight into the genetic systems enabling this organism to adapt to growth at low temperature, we extended the aforementioned study to investigate the growth kinetics of E. coli O157:H7 Sakai during abrupt temperature downshift from 35 degrees C to 14 degrees C and, examined time-dependent global alterations in its genome expression upon cold shock from 35 degrees C to 14 degrees C. The genome-wide expression response of E. coli was analysed by both cDNA microarray (transcriptome response) and 2D-LC/MS/MS analysis (proteome response). Differences in gene and protein expression patterns in E. coli before and after cold shock were analysed through quantitative and comparative analysis of time series changes in both mRNA and proteins levels.
Project description:In a previous study we adopted an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach to determine the physiological response of E. coli O157:H7 Sakai during exponential phase growth under steady-state conditions relevant to low temperature and water activity conditions experienced during meat carcass chilling in cold air (Kocharunchitt et al., 2012). The findings of that study provide a baseline of knowledge of the physiology of this pathogen, with the response of E. coli O157:H7 to steady-state conditions of cold and osmotic stress. To provide an insight into the genetic systems enabling this organism to adapt to growth at low water activity, we extended the aforementioned study to investigate the growth kinetics of E. coli O157:H7 Sakai during abrupt water activity downshift from 0.993 to 0.967 and, examined time-dependent global alterations in its genome expression upon water activity downshift from 0.993 to 0.967. The genome-wide expression response of E. coli was analysed by both cDNA microarray (transcriptome response) and 2D-LC/MS/MS analysis (proteome response). Differences in gene and protein expression patterns in E. coli before and after water activity downshift were analysed through quantitative and comparative analysis of time series changes in both mRNA and proteins levels.
Project description:Two types of aspartyl-tRNA synthetase exist: the discriminating enzyme (D-AspRS) forms only Asp-tRNA(Asp), while the nondiscriminating one (ND-AspRS) also synthesizes Asp-tRNA(Asn), a required intermediate in protein synthesis in many organisms (but not in Escherichia coli). On the basis of the E. coli trpA34 missense mutant transformed with heterologous ND-aspS genes, we developed a system with which to measure the in vivo formation of Asp-tRNA(Asn) and its acceptance by elongation factor EF-Tu. While large amounts of Asp-tRNA(Asn) are detrimental to E. coli, smaller amounts support protein synthesis and allow the formation of up to 38% of the wild-type level of missense-suppressed tryptophan synthetase.
Project description:Here we demonstrate a new regulatory mechanism for tRNA processing in Escherichia coli whereby RNase T and RNase PH, the two primary 3' → 5' exonucleases involved in the final step of 3'-end maturation, compete with poly(A) polymerase I (PAP I) for tRNA precursors in wild-type cells. In the absence of both RNase T and RNase PH, there is a >30-fold increase of PAP I-dependent poly(A) tails that are ≤10 nt in length coupled with a 2.3- to 4.2-fold decrease in the level of aminoacylated tRNAs and a >2-fold decrease in growth rate. Only 7 out of 86 tRNAs are not regulated by this mechanism and are also not substrates for RNase T, RNase PH or PAP I. Surprisingly, neither PNPase nor RNase II has any effect on tRNA poly(A) tail length. Our data suggest that the polyadenylation of tRNAs by PAP I likely proceeds in a distributive fashion unlike what is observed with mRNAs.
Project description:In a cell, peptidyl-tRNA molecules that have prematurely dissociated from ribosomes need to be recycled. This work is achieved by an enzyme called peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase. To characterize the RNA-binding site of Escherichia coli peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase, minimalist substrates inspired from tRNA(His) have been designed and produced. Two minisubstrates consist of an N-blocked histidylated RNA minihelix or a small RNA duplex mimicking the acceptor and T?C stem regions of tRNA(His). Catalytic efficiency of the hydrolase toward these two substrates is reduced by factors of 2 and 6, respectively, if compared with N-acetyl-histidyl-tRNA(His). In contrast, with an N-blocked histidylated microhelix or a tetraloop missing the T?C arm, efficiency of the hydrolase is reduced 20-fold. NMR mapping of complex formation between the hydrolase and the small RNA duplex indicates amino acid residues sensitive to RNA binding in the following: (i) the enzyme active site region; (ii) the helix-loop covering the active site; (iii) the region including Leu-95 and the bordering residues 111-117, supposed to form the boundary between the tRNA core and the peptidyl-CCA moiety-binding sites; (iv) the region including Lys-105 and Arg-133, two residues that are considered able to clamp the 5'-phosphate of tRNA, and (v) the positively charged C-terminal helix (residues 180-193). Functional value of these interactions is assessed taking into account the catalytic properties of various engineered protein variants, including one in which the C-terminal helix was simply subtracted. A strong role of Lys-182 in helix binding to the substrate is indicated.
Project description:Multiple copies of a gene require enhanced investment on the part of the cell and, as such, call for an explanation. The observation that Escherichia coli has four copies of initiator tRNA (tRNAi) genes, encoding a special tRNA (tRNA(fMet)) required to start protein synthesis, is puzzling particularly because the cell appears to be unaffected by the removal of one copy. However, the fitness of an organism has both absolute and relative connotations. Thus, we carried out growth competition experiments between E. coli strains that differ in the number of tRNAi genes they contain. This has enabled us to uncover an unexpected link between the number of tRNAi genes and protein synthesis, nutritional status, and fitness. Wild-type strains with the canonical four tRNAi genes are favored in nutrient-rich environments, and those carrying fewer are favored in nutrient-poor environments. Auxotrophs behave as if they have a nutritionally poor internal environment. A heuristic model that links tRNAi gene copy number, genetic stress, and growth rate accounts for the findings. Our observations provide strong evidence that natural selection can work through seemingly minor quantitative variations in gene copy number and thereby impact organismal fitness.