Project description:MuDR/Mu are a highly active transposon family moving by either cut only (or cut-and-paste) in strictly somatic tissues or net replicative transposition (absence of excision alleles) in reproductive tissues. Aside from the MuDR-encoded MURA and MURB proteins, other factors required for Mu transposition, particularly those contributing to the developmentally specific behavior, have yet to be identified. To address this question and assess the impact of a highly active transposon on the transcriptome, RNA was extracted from anthers at three developmental stages in Mu-active and -inactive stocks and compared on a 44,000 element oligonucleotide array. We found that approximately 30,000 unique genes are expressed at each stage. Of the ~10% (ca. 3000) differentially regulated transcripts per stage, there was approximately equal representation by the active or inactive individuals. Keywords: anther development, maize, Mu, transposon
Project description:The model prokaryote Escherichia coli can exist as a either a commensal or a pathogen in the gut of diverse mammalian hosts. These associations, coupled with its ease of cultivation and genetic variability, have made E. coli a popular indicator organism for tracking the origin of fecal water contamination. Source tracking accuracy is predicated on the assumption that E. coli isolates recovered from contaminated water present a genetic signature characteristic of the host from which they originated. In this study, we compared the accuracy with which E. coli isolated from humans, bear, cattle and deer could be identified by standard fingerprinting methods used for library-based microbial source tracking (repetitive element PCR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) in relation to microarray-based analysis of genome content. Our results show that patterns of gene presence or absence were more useful for distinguishing E. coli isolates from different sources than traditional fingerprinting methods, particularly in the case of human strains. Host-associated differences in genome composition included the presence or absence of mobile IS1 elements as well as genes encoding the ferric dicitrate iron transporter (fec), E. coli common pilus (ECP), type 1 fimbriae and the CRISPR associated cas proteins. Many of these differences occurred in regions of the E. coli chromosome previously shown to be M-bM-^@M-^\hot spotsM-bM-^@M-^] for the integration of horizontally-acquired DNA. PCR primers designed to amplify the IS1 and fec loci confirmed array results and demonstrated the ease with which gene presence/absence data can be converted into a diagnostic assay. The data presented here suggest that, despite the high level of genetic diversity observed among isolates by PFGE, human-derived strains may constitute a distinct ecotype distinguished by multiple potential library-independent source tracking markers. Twelve isolates of E. coli ( 3 from bear, 3 from cattle, 3 from deer and 3 from humans) were isolated from feces and/or raw sewage. Genome content for each strain was assessed in duplicate using comparative genome hybridization with E. coli K12 MG1655 as the reference for a total of 24 arrays.
Project description:The model prokaryote Escherichia coli can exist as a either a commensal or a pathogen in the gut of diverse mammalian hosts. These associations, coupled with its ease of cultivation and genetic variability, have made E. coli a popular indicator organism for tracking the origin of fecal water contamination. Source tracking accuracy is predicated on the assumption that E. coli isolates recovered from contaminated water present a genetic signature characteristic of the host from which they originated. In this study, we compared the accuracy with which E. coli isolated from humans, bear, cattle and deer could be identified by standard fingerprinting methods used for library-based microbial source tracking (repetitive element PCR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) in relation to microarray-based analysis of genome content. Our results show that patterns of gene presence or absence were more useful for distinguishing E. coli isolates from different sources than traditional fingerprinting methods, particularly in the case of human strains. Host-associated differences in genome composition included the presence or absence of mobile IS1 elements as well as genes encoding the ferric dicitrate iron transporter (fec), E. coli common pilus (ECP), type 1 fimbriae and the CRISPR associated cas proteins. Many of these differences occurred in regions of the E. coli chromosome previously shown to be “hot spots” for the integration of horizontally-acquired DNA. PCR primers designed to amplify the IS1 and fec loci confirmed array results and demonstrated the ease with which gene presence/absence data can be converted into a diagnostic assay. The data presented here suggest that, despite the high level of genetic diversity observed among isolates by PFGE, human-derived strains may constitute a distinct ecotype distinguished by multiple potential library-independent source tracking markers.
Project description:The objective of this work was to design an improved host platform for recombinant protein expression in E. coli. The approach involves first to create a library of the E. coli genomic DNA in different expression vectors and screen for probable transcripts which may lead to slow growing colonies and also simultaneously over-expression of recombinant proteins. To observe its effect on host performance, these genes were knocked out from the E. coli genome. A CG2 strain has been created by knocking in vhb gene gene downstream of the acetate promoter and knocking down ribB gene in DH5α and transformed with Recombinant GFP cloned in pBAD33. E. coli DH5α (control strain), and strain CG2 were transformed with pBAD33-GFP and cultured in well controlled fed batch fermentations. The effect of three parameters was sought to be studied. The first was the effect of time post induction and thus samples were collected 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours post induction. The second parameter was the effect of host modification and hence both the control and the modified host (CG2) were studied at μ = 0.3 h-1. The third parameter was the effect of specific growth rate and thus the host (CG2) was run at μ = 0.3 h-1 and 0.6 h-1.
Project description:Triclosan is a biocidal active agent commonly found in domestic cleaning products, hand sanitizers, cosmetics and personal care products. It is used to control microbial contamination and has a broad-spectrum of activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The development of triclosan tolerance with potential cross resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics in zoonotic pathogens is of concern given the widespread use of this active agent in clinical, food processing and domestic environments. Some studies have proposed that an over-dependence on triclosan-containing products could lead to the emergence of clinically important pathogens that are highly tolerant to both biocides and antibiotics. Currently, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms contributing to the emergence of triclosan tolerance in foodborne pathogens at a genetic level. We used microarray analysis to compare gene expression between a wildtype E. coli O157:H19 isolate (WT) with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to triclosan of 6.25 ug/ml and its laboratory generated triclosan tolerant mutant (M) with a MIC of >8000 ug/ml. Gene expression profiling was performed on untreated E. coli O157:H19 wildtype (WTu) and mutant (Mu), and on the wildtype and mutant treated with 6 ug/ml triclosan for 30 minutes (WTt and Mt respectively). RNA was extracted from three independent biological replicates for WTu, Mu, WTt & Mt for hybridization on Affymetrix GeneChip E. coli Genome 2.0 Arrays. Micorarray analysis including pre-processing, normalisation and statistical analysis were performed using R (R, 2007) version 2.6 and Bioconductor (Gentleman et al. 2004, Genome Biol. 5:R80) version 2.1 as previously described by Morris et al.(2009, Physiol. Genomics 39:28-37).
Project description:Specific growth rate dependent gene expression changes of Escherichia coli K12 MG1655 were determined by microarray and real time PCR analyses. The bacteria were cultivated on glucose limited minimal medium using the accelerostat method (A-stat), where starting from steady state conditions in a chemostat culture, dilution rate is constantly increased. At specific growth rate (μ) 0.47 h-1, E. coli had focused its metabolism to glucose utilization by down-regulation of alternative substrate transporters expression compared to μ = 0.3 h-1. It was found that acetic acid accumulation began at μ = 0.34 ± 0.01 h-1 and two acetate synthesis pathways (phosphotransacetylase-acetate kinase (pta-ackA) and pyruvate oxidase (poxB)) contributed to the synthesis at the beginning of overflow metabolism, i.e. onset of acetate excretion. On the other hand, poxB, pta and ackA expression patterns suggest that pyruvate oxidase may be the only enzyme synthesizing acetate at μ = 0.47 h-1. Down-regulation of acs-yjcH-actP operon, the resulting loss of glucose and acetate co-utilization between specific growth rates 0.3 h-1 – 0.42 h-1 and acetic acid accumulation from μ = 0.34 ± 0.01 h-1 allows one to surmise that the acetate utilization operon expression might play an important role in overflow metabolism.
Project description:Background: The biotechnology industry has extensively exploited Escherichia coli for producing recombinant proteins, biofuels etc. However, high growth rate aerobic E. coli cultivations are accompanied by acetate excretion i.e. overflow metabolism which is harmful as it inhibits growth, diverts valuable carbon from biomass formation and is detrimental for target product synthesis. Although overflow metabolism has been studied for decades, its regulation mechanisms still remain unclear. Results: In the current work, growth rate dependent acetate overflow metabolism of E. coli was continuously monitored using advanced continuous cultivation methods (A-stat and D-stat). The first step in acetate overflow switch (at μ = 0.27 ± 0.02 1/h) is the repression of acetyl-CoA synthethase (Acs) activity triggered by carbon catabolite repression resulting in decreased assimilation of acetate produced by phosphotransacetylase (Pta), and disruption of the PTA-ACS node. This was indicated by acetate synthesis pathways PTA-ACKA and POXB component expression down-regulation before the overflow switch at μ = 0.27 ± 0.02 1/h with concurrent 5-fold stronger repression of acetate-consuming Acs. This in turn suggests insufficient Acs activity for consuming all the acetate produced by Pta, leading to disruption of the acetate cycling process in PTA-ACS node where constant acetyl phosphate or acetate regeneration is essential for E. coli chemotaxis, proteolysis, pathogenesis etc. regulation. In addition, two-substrate A-stat and D-stat experiments showed that acetate consumption capability of E. coli decreased drastically, just as Acs expression, before the start of overflow metabolism. The second step in overflow switch is the sharp decline in cAMP production at μ = 0.45 1/h leading to total Acs inhibition and fast accumulation of acetate. Accumulation of acetate was also coupled to excretion of products such as orotate and N-carbomoyl-L-aspartate making it a novel carbon spilling mechanism in E. coli. Conclusion: This study is an example of how a systems biology approach allowed to propose a new regulation mechanism for overflow metabolism in E. coli shown by proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic levels coupled to two-phase acetate accumulation: acetate overflow metabolism in E. coli is triggered by Acs down-regulation resulting in decreased assimilation of acetic acid produced by Pta, and disruption of the PTA-ACS node. Reference samples at specific growth rate (μ) 0.11 1/h were compared to the ones acquired at μ 0.21, 0.26, 0.31, 0.36, 0.40 and 0.48 1/h
Project description:Clonal evolution drives tumor progression, dissemination and relapse in cancer, and dissemination or metastasis of the tumor cells from primary site to other organs is the leading cause of death for cancer patients. This multi-stage process requires tumor cells to survive in the circulation, extravasate at distant sites, then colonization. The whole process involves contributions from both the tumor cells and microenvironment. Here we developed and applied a clonal tracking ‘rainbow’ system into a tumor dissemination xenograft mouse model (SCID-mu) to study the clonal behaviors with the presence of a bone marrow environment showing that only a few subclones successfully remodeled by BM environment can exit the primary site and further colonize in distant tissues. RNA-sequencing results of primary and disseminated MM tumor cells revealed a metastatic signature, which is sequentially activated during human MM progression and significantly associated with overall survival when evaluated against a public patient dataset suggesting SCID-mu model characterizes MM dissemination phenotypically and mechanistically.
Project description:Traditional genome-editing reagents such as CRISPR-Cas9 achieve targeted DNA modification by introducing double-strand breaks (DSBs), thereby stimulating localized DNA repair by endogenous cellular repair factors. While highly effective at generating heterogenous knockout mutations, this approach suffers from undesirable byproducts and an inability to control product purity. Here we develop a system in human cells for programmable, DSB-free DNA integration using Type I CRISPR-associated transposons (CASTs). To adapt our previously described CAST systems, we optimized DNA targeting by the QCascade complex through a comprehensive assessment of protein design, and we developed potent transcriptional activators by exploiting the multi-valent recruitment of the AAA+ ATPase, TnsC, to genomic sites targeted by QCascade. After initial detection of plasmid-based transposition, we screened 15 homologous CAST systems from a wide range of bacterial hosts, identified a CAST homolog from Pseudoalteromonas that exhibited improved activity, and increased integration efficiencies through parameter optimization. We further discovered that bacterial ClpX enhances genomic integration by multiple orders of magnitude, and we propose that this critical accessory factor functions to drive active disassembly of the post-transposition CAST complex, akin to its demonstrated role in Mu transposition. Our work highlights the ability to functionally reconstitute complex, multi-component machineries in human cells, and establishes a strong foundation to realize the full potential of CRISPR-associated transposons for human genome engineering.
Project description:In this work, a plasmid-based system is applied to inhibit the transposition of bacterial insertion sequences (IS). Using multiple guide RNAs, inactivated Cas9 was directed to simultaneously bind to the left end of IS1, IS5, IS3 and IS150 in Escherichia coli, in vivo. As a result, the transcription of IS1, and IS5 was successfully silenced, in certain cases by two orders of magnitude. The transposition rate of all four targeted elements nevertheless dropped to negligible levels, as verified at the cycA and bgl chromosomal loci. A GFP-expressing plasmid, known to be predominantly inactivated by insertion mutations also displayed a significant increase in stability. The transposition-silencing effect was easily transferable between various E. coli strains by plasmid transformation. Our portable system, or other plasmids constructed likewise can serve as useful tools to eliminate insertion mutagenesis or selectively study distinct transposable elements in numerous prokaryotic species.