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ISSN 0582-9879                                 ACTA BIOCHIMICA et BIOPHYSICA SINICA 2001, 33(6): 621-628                                     CN 31-1300/Q

 

A Negative Element Located in the Upstream Flanking Region of the Gene Encoding Arginyl-tRNA Synthetase (argS) from Escherichia coli

LIU Mo-Fang, XU Min-Gang, XIA Xian, WANG En-Duo*, WANG Ying-Lai

( State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biolog, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences,  the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China )

 

Abstract        The gene, argS, encoding the arginyl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS) from Escherichia coli (E. coli) was overexpressed 1 000 fold in the transformant when E. coli TG1 was transformed with the recombinant plasmid containing argS and pUC18. In order to investigate the regulation of expression of E. coli argS, a series of deletion mutations was constructed. The results of SDS-PAGE showed that deletions of the whole 5' flanking region (argSD1) or the region in front of Shine-Dalgarno Sequence (argSD2) or the –10 region of promoter (argSD3), caused no overexpression of argS. If argS was deleted from 3′end of the flanking region (–189 nt) to the upstream of –10 region of promoter (argSD4), the –35 region (argSD5), –52 nt (argSD6), –70 nt (argSD7) and –122 nt (argSD8), respectively, the mutant gene was overexpressed to a level similar to that of argS bringing the full length 5′flanking region. However, in the expression of argSD4, argSD5, argSD6, some of ArgRS formed an inclusion body. By determination of RNA dot hybridization, the amount of mRNA produced in the transcription of argSD4, argSD5 and argSD6 was about 2-3 times than that of the wild type argS, argSD7 and argSD8. This indicated that the deletion of a 19 nt sequence (AATAGTGAAAACGGCAATA) located between –52 nt and –70 nt of the gene increased the transcription of argS. The 19 nt sequence is a negative region that represses transcription of argS. Deletion of the negative element may result in a faster production of ArgRS and the accumulation of some unfolding protein intermediates aggregating to form the inclusion body. The result by analysis of gel retardation shows that a factor binds to the negative element. Arginine induced specifically the transcription of argS and its effect correlated with the above negative element.

Key words    arginyl-tRNA synthetase; negative regulation; Escherichia coli

 

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are a class of essential enzymes in protein biosynthesis. Expression of the genes encoding aaRSs is regulated in different ways. Most of what is known about the genetics and regulation of these genes comes from studies in Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis)[1,2]. In general, bacterial aaRS genes are specifically induced, in parallel with the amino acid biosynthetic operons, by starvation for the cognate amino acid, but not by general amino acid starvation. In B. subtilis, a common transcription antitermination mechanism regulates most aaRS genes[3–5]. But in E.coli, there is no evidence for a general mechanism of regulation. The mechanism of regulation in E.coli is as disparate as the number of genes studied[1,2]. For example, threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) binds to a secondary structure in its own leader mRNA that mimics the anticodon stem and loop of the tRNAThr to inhibit translation[6]. Alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) appears to repress transcription of its own gene by binding of the synthetase to the -10 region of its promoter[7]; and expression of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS) is regulated by an attenuation mechanism[8,9]. The transcription of gltX encoding the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS) is repressed by FIS in vitro at low RNA polymerase concentration and in vivo during growth acceleration[10].

ArgRS with glutamyl-tRNA and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetases differs from the other 17 aaRSs in that it requires the cognate tRNA to catalyze the ATP-PPi exchange reaction[12]. ArgRS from E. coli has been studied in our laboratory[12-15]. The gene, argS, encoding ArgRS was cloned as a fragment of 2.4 kb[11]. It contains an open reading frame of 1 734 nt, and 5′ and 3′flanking regions of 247 nt and 397 nt. ArgRS contains 577 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 64.8 kD. In the E.coli TG1 transformant containing the recombinant plasmid of pUC18 and argS (named pUC18-argS), ArgRS was overproduced 1 000 fold as compared with that in the host cells[16]. Leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) from E.coli has been another focus of study in our laboratory[17-22]. Its gene leuS with 5′ and 3′flanking regions was cloned and over-expressed also. However, in the E.coli TG1 transformant containing the recombinant plasmid of pUC18 and leuS, LeuRS was only overproduced 35 fold as compared with that in the host cells[20]. The overproduction of ArgRS seems not to be caused by the high copy number of pUC18. Why was argS expressed so much? What is the effect of the 5′flanking region on the expression of this gene? In the present paper, by a series of deletion mutations in the 5′flanking region of argS, a 19 nt negative element in this region was detected, its action on transcription of argS was studied and the effect of arginine on the gene expression was reported.

1    Materials and Methods

1.1  Materials

A RNA isolation kit was purchased from Watson Biotechnology Inc. The kits for non-radioactive (digoxigenin) labeling and detection of mRNA were obtained from Boehringer Mannherm. The [a-32P] dATP was the product of Amersham (England). The plasmids pUC18 and pSP72 were purchased from Promega Co.. The primers for deletion mutations were synthesized by a DNA synthesizer at the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology, the Chinese Academy of Science. The T7 and SP6 primers for preparation of DIG-labeled RNA probe were obtained from Sangon Co.. The total tRNA containing more than 70% of tRNA2Arg was isolated from an overproducing E. coli strain containing tRNA2Arg gene in our laboratory[23]. The T7 RNA polymerase was purified by the method of Li et al[24].

1.2  Methods

1.2.1      Construction of directional deletion      The deletion mutation was carried out by PCR. Synthetic oligonucleotides DL1 (TAA GGA TCC GTG AAT ATT CAG GCT CTT CTC), DL2 (TAA GGA TCC TAA GGT ATT CCG GTG AAT ATT), DL3 (TAA GGA TCC CGC CCT AAT TTC TTT AAC), DL4 (TAA GGA TCC TAT ACT CCC GCC CTA ATT TC), DL5 (TAA GGA TCC TGA CGA AAA CAG CCA TTT G), DL6 (TAA GGA TCC CGC CAC GCG CAC), DL7 (TAA GGA TCC AAT AGT CAA AAC GGC AAT ACG) and DL8 (TAA GGA TCC CTG TTG CCC TGT GCCA) with BamHI site (underlined) at 5' end, and primer SP (GCC AAG CTT CAC CAT AGG CTT, its 5' is complementary with the sequence of 3' end of argS) with HindIII site (underlined) at 3' end, were used as the primers. Using argS as a template, the deleted mutants in 5' flanking regions of argS with various lengths were amplified (Fig.1). The mutants were digested by BamHI and HindIII and inserted into the gap of plasmid pUC18 treated with the same enzymes to form the recombined plasmid that was termed as pUC18-argSDn (Fig.1). The DNA sequences of the deletion mutants were confirmed by dideoxy sequencing.

 

Fig.1  Construction of the recombinant plasmid containing argS with deletion of 5' flanking region

argSD1, deletion from -189 to +60; argSD2, deletion from -189 to +48; argSD3, deletion from -189 to -7; argSD4, deletion from -189 to -12; argSD5, deletion from -189 to -34; argSD6, deletion from -189 to -52; argSD7, deletion from -189 to -70; argSD8, deletion from -189 to -122.

 

1.2.2      Expression of argS and its deletion mutants E. coli    TG1 strain was transformed with the recombinant plasmids containing pUC18-argS and pUC18-argSDn. The expression of argS with deletions of 5′flanking region was screened by the amount of ArgRS in crude extract of these transformants determined by SDS-PAGE. Two culture media of LB and M9 (or adding some amino acids) were used to grow the transformants.

1.2.3      Assays of aminoacylation activity         The aminoacylation activity of ArgRS was measured as previously described[12]. The assays were performed at 37 in a reaction mixture of 25 ml which contained 50 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 8 mmol/L MgCl2, 4 mmol/L ATP, 80 mmol/L KCl, 0.5 mmol/L dithiothreitol (DTT), 0.1 mmol/L EDTA, 20.5 g/L total tRNA (corresponding to 534 mmol/L of tRNA2Arg) and 0.1 mmol/L [3H]arginine (25 mmol). One unit was defined as the amount of enzyme that charges 1 nmol arginine to tRNAArg in 1 min under the standard condition. The specific activity was defined as the units of enzyme per milligram protein. The Km values for the three substrates were determined under similar condition, except that the concentrations of the corresponding substrates were varied. The concentration of purified ArgRS was determined by A280 of the enzyme solution. About 1.18 g/L of protein equaled 1 A at 280 nm.

1.2.4      Purification of the enzyme from both inclusion bodies and extract supernatants      The transformants carrying the recombinant plasmid pUC18-argS or pUC18-argSDn were grown in 500 ml of LB containing 50 mg of ampicillin at 37 to a stationary phase. Cells were harvested by centrifugation, then suspended in 40 ml of disruption buffer (pH 7.5, 100 mmol/L of Tris-HCl, 10 mmol/L of MgCl2, 1 mmol/L of EDTA) and sonicated for 15×30 seconds at 15 watts with a High Intensity Ultrasonic Processor (375-watt model). After centrifugation at 12 000 r/min, 4 for 30 mins, the supernatant and precipitate were separately fractionated by SDS-PAGE to detect their amounts of ArgRS. If an inclusion body was formed during expression of ArgRS, the purification of the enzyme was performed by denaturation of the inclusion body and renaturation of dilution[25]. Purification of ArgRS in the supernatant was carried out by a two-step chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and Blue Sepharose columns, according to the previous method in our laboratory[26].

1.2.5      Isolation of total cellular RNA        The total RNA was extracted from exponential-phase cultures of TG1 transformants grown in LB or M9 by mixing the cells with Trizol reagent in the RNA isolation kit purchased from Watson Biotechnology Inc. The RNA concentration was determined by the A260 of the RNA solution (20 A260 equal to 1 mg of RNA).

1.2.6      Preparation of DIG-labeled RNA as probe   There is one site of ClaI and SalI in the coding region of argS, respectively. About a 1 kb DNA fragment of argS digested with the above two enzymes was inserted into the gap of transcriptional vector pSP72 cut with the same enzymes. Using the recombinant plasmid as a template and T7 and SP6 primers by PCR a DNA fragment was amplified and used as a template for in vitro transcription of the DIG-labeled probe. The RNA probe was synthesized and labeled by T7 RNA polymerase and digoxigenin-11-UTP in an in vitro transcription reaction using a DIG Northern blot starter kit from Boehringer Mannheim.

1.2.7      RNA Northern dot hybridization            The total RNA prepared from the TG1 transformant carrying the recombinant plasmid pUC18-argS or pUC18-argSDn was denatured by the method of Thomas[27]. The denatured RNA was dotted on a positively charged nylon membrane (Boehringer Mannheim), fixed by UV-crosslinking with an UV-cross linker, hybridized with DIG-labeled RNA probe, and detected by anti-digoxigenin-AP (alkaline phosphatase).

1.2.8      Gel retardation analysis           Gel retardation analysis was carried out as described by Champagne et al.[10]. In the reconbinant plasmid, EcoRI is located in the multicloned site of pUC18 and in front of argS, the AccI cutting site is at -11 nt of argS. The EcoRI-AccI fragments, obtained from pUC18-argSD7 and pUC18-argSD6, were labeled at their extremities by Klenow enzyme and a-32P]dATP. The extract from the TG1 strain was used to supply the putative trans-regulation factor. Approximately 0.1 pmol of the end-labeled EcoRI-AccI fragments were incubated for 20 min at room temperature with different volume of the extract. Factor-DNA complexes were prepared in 20 ml of 100 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 7.5 containing 30 mmol/L NaCl, 2 mmol/L EDTA, and 1 mmol/L dithiothreitol. 9 mg/L of Poly (dI·dC) (Pharmacia) was added to inhibit nonspecific binding of protein to the DNA. The reaction mixtures were separated by electrophoresis on a 12% polyacrylamide gel in 0.5×TBE buffer at room temperature and visualized using autoradiography.

1.2.9      Analysis of the secondary structure of mRNAs of argS and leuS     Energy of the secondary structure around the Shine-Dalgarno sequences of mRNAs of argS and leuS was measured by Michael Zuker's MFold program of WPI (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package).

2    Results

2.1  Effect of the deletion in the 5′flanking region on the expression of argS

The total protein in the whole cells containing argS and argSDn was extracted and denatured with boiling loading buffer of SDS-PAGE and then fractionated by SDS-PAGE. The strong band of ArgRS with a molecular weight of 64.8 kD appeared in the extracts from the cells containing argSD8 (the upstream of -122 nt was deleted), argSD7 (the upstream of -70 nt was deleted), argSD6 (the upstream of -52 nt was deleted), argSD5 (the upstream of the -35 region was deleted) and argSD4 (the upstream of the -10 region was deleted). The above argSDns were still over-expressed almost as high as argS. But no band of ArgRS appeared in the extracts from the cells containing argSD3 (-10 region was deleted), argSD2 (SD region was deleted), argSD1 (without 5′flanking region) (Fig.2 and Table 1).

 

Fig.2       SDS-PAGE of total protein in transformants containing argS and argSDn

Molecular weight markers from Sigma, with molecular weight of 97.4, 66.0, 45.0, 31.0, 21.5 and 14.5 kD (lane 1); purified ArgRS (lane 2); proteins in the crude extract of TG1 transformants containing argS (lane 3), argSD8 (lane 4), argSD7 (lane 5), argSD6 (lane 6), argSD5 (lane 7), argSD4 (lane 8), argSD3(lane 9), argSD2 (lane 10), argSD1 (lane 11); proteins in the crude extract of TG1 (lane 12). In each lane 15 ml of sample was loaded.

 

 

2.2  A negative element of A, T-rich sequence of 19 nucleotides located between –70 nt and –52 nt of argS

After disruption of transformants containing argSDn by sonication and separation of the supernatant and precipitate by centrifugation, the activity of aminoacylation was determined. In the supernatant from argSD4, argSD5 and argSD6, the aminoacylation activity was only about 60% of the activity of that of the transformant containing argS. However, the result of SDS-PAGE showed that the total amount of ArgRS in the whole cells of the above different transformants was similar (Fig.2). When assay of the amount of ArgRS in precipitate and supernatant from the transformants containing argS and argSDn by SDS-PAGE, the band of ArgRS appeared both in the precipitate and supernatant from those containing argSD4, argSD5, and argSD6, respectively. A strong band of ArgRS appeared only in the supernatant from the transformants containing argS, argSD7 and argSD8, however ArgRS was detected both in the supernatant and precipitate from those containing argSD4, argSD5 and argSD6 (Fig.3). An inclusion body of ArgRS was formed partially during the expression of argSD4, argSD5 and argSD6 in those the upstream of –52 nt was deleted. During the expression of wild type argS, or argSD7 and argSD8 in which the nucleotide fragment between –70 and –52 nt was kept, the formation of an inclusion body was not detected.

 

Fig.3  SDS-PAGE of supernatant and precipitant from extract of transformants containing argS and argSDn

Molecular weight markers from Sigma, with molecular weights of 97.4, 66.0, 45.0, 31.0, 21.5 and 14.5 kD (lane 1); purified ArgRS (lane 2); proteins in the crude extract of TG1 transformants containing argSD6 (lane 3), argS (lane 4), argSD5 (lane 5), argSD4 (lane 6); proteins in the supernatant of crude extract of TG1 transformants containing argSD6 (lane 7), argS (lane 8), argSD5 (lane 9), argSD4 (lane 10); proteins in the precipitant of crude extract of TG1 transformants containing argSD6 (lane 11), argS (lane 12), argSD5 (lane 13), argSD4 (lane 14). In each lane 15 ml of sample was loaded.

 

The enzymes purified from both the inclusion body and the supernatant have the same specific activity and kinetic constants as described previously[12], suggesting the coding region from argSDn was not changed (Table 2). So the formation of an inclusion body is not from the change of the primary structure of ArgRS. The only reason is from the faster overproduction and accumulation of ArgRS, the aggregation of incomplete folding intermediates formed the inclusion body.

 

 

The results showed that there is a negative element located between –70 and –52 nt. Its sequence is AATAGTGAAAACGGCAATA.

2.3  The negative element regulated the expression of argS in transcriptional level

Northern hybridization experiments were carried out to identify the effect of argSDn on transcription of argS. The total RNA was isolated from transformants contained argS, argSD4, argSD5, argSD6 and argSD7. Different amounts (serial dilutions) of these RNAs were applied to a sheet of positively charged nylon membrane and hybridized with the DIG-labeled RNA probe. The levels of the specific mRNA encoding ArgRS from transformants contained argSD4, argSD5 and argSD6 were about 2-3 times than those of argS and argSD7 (Fig.4). When the nucleotide between -70 nt and -52 nt in argSD4, argSD5 and argSD6 was deleted, the amount of mRNA was increased. The result showed that the expression of argS during transcription of argS declined by the negative element.

 

Fig.4  Analysis of the amount of mRNA from transformants containing argS and argSDn by Northern blot hybridization

Total RNA was isolated from TG1(pUC18-argSD7) (lane 1), TG1(pUC18-argS) (lane 2), TG1(pUC18-argSD4) (lane 3), TG1(pUC18-argSD5) (lane 4), TG1(pUC18-argSD6) (lane 5), respectively. The cells were cultured in LB to exponential-phase. Different amounts of RNA were used in all samples. From top to bottom the amount of sample were 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg, respectively. The lower panel shows integration done by use of Shimadzu spectrodensitomery of the dot blots.

 

2.4  Transcription of argS was induced by arginine

When the transformant containing argS was cultured in minimal medium or supplemented with the same concentrations of Arg (cognate amino acid of ArgRS), Ala (small amino acid without charge) and Lys (with positive charge), separately, or the other 19 amino acids except Arg, the band of ArgRS appeared on the gel of PAGE only in the transformant cultured in the medium supplemented with Arg [Fig.5(A)]. The same case was found in the transformant containing argSD7 or argSD8 (data not shown). But to the transformant TG1 (pUC18-argSD4) or TG1 (pUC18-argSD5) or TG1 (pUC18-argSD6), the band of ArgRS was present in all cases (data not shown). The total RNAs from the transformants TG1 (pUC18-argS) or TG1 (pUC18-argSDn), grown in minimal medium or M9 medium supplemented with 10 mmol/L Arg or Lys or other amino acid except Arg, was analyzed by Northern dot blot hybridization. Arg specially induced the transcription of argS bringing the negative region, however it did not affect the transcription of argS without the negative region [Fig.5(B)].

 

Fig.5       Effect of arginine on the expression of argS

(A) SDS-PAGE of total protein in transformants TG1(pUC18-argS) cultured in minimal medium unsupplemented or supplemented with some amino acid. Molecular weight markers from Sigma, with molecular weights of 97.4, 66.0, 45.0, 31.0, 21.5 and 14.5 kD (lane 1); purified ArgRS (lane 2); proteins in the crude extract of transformants TG1(pUC18-argS) cultured in minimal medium (lane 3), or added 2 mmol/L alanine (lane 4), 10 mmol/L alanine (lane 5), 2 mmol/L lysine (lane 6), 10 mmol/L lysine (lane 7), 2 mmol/L 19 other amino acids except arginine (lane 8), 10 mmol/L 19 other amino acids except arginine (lane 9), 2 mmol/L arginine (lane 10), 10 mmol/L arginine (lane 11). In each lane 15 ml of sample was loaded.

(B) Dot blot hybridization of total RNA from transformants TG1(pUC18-argS) or TG1(pUC18-argSΔ5) cultured in minimal medium unsupplemented or supplemented with some amino acid with the argS internal probe. The transformants TG1(pUC18-argS) were grown in minimal medium (lane 1), or supplemented with 10 mmol/L Lys (lane 2), or supplemented with 10 mmol/L Arg (lane 3). The transformants TG1(pUC18-argSD5) were cultured in minimal medium (lane 4), or supplemented with 10 mmol/L Lys (lane 5), or supplemented with 10 mmol/L Arg (lane 6). Different amounts of RNA were used in all samples. From top to bottom the amount of sample were 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg, respectively.

 

2.5  A factor binds to the putative negative element

To examine whether there was a factor to participate in argS expression, an in vitro interaction of a factor with the putative negative region located 5′flanking region of argS was studied by gel retardation technique. The results in Fig.6 showed that the EcoRI-AccI DNA fragment from argSD7 labeled with [a-32P]dATP was retarded, however, the fragment from argSD6 was not. This suggested that a factor might bind on the negative element, so that the labeled band was retarded. The amount of the retarded band related directly with the amount of the extract from E.coli TG1, and the more extract, the stronger retardation.

 

Fig.6       Gel retardation of argSD7 and argSD6

The fragments of pUC18-argSD7 and pUC18-argSD6 extended from EcoRI site to AccI site, corresponding to the fragment from -70 nt and -52 nt to -11 nt of argS, respectively. The fragments from argSD7 (lane 1-4) and argSD6 (lane 5-8) were mixed with 0, 2, 5, and 10 ml of extract from TG1, respectively. The arrowhead points the band retardation.

 

3    Discussion

The result of the deletion mutations of the 5′flanking region of argS showed that the full-length of 5′flanking region was not necessary to expression of ArgRS. In E.coli TG1 transformant containing argS and some argSDn, ArgRS can be overexpressed with similar amount (Fig.2). The –10 region (TATA box) of promoter is necessary for the expression. With further deletions of the flanking region downstream of TATA box, ArgRS was not produced, suggesting that overexpression of argS was not due to the multi-copy number of pUC18 and argS might have an own strong promoter. The level of transcription of the gene was higher and a part of the enzyme formed an inclusion body, when the upstream of –52, –35 or –10 nt of argS was deleted (Fig.3 and Fig.4). However, no inclusion body was formed and its transcription level was similar to that of wild type argS when the upstream of –70 nt was deleted (Fig.3 and Fig.4). The above results suggested that in argS a 19 nt A, T-rich special sequence located between –70 and –52 nt regulated the normal transcription of argS. It was a negative element, and its deletion resulted in faster expression of ArgRS and formation of an inclusion body. Gel retardation analysis also showed that a factor might bind to the negative element and regulate the expression of the gene.

The result of SDS-PAGE indicated expression of argS in E.coli was specifically induced by arginine [Fig.5(A)]. And the result of Northern dot blot hybridization [Fig.5(B)] showed that it functioned at the level of transcription, which was also found in Brevibacterium lactofermentum (B. lactofer-mentum) argS[28]. The situation is very different from that was found in many other genes coding for aaRSs in E.coli and B.subtilis. Expression of these genes is induced by starvation for cognate amino acid and not by general amino acid limitation[1]. However, regulation of expression of argS in B. subtilis still has not been reported yet.

A key feature of genetic regulatory system is the ability to target the system to specific genes in response to specific physiological signals. The effect of arginine might be related with the negative element. Arginine might repress the binding of the factor to the negative element to provide enough ArgRS to decrease the cellular concentration of arginine. However, in the biosynthetic operon of arginine, the excessive end product arginine, in conjunction with the arginine repressor protein, represses the synthesis of the 10 enzymes of arginine biosynthesis[28]. Because E. coli is not able to use arginine as an efficient carbon and nitrogen source, excessive arginine might be harmful to the cell, maybe via to disturbing the pH in the cells[28]. Although the effect of arginine on argS and arginine biosynthetic operon is opposite, the ultimate aim is to reduce the cellular concentration of arginine.

 

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Received: June 4, 2001         Accepted: June 27, 2001

This work was supported by Grant No. 39670412 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China

*Corresponding author: Tel, 86-21-64374430; Fax, 86-21-64338357; e-mail, [email protected]