attP Attachment Site Research Articles

Scarless Modification of the Drosophila Genome Near Any Mapped attP Sites.

Here we describe a Drosophila genome engineering technique that can scarlessly modify genomic sequences near any mapped attP attachment site previously integrated by transposon mobilization or gene targeting. This technique combines two highly efficient and robust procedures: phiC31 integrase-mediated site-specific integration and homing endonuclease-mediated resolution of local duplications. In this technique, a donor fragment containing the desired mutation(s) is first integrated into a selected attP site near the target locus by phiC31 integrase-mediated site-specific integration, which creates local duplications consisting of the mutant-containing donor fragment and the wild-type target locus. Next, homing endonuclease-induced double-stranded DNA breaks trigger recombination between the duplications and resolve the target locus to generate scarless mutant alleles. In every step, the desired flies can be easily identified by patterns of dominant markers, so no large-scale screens are needed. This technique is highly efficient and can be used to generate scarless point mutations, insertions, and deletions. The availability of large libraries of mapped attP site-containing transposon/CRISPR insertions in Drosophila allows the modification of more than half of the euchromatic Drosophila genome at a high efficiency. As more and more attP-containing insertions are generated and mapped, this technique will be able to modify larger portions of the Drosophila genome. The principles of this technique are applicable to other organisms where modifications to the genome are feasible. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Verifying attP-containing insertions Support Protocol: Extracting genomic DNA Basic Protocol 2: Generating the donor plasmid Basic Protocol 3: Injecting the donor plasmid and establishing transformant stocks Basic Protocol 4: Verifying the transformants Basic Protocol 5: Generating the final scarless alleles Basic Protocol 6: Verifying the final alleles.

The Technologist's Dilemma

The Technologist's Dilemma

PASTE: The Way Forward for Large DNA Insertions.

PASTE: The Way Forward for Large DNA Insertions.

Long-Range Targeted Manipulation of the Drosophila Genome by Site-Specific Integration and Recombinational Resolution

Significant advances in genomics underscore the importance of targeted mutagenesis for gene function analysis. Here we have developed a scheme for long-range targeted manipulation of genes in the Drosophila genome. Utilizing an attP attachment site for the phiC31 integrase previously targeted to the nbs gene, we integrated an 80-kb genomic fragment at its endogenous locus to generate a tandem duplication of the region. We achieved reduction to a single copy by inducing recombination via a site-specific DNA break. We report that, despite the large size of the DNA fragment, both plasmid integration and duplication reduction can be accomplished efficiently. Importantly, the integrating genomic fragment can serve as a venue for introducing targeted modifications to the entire region. We successfully introduced a new attachment site 70 kb from the existing attP using this two-step scheme, making a new region susceptible to targeted mutagenesis. By experimenting with different placements of the future DNA break site in the integrating vector, we established a vector configuration that facilitates the recovery of desired modifications. We also show that reduction events can occur efficiently through unequal meiotic crossing over between the large duplications. Based on our results, we suggest that a collection of 1200 lines with attachment sites inserted every 140 kb throughout the genome would render all Drosophila genes amenable to targeted mutagenesis. Excitingly, all of the components involved are likely functional in other eukaryotes, making our scheme for long-range targeted manipulation readily applicable to other systems.

Characterization of an SXT variantVibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa isolated from a patient in Trivandrum, India

The emerging multiple drug resistance in bacterial pathogens is complicating the treatment of diseases and hence is a major public health concern. In the present study, Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Ogawa isolated from a patient was examined for antibiotic susceptibility pattern, presence of SXT and its transmissibility, associated drug resistance genes and variation in the int gene and the attP attachment site of SXT. The strain showed resistance to ampicillin, polymixin B, co-trimoxazole, trimethoprim, streptomycin, spectinomycin, furazolidone, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. The sequencing of int, the SXT-specific integrase and attP attachment site indicated that it possessed a variant of SXT with trimethoprim (dfrA1), sulphamethoxazole (sul2) and streptomycin (strB) resistance genes. Its mobile nature was demonstrated by conjugation with rifampicin-resistant Escherichia coli. The emergence of such an isolate should be closely monitored because it will improve our understanding of the evolution of the multidrug resistance phenotype.

Structural Prediction and Mutational Analysis of the Gifsy-1 Xis Protein

BackgroundThe Gifsy-1 phage integrates into the Salmonella Typhimurium chromosome via an integrase mediated, site-specific recombination mechanism. Excision of the Gifsy-1 phage requires three proteins, the Gifsy-1 integrase (Int), the Gifsy-1 excisionase (Xis) protein, and host encoded Integration Host Factor (IHF). The Gifsy-1 xis gene encodes the 94-residue Gifsy-1 excisionase protein that has a molecular weight of 11.2 kDa and a pI of 10.2. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays (EMSA) suggested at least one region of the protein is responsible for protein-DNA interactions with a tripartite DNA binding site composed of three direct imperfect repeats.ResultsHere we have undertaken experiments to dissect and model the structural motifs of Gifsy-1 Xis necessary for its observed DNA binding activity. Diethyl sulfate mutagenesis (DES) and mutagenic PCR techniques were used to generate Gifsy-1 xis mutants. Mutant Xis proteins that lacked activity in vivo were purified and tested by EMSA for binding to the Gifsy-1 Xis attP attachment site. Results from mutagenesis experiments and EMSA were compared to results of structural predictions and sequence analyses.ConclusionSequence comparisons revealed evidence for three distinct structural motifs in the Gifsy-1 Xis protein. Multiple sequence alignments revealed unexpected homologies between the Gifsy-1 Xis protein and two distinct subsets of polynucleotide binding proteins. Our data may suggest a role for the Gifsy-1 Xis in the regulation of the Gifsy-1 phage excision beyond that of DNA binding and possible interactions with the Gifsy-1 Int protein.

A variant type of Vibrio cholerae SXT element in a multidrug-resistant strain of Vibrio fluvialis

Vibrio fluvialis strain H-08942 was isolated from an infant aged 6 months who was suffering from cholera-like diarrhea in India. This strain showed the typical multidrug-resistance phenotype of an SXT element. It was resistant to sulfamethoxazole (Su), trimethoprim (Tm), chloramphenicol (Cm) and streptomycin (Sm), in addition to other antibiotics such as ampicillin (Am), furazolidone (Fz), nalidixic acid (Na), and gentamicin (Gm). The SXT element is a Vibrio cholerae-derived integrative and conjugative element (ICE) that has also been referred to as a conjugative transposon. Our goal was to find a relationship between these resistant phenotypes and the presence of the SXT element in this unique strain. By using PCR, we detected the antibiotic resistance genes, the integrase gene and the attP attachment site of SXT element. Cloning and DNA sequencing results showed that both the SXT integrase gene and its attP site of V. fluvialis were similar but not identical to those of V. cholerae. The SXT integrase gene of V. fluvialis has a 99% identity to that of V. cholerae, and the attP site of SXT of V. fluvialis is variant and shorter (641 bp) than that of V. cholerae (785 bp). It was possible for the SXT of V. fluvialis to be transferred by conjugation to a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli. Here, we report the detection of a variant SXT element in species other than V. cholerae, with molecular characterization and analysis of its integrase gene and its attP site.

Synaptic intermediates in bacteriophage lambda site-specific recombination: integrase can align pairs of attachment sites.

Bacteriophage lambda uses site-specific recombination to move its DNA into and out of the Escherichia coli genome. The recombination event is mediated by the recombinase integrase (Int) together with several accessory proteins through short specific DNA sequences known as attachment sites. A gel mobility shift assay has been used to show that, in the absence of accessory proteins, Int can align and hold together two DNA molecules, each with an attachment site, to form stable non-covalent 'bimolecular complexes'. Each attachment site must have both core and arm binding sites for Int to participate in a bimolecular complex. These stable structures can be formed between pairs of attL and attP attachment sites, but cannot include attB or attR sites; they are inhibited by integration host factor (IHF) protein. The bimolecular complexes are shown to represent a synaptic intermediate in the reaction in which Int protein promotes the IHF-independent recombination of two attL sites. These complexes should enable a detailed analysis of synapsis for this pathway.

Structural and functional analysis of Tn4430: identification of an integrase-like protein involved in the co-integrate-resolution process.

The 4149-bp transposon Tn4430 from Bacillus thuringiensis is delineated by 38-bp inverted repeats and codes for a 113-kd protein that shares homology with the transposases (TnpA) of Tn3, Tn21 and Tn501. Through transpositional recombination, this protein generates the formation of co-integrates between both donor and target replicons, with duplication of Tn4430 molecules. These features are characteristic of transposons of the Tn3 family (class II elements). The second step of the transposition process, the co-integrate resolution, is mediated by a 32-kd protein. This protein (TnpI) displays regional similarities with site-specific recombinases of the integrase family, such as Int of bacteriophage lambda, Cre of bacteriophage P1 or TnpA and TnpB of the Tn554 transposon. Moreover, the 250-bp sequence upstream to the tnpI gene contains several structural features that are reminiscent of the attP attachment site of phage lambda. This unique association between the integrase-like TnpI recombinase and the TnpA transposase qualifies Tn4430 as a member of a new group within the class II mobile genetic elements.

Location of the Bacillus subtilis temperate bacteriophage phi 105 attP attachment site.

Chromosomal DNAs of lysogens of phi 105 and phi 105 DI:1t were digested with restriction enzymes EcoRI and HpaI and were probed with nick-translated mature phi 105 DNA. Altered bacteriophage-specific bands in the lysogens were detected, indicating that the phage integrates into the host chromosome at a single site, probably via a Campbell-type circular intermediate. The phage attachment site is centrally located in the phage genome and lies between the phage immunity region and the nonessential deletable region of phi 105.