Tryptophanase Synthesis Research Articles

Regulation of Indole Signalling during the Transition of E. coli from Exponential to Stationary Phase.

During the transition from exponential to stationary phase E. coli produces a substantial quantity of the small, aromatic signalling molecule indole. In LB medium the supernatant indole concentration reaches a maximum of 0.5–1 mM. At this concentration indole has been implicated in many processes inducing acid resistance and the modulation of virulence. It has recently been shown that cell-associated indole transiently reaches a very high concentration (approx. 60 mM) during stationary phase entry, presumably because indole is being produced more rapidly than it can leave the cell. It is proposed that this indole pulse inhibits growth and cell division, causing the culture to enter stationary phase before nutrients are completely exhausted, with benefits for survival in long-term stationary phase. This study asks how E. coli cells rapidly upregulate indole production during stationary phase entry and why the indole pulse has a duration of only 10–15 min. We find that at the start of the pulse tryptophanase synthesis is triggered by glucose depletion and that this is correlates with the up-regulation of indole synthesis. The magnitude and duration of the resulting indole pulse are dependent upon the availability of exogenous tryptophan. Indole production stops when all the available tryptophan is depleted and the cell-associated indole equilibrates with the supernatant.

Relief of catabolite repression in a cAMP-independent catabolite gene activator mutant of Escherichia coli

We isolated and characterized a new catabolite gene activator mutant ( crp ∗ ) of Escherichia coli that confers cAMP-independent expression and total relief of catabolite repression of β-galactosidase and tryptophanase synthesis. The two mutations responsible for this phenotype change the amino acids at codon 72 from Glu to Ala and at codon 144 from Ala to Thr in the corresponding CAP ∗ protein.

Mechanism of catabolite repression of tryptophanase synthesis in Escherichia coli.

Repression of tryptophanase (tryptophan indole-lyase) by glucose and its non-metabolizable analogue methyl alpha-glucoside has been studied employing a series of isogenic strains of Escherichia coli lacking cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and altered for two of the proteins of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS), Enzyme I and Enzyme IIAGlc. Basal activity of tryptophanase was depressed mildly by inclusion of glucose in the growth medium, but inducible tryptophanase synthesis was subject to strong glucose repression in the parental strain, which exhibited normal PTS enzyme activities. Methyl alpha-glucoside was without effect in this strain. Loss of Enzyme I decreased sensitivity to repression by glucose but enhanced sensitivity to repression by methyl alpha-glucoside. Loss of Enzyme IIAGlc activity largely abolished repression by methyl alpha-glucoside but had a less severe effect on glucose repression. The repressive effects of both sugars were fully reversed by inclusion of cyclic AMP in the growth medium. Tryptophan uptake under the same conditions was inhibited weakly by glucose and more strongly by methyl alpha-glucoside in the parental strain. Inhibition by both sugars was alleviated by partial loss of Enzyme I. Inhibition by methyl alpha-glucoside appeared to be largely due to energy competition and was not responsible for repression of tryptophanase synthesis. Measurement of net production of cyclic AMP as well as intracellular concentrations of cyclic AMP revealed a good correlation with intensity of repression. The results suggest that while basal tryptophanase synthesis is relatively insensitive to catabolite repression, inducible synthesis is subject to strong repression by two distinct mechanisms, one dependent on enzyme IIAGlc of the PTS and the other independent of this protein. Both mechanisms are attributable to depressed rates of cyclic AMP synthesis. No evidence for a cyclic-AMP-independent mechanism of catabolite repression was obtained.

Reversal by cyclic AMP of the urea-induced inhibition of synthesis of a catabolite-repressible enzyme in Vibrio cholerae.

Low concentrations of urea, which did not inhibit the synthesis of the catabolite nonrepressible enzyme alkaline phosphatase in Vibrio cholerae, or markedly affect its overall growth, specifically inhibited the expression of the tryptophanase operon in a temperature-dependent manner. However, in contrast to what is found in Escherichia coli, this urea-induced inhibition of tryptophanase synthesis in V. cholerae could be almost completely relieved by exogenously added cyclic AMP. The possible mechanism of the process is discussed.

Evidence for transcription antitermination control of tryptophanase operon expression in Escherichia coli K-12.

Tryptophanase, encoded by the gene tnaA, is a catabolic enzyme distinct from the enzymes of tryptophan biosynthesis. Tryptophanase synthesis is induced by tryptophan and is subject to catabolite repression. We studied the mechanism of tna operon induction. Mutants with altered rho factor were partially constitutive for tna expression, implicating rho-dependent transcription termination in the control of tna expression. Measurements of mRNA synthesis from the transcribed leader region preceeding the tna operon suggested that the tna promoter was constitutive and that in the absence of inducer, transcription terminated in the leader region. Upon induction, this transcription termination was relieved. Cis-acting constitutive mutants had genetic alterations in the tna leader region. These lesions defined a site that is homologous to the bacteriophage lambda boxA sequence, which is thought to play a role in antitermination control of lambda lytic gene expression. We propose that tna expression is subject to transcription antitermination control. We hypothesize that a tryptophan-activated antiterminator protein mediates induction by suppressing the rho-dependent termination sites in the leader region, thus allowing transcription to proceed into the tna operon structural gene region.

Modulation of gene expression in Escherichia coli infected with single-stranded bacteriophage phi X174.

Synthesis of tryptophanase, D-serine deaminase and alkaline phosphatase in Escherichia coli C was repressed as the result of infection with the single-stranded DNA bacteriophage phi X174. However, the degree of repression differed, the more catabolite-sensitive the operon was, the more severe was the repression. For the catabolite-sensitive enzymes it was found that cyclic adenosine 3'5' monophosphate (cyclic AMP or cAMP) was unable to release or reduce the phage-induced inhibition. Experiments with amber mutants of phi X174 revealed that A, product of cistron A, was responsible for the inhibition. The cistron A product probably acted at the level of transcription. The possible role of A in the observed modulation of gene expression is discussed.

Tryptophanase synthesis in Escherichia coli: the role of indole replacement in supplying tryptophan and the nature of the constitutive mutation tnaR3.

The properties of the tryptophanase constitutive mutation tnaR3 have been investigated. It has previously been reported that mutants carrying tnaR3 grow poorly on medium that selects for constitutive expression of tryptophanase. Our results now show that this poor growth can be explained by the inability of tryptophanase to catalyse the synthesis of L-tryptophan from indole, pyruvate and ammonia at a rate sufficient to allow normal growth. Improved media for the characterization of tryptophanase constitutive mutants are described. The mutation tnaR3 rendered tryptophanase synthesis constitutive (at a different rate that at 37 degrees C is 30% of the fully induced wild-type) and not further inducible. Diploid studies showed that tnaR3 is cis-dominant, but no evidence was found for any effect in trans. In addition to rendering tryptophanase synthesis constitutive, tnaR3 affects the response of tryptophanase synthesis to different growth temperatures.

Effect of cyclic adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate on the simultaneous synthesis of β-galactosidase and tryptophanase inEscherichia coli

When inducing simultaneously beta-galactosidase and tryptophanase in a batch culture either the synthesis of tryptophanase or of both enzymes is decreased due to an insufficient cAMP concentration. The addition of this nucleotide can overcome this decrease. In a continuous culture both enzymes are synthesized at the maximum rate, as the amount of cAMP produced during carbon limitation of growth is probably sufficient for the simultaneous synthesis of both enzymes. In the beta-galactosidase hyperproduction mutant cultivated continuously the level of beta-galactosidase markedly decreases when tryptophanase is simultaneously induced. Also this decrease is caused by cAMP insufficiency and can be overcome by increasing its concentration. cAMP is thus an important regulatory factor of both enzymes and becomes a limiting factor in their simultaneous synthesis; a competition for this regulatory compound apparently occurs and probably also a different mutual affinity of the regulatory complex with the promoter site of the enzyme operons is involved.

Trypotophanase from a marine bacterium, Vibrio K-7 synthesis, purification and some chemical catalytic properties.

The conditions for synthesis, purification, and properties of tryptophanase by a marine organism (Vibrio K-7) were studied. Tryptophanase was induced by tryptophan and its analogs, and partially repressed by 0.5% glucose or glycerol. NaCl (0.4 M) was required for optimal growth and tryptophanase activity in whole cells. The enzyme was purified to 92% homogeneity by heat treatment, hydroxyapatite chromatography and fractionation with ammonium sulfate. This tryptophanase has been found to have kinetic properties similar to the tryptophanase from other microorganisms. It carries out both alpha, beta-elimination reactions (using tryptophan, serine, cysteine and S-methylcysteine as substrates) and beta-replacement reactions (forming tryptophan from indole and serine, cysteine or S-methyl-cysteine). The enzyme has a sedimentation coefficient of 9.2S and requires pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as a cofactor. The optimal pH for the tryptophanase reaction is pH 8.0.

Insulin action on Escherichia coli Regulation of the adenylate cyclase and phosphotransferase enzymes

Insulin action on Escherichia coli was studied using wild type E. coli B/r and K12 strains and a number of phospho enolpyruvate phosphotranferase mutants. In vivo, the effects of insulin on the differential rate of tryptophanase synthesis, The rate of α-methyglucoside uptake and the rate of growth on glucose were determined in E. coli B/r. in vitro, the effect of insulin on the adenylate cyclase and the phosphotransferase activities was determined using toluenized cell preparations of E. coli B/r, E. coli K12 and phosphotransferase mutant strains. The specificity of insulin action on E. coli was determined using glucagon, vasopressin and somatropin as well as insulin antisera. Results show the specific action of insulin n E. coli, inhibiting tryptophanase induction and adenylate cyclase activity, while stimulating growth on glucose and uptake and phosphorylation of α-methylglucosode

Synthesis of tryptophanase in Escherichia coli: Isolation and characterization of a structural-gene mutant and two regulatory mutants

A mutant of E. coli has been isolated that is temperature-sensitive in respect of tryptophanase. When incubated at 60 degrees C, cell-free extracts of the mutant suffer inactivation of enzyme activity much more rapidly than similar extracts of the wild type. After lysogeny with a specialized transducing phage carrying the wild-type tryptophanase gene, the mutant is able to synthesize tryptophanase that is wild-type in its response to treatment at 60 degrees C. It is concluded that the mutation lies in the structural gene for the enzyme. Two further mutants have been isolated that synthesize tryptophanase constitutively. One mutation renders synthesis of the enzyme indifferent to the presence of inducer; the other mutation allows synthesis of the enzyme in the absence of inducer at about 35% of the fully induced wild-type rate. Neither mutation alleviates catabolite repression. Genetic mapping shows that the constitutive mutations lie very close to the structural-gene mutation, on the side of the structural gene distant from bglR.

Effect of guanosine 5?-diphosphate 3?-diphosphate and related nucleoside polyphosphates on induction of tryptophanase and ?-galactosidase in permeabilized cells of Escherichia coli

Exogenous addition of guanosine and adenosine 5'-(mono, di and tri) phosphate 3'-diphosphates (pppGpp, ppGpp, pGpp, pppApp, ppApp and pApp) stimulated the synthesis of tryptophanase and beta-galactosidase in permeabilized cells of Escherichia coli. From the results obtained with ppGpp and pppApp, this effect appeared to be at a transcriptional level and depended greatly on the growth condition; the largest effect was observed in cells under shiftdown or grown on poor enrgy source. ppGpp and pppApp, unlike cyclic AMP, did not act to overcome the inhibition of enzyme induction by glucose, but in combination with cyclic AMP caused a synergistic stimulation effect. In the shiftdown cells, ppGpp and pppApp gave 30% or more stimulation effect on tryptophanase induction while cyclic AMP did not stimulate induction. There was therefore a pronounced difference between cyclic AMP and ppGpp or pppApp in stimulatory function.

Simultaneous and successive induction of synthesis of β-Galactosidase and tryptophanase inEscherichia coli K 12 in the chemostat

beta-Galactosidase and tryptophanase were induced either simultaneously or successively during continuous cultivation of the inducible strain Escherichia coli K 12 in the chemostat. Growth was limited by glycerol and the dilution rate was 0.1 h-1. During both the simultaneous and successive induction specific rates of synthesis, as well as maximum enzyme levels, were identical with those obtained after independent induction of individual enzymes. As compared with batch cultivation, beta-galactosidase reached the same specific rate of synthesis in the chemostat, whereas the specific rate of synthesis of tryptophanase in the chemostat was up to five times higher.

Unstable mutations that relieve catabolite repression of tryptophanase synthesis by Escherichia coli

From strains of Escherichia coli that carry deletions of the trp region, five different mutants were isolated that were capable of synthesizing tryptophanase at unusually high rates in conditions of severe catabolite repression. Notwithstanding the comparative insensitivity to catabolite repression, the rates of tryptophanase synthesis in the mutants were greatly diminished by the introduction of a defective gene for adenyl cyclase. Each of the mutants segregated variants of the parental type. The results of genetic analysis appear to be consistent with the mutants arose by duplication of the tryptophanase gene.

Simultaneous and gradual induction of beta-galactosidase and tryptophanase synthesis in an Escherichia coli batch culture.

beta-Galactosidase and tryptophanase can be induced in Escherichia coli simultaneously or gradually during a batch cultivation. In the strain Escherichia coli K 12 and ML 30, in which the synthesis of the two enzymes was induced simultaneously, only the synthesis of tryptophanase partially decreased, whereas the synthesis of beta-galactosidase was not influenced. In the strains B 28 and ATCC 9637 the synthesis of both enzymes was partially decreased. On a gradual induction of these enzymes in the strain Escherichia coli K 12 only the synthesis of tryptophanase decreased. Thus, the results obtained here resemble those observed during the simultaneous induction. In addition, it was found that it is not important which of the two enzymes is induced as the first one.

Mutations in Escherichia coli that Relieve Catabolite Repression of Tryptophanase Synthesis. Mutations Distant from the Tryptophanase Gene

Two mutants are described in which the synthesis of tryptophanase is unusually insensitive to catabolite repression. Neither mutation is linked by transduction to the tryptophane structural gene, neither mutation renders the synthesis of beta-galactosidase insensitive to catabolite repression, and the mutations do not permit tryptophanase to be synthesized in strains deficient in adenyl cyclase. During growth in glucose-minimal medium the mutants maintained a similar intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP to their wild-type parent; but since in the wild type the concentration of cyclic AMP was the same in glycerol-minimal medium as in glucose-minimal medium, it is doubtful whether catabolite repression is mediated by measurable changes in the concentration of this nucleotide.

Mutations in Escherichia coli that relieve catabolite repression of tryptophanase synthesis. Tryptophanase promoter-like mutations.

From a strain lacking adenyl cyclase and the catabolite-sensitive gene activator protein, two mutants were isolated that can synthesize tryptophanase. Each mutation is extremely closely linked to the tryptophanase structural gene. The mutations differ from one another in the rate of synthesis of tryptophanase that they permit in the genetic background in which they were isolated; they differ from one another and also from the wild type in the maximum rate of synthesis of tryptophanase that they permit in a genetic background with intact adenyl cyclase and catabolite-sensitive gene activator protein. Both mutations appear to lie in the tryptophanase promoter.

Cell septation and the synthesis of catabolite repressible enzymes in Escherichia coli

Summary In casamino acids containing minimal medium-glycerol there is a slow increase of intracellular cyclic AMP level during growth. Concomitantly, β-galactosidase and tryptophanase synthesis are initiated. If, in the same medium, cell septation is blocked, either by using non permissive conditions with conditional thermosensitive mutants or by addition of Penicillin G, one observes an early escape of tryptophanase and β-galactosidase from catabolite repression. This effect is not related to an alteration of intracellular cyclic AMP level upon cessation of cell division. However, it seems to be specific to catabolite repressible enzymes.

Effect of cyclic guanosine 3,5-monophosphate on the synthesis of enzymes sensitive to caatabolite repression in intact cells of Escherichia coli.

Cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate inhibits the synthesis of beta-galactosidase and tryptophanase in cultures of Escherichia coli growing in minimal media with glucose or glycerol as the carbon source. Cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate acts at the transcriptional level in the lac operon, it exerts its action at the promoter site of the operon, and requires the presence of functional cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate receptor protein.

Effect of glucose on the fruiting body formation and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in Coprinus macrorhizus.

The formation of fruiting bodies in the monokaryotic fis(c) strain and a dikaryon of Coprinus macrorhizus was inhibited by growth in high-glucose media. In high-glucose media the characteristic burst of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation during fruiting-body formation was absent. Enzymatic activity assays revealed that mycelia grown in high-glucose media contained relatively lower amounts of adenylate cyclase and cAMP-phosphodiesterase than mycelia grown in low-glucose media. The synthesis of inducible d-serine deaminase and tryptophanase was repressed in high-glucose media. A mutant (gluR) in which the glucose repression of fruiting-body formation is affected was isolated by selection in high-glucose media. The mutation caused the cAMP levels to be no longer affected by glucose and affected ability to synthesize the inducible d-serine deaminase and tryptophanase. The gluR mutant was partially dominant in dikaryons. It is suggested that cAMP may play important roles in inducing fruiting bodies and in controlling inducible enzyme synthesis in C. macrorhizus.