Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1981 Jan;145(1):422–428. doi: 10.1128/jb.145.1.422-428.1981

Molecular cloning and expression of Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamase gene in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

O Gray, S Chang
PMCID: PMC217289  PMID: 6257638

Abstract

The chromosomal beta-lactamase (penicillinase, penP) gene from Bacillus licheniformis 749/C has been cloned in Escherichia coli. The locations of the target sites for various restriction enzymes on the 4.2-kilobase EcoRI fragment were determined. By matching the restriction mapping data with the potential nucleotide sequences of the penP gene deduced from known protein sequence, we established the exact position of the penP gene on the fragment. A bifunctional plasmid vector carrying the penP gene, plasmid pOG2165, was constructed which directs the synthesis of the heterologous beta-lactamase in both E. coli and Bacillus subtilis hosts. The protein synthesized in E. coli and B. subtilis is similar in size to the processed beta-lactamase made in B. licheniformis. Furthermore, the beta-lactamase made in B. subtilis is efficiently secreted by the host into the culture medium, indicating that B. subtilis is capable of carrying out the post-translational proteolytic cleavage(s) to convert the membrane-bound precursor enzyme into the soluble extracellular form.

Full text

PDF
422

Images in this article

423Image
on p.423
424Image
on p.424
426Image
on p.426

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ambler R. P., Meadway R. J. Chemical structure of bacterial penicillinases. Nature. 1969 Apr 5;222(5188):24–26. doi: 10.1038/222024a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ambler R. P., Scott G. K. Partial amino acid sequence of penicillinase coded by Escherichia coli plasmid R6K. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1978 Aug;75(8):3732–3736. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.8.3732. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Blobel G., Dobberstein B. Transfer of proteins across membranes. II. Reconstitution of functional rough microsomes from heterologous components. J Cell Biol. 1975 Dec;67(3):852–862. doi: 10.1083/jcb.67.3.852. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brammar W. J., Muir S., McMorris A. Molecular cloning of the gene for the beta-lactamase of Bacillus licheniformis and its expression in Escherichia coli. Mol Gen Genet. 1980 Apr;178(1):217–224. doi: 10.1007/BF00267232. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chang A. C., Cohen S. N. Genome construction between bacterial species in vitro: replication and expression of Staphylococcus plasmid genes in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 Apr;71(4):1030–1034. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.4.1030. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chang S., Cohen S. N. High frequency transformation of Bacillus subtilis protoplasts by plasmid DNA. Mol Gen Genet. 1979 Jan 5;168(1):111–115. doi: 10.1007/BF00267940. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Chen C. W., Thomas C. A., Jr Recovery of DNA segments from agarose gels. Anal Biochem. 1980 Jan 15;101(2):339–341. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(80)90197-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cohen S. N., Chang A. C., Hsu L. Nonchromosomal antibiotic resistance in bacteria: genetic transformation of Escherichia coli by R-factor DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Aug;69(8):2110–2114. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.8.2110. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Cohen S. N., Chang A. C. Recircularization and autonomous replication of a sheared R-factor DNA segment in Escherichia coli transformants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1973 May;70(5):1293–1297. doi: 10.1073/pnas.70.5.1293. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. DiRienzo J. M., Nakamura K., Inouye M. The outer membrane proteins of Gram-negative bacteria: biosynthesis, assembly, and functions. Annu Rev Biochem. 1978;47:481–532. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.47.070178.002405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dougan G., Sherratt D. The transposon Tn1 as a probe for studying ColE1 structure and function. Mol Gen Genet. 1977 Mar 7;151(2):151–160. doi: 10.1007/BF00338689. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Dubnau D. A., Pollock M. R. The genetics of Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase: a preliminary analysis from studies on mutation and inter-strain and intra-strain transformations. J Gen Microbiol. 1965 Oct;41(1):7–21. doi: 10.1099/00221287-41-1-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gelfand D. H., Shepard H. M., O'Farrell P. H., Polisky B. Isolation and characterization of ColE1-derived plasmid copy-number mutant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1978 Dec;75(12):5869–5873. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.12.5869. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gryczan T. J., Contente S., Dubnau D. Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus plasmids introduced by transformation into Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol. 1978 Apr;134(1):318–329. doi: 10.1128/jb.134.1.318-329.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Inouye M., Halegoua S. Secretion and membrane localization of proteins in Escherichia coli. CRC Crit Rev Biochem. 1980;7(4):339–371. doi: 10.3109/10409238009105465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ivarie R. D., Jones P. P. A rapid sensitive assay for specific protein synthesis in cells and in cell-free translations: use of Staphylococcus aureus as an adsorbent for immune complexes. Anal Biochem. 1979 Aug;97(1):24–35. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(79)90322-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kelly L. E., Brammar W. J. The polycistronic nature of the penicillinase structural and regulatory genes in Bacillus licheniformis. J Mol Biol. 1973 Oct 15;80(1):149–154. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(73)90238-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kunst F., Pascal M., Lepesant-Kejzlarova J., Lepesant J. A., Billault A., Dedonder R. Pleiotropic mutations affecting sporulation conditions and the syntheses of extracellular enzymes in Bacillus subtilis 168. Biochimie. 1974;56(11-12):1481–1489. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9084(75)80270-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Kupersztoch Y. M., Helinski D. R. A catenated DNA molecule as an intermediate in the replication of the resistance transfer factor R6K in Escherichia coli. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1973 Oct 15;54(4):1451–1459. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(73)91149-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. LENNOX E. S. Transduction of linked genetic characters of the host by bacteriophage P1. Virology. 1955 Jul;1(2):190–206. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(55)90016-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Murray N. E., Bruce S. A., Murray K. Molecular cloning of the DNA ligase gene from bacteriophage T4. II. Amplification and preparation of the gene product. J Mol Biol. 1979 Aug 15;132(3):493–505. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(79)90271-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. NOVICK R. P. ANALYSIS BY TRANSDUCTION OF MUTATIONS AFFECTING PENICILLINASE FORMATION IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS. J Gen Microbiol. 1963 Oct;33:121–136. doi: 10.1099/00221287-33-1-121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. O'Callaghan C. H., Morris A., Kirby S. M., Shingler A. H. Novel method for detection of beta-lactamases by using a chromogenic cephalosporin substrate. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1972 Apr;1(4):283–288. doi: 10.1128/aac.1.4.283. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. O'Farrell P. H. High resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis of proteins. J Biol Chem. 1975 May 25;250(10):4007–4021. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Priest F. G. Extracellular enzyme synthesis in the genus Bacillus. Bacteriol Rev. 1977 Sep;41(3):711–753. doi: 10.1128/br.41.3.711-753.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Ramaley R. F. Molecular biology of extracellular enzymes. Adv Appl Microbiol. 1979;25:37–55. doi: 10.1016/s0065-2164(08)70145-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sargent M. G., Ghosh B. K., Lampen J. O. Localization of cell-bound penicillinase in Bacillus licheniformis. J Bacteriol. 1968 Oct;96(4):1329–1338. doi: 10.1128/jb.96.4.1329-1338.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sargent M. G., Lampen J. O. A mechanism for penicillinasesecretion in Bacillus licheniformis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1970 Apr;65(4):962–969. doi: 10.1073/pnas.65.4.962. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Sarvas M., Hirth K. P., Fuchs E., Simons K. A precursor form of the penicillinase from Bacillus licheniformis. FEBS Lett. 1978 Nov 1;95(1):76–80. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(78)80055-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Sharp P. A., Sugden B., Sambrook J. Detection of two restriction endonuclease activities in Haemophilus parainfluenzae using analytical agarose--ethidium bromide electrophoresis. Biochemistry. 1973 Jul 31;12(16):3055–3063. doi: 10.1021/bi00740a018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Sherratt D. J., Collins J. F. Analysis by transformation of the penicillinase system in Bacillus licheniformis. J Gen Microbiol. 1973 May;76(1):217–230. doi: 10.1099/00221287-76-1-217. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Simons K., Sarvas M., Garoff H., Helenius A. Membrane-bound and secreted forms of penicillinase from Bacillus licheniformis. J Mol Biol. 1978 Dec 25;126(4):673–690. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(78)90015-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Southern E. M. Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. J Mol Biol. 1975 Nov 5;98(3):503–517. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(75)80083-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Steiner D. F., Quinn P. S., Chan S. J., Marsh J., Tager H. S. Processing mechanisms in the biosynthesis of proteins. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1980;343:1–16. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb47238.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Steinmetz M., Kunst F., Dedonder R. Mapping of mutations affecting synthesis of exocellular enzymes in Bacillus subtilis. Identity of the sacUh, amyB and pap mutations. Mol Gen Genet. 1976 Nov 17;148(3):281–285. doi: 10.1007/BF00332902. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Sutcliffe J. G. Nucleotide sequence of the ampicillin resistance gene of Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1978 Aug;75(8):3737–3741. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.8.3737. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. VOGEL H. J., BONNER D. M. Acetylornithinase of Escherichia coli: partial purification and some properties. J Biol Chem. 1956 Jan;218(1):97–106. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES