title: Tn4556 and luciferase: synergistic tools for visualizing transcription in Streptomyces.
abstract: Progress in understanding genetic regulatory controls in the Actinomycetes has been rate limited by the properties of in vivo transcriptional probes. We have developed a set of plasmid- and transposon-based promoter-probe vectors that employ the Vibrio harveyi luciferase-encoding luxAB cassette as a reporter of transcription. The primary advantages of luciferase (Lux) over other reporter gene products are: (i) unsurpassed sensitivity; (ii) utility during stationary-phase gene expression; and (iii) the ability to localize promoter activity spatially within developing colonies. We have used these vectors to screen for Streptomyces coelicolor promoters that exhibit developmental phenotypes or that are induced by various environmental stimuli. The plasmid-based probes have proved invaluable for identifying cis- and trans-acting elements that are required for stationary-phase expression of the S. coelicolor sapA gene. A collection of novel bld and whi insertion mutants has been obtained by use of the Lux-encoding transposon, Tn5353.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sohaskey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Schauer
mesh_terms: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D008156:Luciferases