Analysis of the rnc locus of Coxiella burnetii.
A 3.2 kb EcoRI genomic DNA fragment of Coxiella burnetii was isolated by virtue of its ability to suppress mucoidy in Escherichia coli. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed the presence of the genes homologous to rnc, era and recO of E. coli. Suppression of capsule synthesis, measured by beta-galactosidase expression in lon- cps-lac fusion strains of E. coli, is caused by gene-dosage effects of the plasmid-borne rnc genes of either C. burnetii or E. coli. The rnc gene of C. burnetii complemented rnc- E. coli hosts for lambda plaque morphology and stimulation of lambda N gene expression. We also demonstrated heterologous complementation of an E. coli strain defective for the expression of Era, an essential protein in E. coli, using the plasmid-borne C. burnetii era. Under the control of the bacteriophage lambda PL promoter, this 3.2 kb EcoRI DNA fragment directed the synthesis in E. coli of three proteins with approximate molecular masses of 35, 27 and 25 kDa. Antibodies against purified E. coli Era protein cross-reacted with the 35 kDa protein of C. burnetii on Western blots.
Zuber
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Toxinology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011.
Hoover
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Powell
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Court
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000254:growth & development; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009876:Operon; D010957:Plasmids; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C059417:N protein, Bacteriophage lambda; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C081006:RecO protein, E coli; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C068027:era protein, E coli; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D043244:Ribonuclease III; C468366:ribonuclease III, E coli; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins