title: Yeast DNA sequences initiating gene expression in Escherichia coli.
abstract: DNA transfer between pro- and eukaryotes occurs either during natural horizontal gene transfer or as a result of the employment of gene technology. We analysed the capacity of DNA sequences from a eukaryotic donor organism (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to serve as promoter region in a prokaryotic recipient (Escherichia coli) by creating fusions between promoterless luxAB genes from Vibrio harveyi and random DNA sequences from S. cerevisiae and measuring the luminescence of transformed E. coli. Fifty-four out of 100 randomly analysed S. cerevisiae DNA sequences caused considerable gene expression in E. coli. Determination of transcription start sites within six selected yeast sequences in E. coli confirmed the existence of bacterial -10 and -35 consensus sequences at appropriate distances upstream from transcription initiation sites. Our results demonstrate that the probability of transcription of transferred eukaryotic DNA in bacteria is extremely high and does not require the insertion of the transferred DNA behind a promoter of the recipient genome.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, Berlin 13353, Germany. Lewina@RKI.de
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: Thi Tuyen
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Freytag
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Appel
mesh_terms: D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D008156:Luciferases