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DNA topology as a factor affecting transcription in bacteria
Hladíková, Kristýna ; Krásný, Libor (advisor) ; Nešvera, Jan (referee)
DNA topology plays a key role in regulation of gene expression by affecting interactions between DNA and RNA polymerase and other regulatory proteins. In this work, I review the process of transcription and selected mechanisms of its regulation, focusing on the effects of DNA topology. A key characteristic of DNA topology is the level of supercoiling. I describe how the DNA supercoiling influences initiation of transcription, and how it is affected by topoisomerases and nucleoid-associating proteins. I then discuss selected examples of regulation of gene expression by topology. Finally, I discuss the alternative σN factor from Bacillus subtilis, which allows more efficient transcription initiation from linear (i.e. relaxed) rather than supercoiled DNA templates. In this property, σN diametrically differs from other σ factors. Key words: DNA, topology, RNA polymerase, transcription, promoter, sigma factor
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Construction and characterization of recombinant systems for stress response analysis in pollutant-degrading rhodococci
Křenková, Lucie ; Štěpánek, Václav (advisor) ; Marešová, Helena (referee)
Genus Rhodococcus is represented by Gram-positive, mycolate-containing non- sporulating actinobacteria that excel in their ability to withstand effects of various physical and chemical stressors. Their enormous metabolic capacity allows them to efficiently degrade a wide range of toxic compounds. To benefit from these capabilities, it is essential to know the molecular basis of their response to the stresses, the regulation of which is primarily controlled by σ factors of RNA polymerase. These σ factors are still poorly described in rhodococci. This thesis aims to explore the potential of Rhodococcus erythropolis CCM2595 as a model organism for studying stress responses in rhodococci. R. erythropolis ΔsigH mutant and single-plasmid strains have been constructed which allow studying promoter activities of genes responding to osmotic, heat, and oxidative stress by measurement of GFP fluorescence intensity, in the cells of R. erythropolis. Further, homologous two- plasmid strains, which support induced overproduction of s factors, were also constructed. Comparison with analogous Corynebacterium glutamicum host-based systems showed that the use of rhodococci themselves as hosts for plasmid systems is still very limited, probably due to the plasmid instability in rhodococcal cells. Thus, for routine...
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Analysis of promoters of genes encoding sigma factors in pathogenic Corynebacteria using Corynebacterium glutamicum model
Kučera, Tomáš ; Pátek, Miroslav (advisor) ; Mikušová, Gabriela (referee)
The aim of this thesis was to idetify potential promoters of genes encoding sigma factors in pathogenic corynebacteria using the model bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum and to assess the effect of amino acid sequences of sigma proteins on promoter recognition. Sigma factors are essential for transcription and regulation of gene expression and play a key role in controlling promoter activity. Understanding the regulation of genes encoding sigma factors is esential because they contribute to virulence and pathogenicity and regulate the host immune response. In this study, the promoter regions of genes encoding sigma factors in Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium diphtheriae were analyzed. First, potential promoter sequences in the genomes of C. ulcerans and C. diphtheriae were identified based on knowledge of consensus sequences of confirmed promoters in the model organism. The already tested two-plasmid system established in C. glutamicum was used to evaluate the activity of the proposed promoter regions. A potentional promoter region was inserted into the pEPR1 vector upstream of the gfpuv reporter gene, and sigma factor genes were inserted downstream of the inducible promoter in the pEC-XT99A vector. Using fluorescence, the activity of the reporter gene in response to induced sigma...
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Overlaps of sigma factors regulons of RNA polymerase in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Zíková, Jaroslava ; Pátek, Miroslav (advisor) ; Sudzinová, Petra (referee)
Sigma factor (σ) is a part of the RNA polymerase enzyme complex. This complex (referred to as a holoenzyme) ensures the recognition of the consensus promoter sequences of the individual genes and the initiation of transcription. Seven sigma factors were found in Corynebacterium glutamicum. The genome of this bacterium encodes one primary factor σA and another six alternative sigma factors: σB , σC , σD , σE , σH a σM . These alternative sigma factors are expressed in response to changes in the internal and external environment and ensure the adaption of the bacterium to growth conditions. They are also one of many ways to regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. In specific cases, the regulation of gene expression is caused by alternative sigma factors that recognize corresponding dual (recognized alternatively by two sigma factors) or overlapping promoters. Thus, the genes controlled by these promoters are classified into overlapping regulons. Key words: Corynebacterium glutamicum, sigma factor, RNA polymerase, transcription, promoter, regulons, RNA-seq, in vitro transcription, in vivo two-plasmid system
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Intracellular and intercellular regulation of gene expression in Gram-positive bacteria.
Pospíšil, Jiří ; Krásný, Libor (advisor) ; Lichá, Irena (referee) ; Malínský, Jan (referee)
Bacteria, the most dominant organisms on Earth, are an everyday presence in our lives. Symbiotic bacteria, which are present in the digestive tract of animals, usually have a beneficial effect on the body. On the opposite side of the spectrum are pathogenic species that cause more or less serious diseases around the world. In order to fight pathogens effectively, it is necessary to learn as much as possible about the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria respond to their environment, and also about the types of communication within bacterial populations that allow them to react to environmental changes as "multicellular" organisms. This Thesis consists of two main parts. In the first part, selected aspects of bacterial gene expression are characterized, using Bacillus subtilis and Mycobacterium smegmatis as model organisms. DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the enzyme that is responsible for transcription of DNA into RNA, and thus plays a key role in gene expression. This Thesis deals with the structure of bacterial RNAP and important auxiliary factors (proteins and RNA) that associate with this enzyme and modulate its function. In the second part, the focus is on cell-to-cell communication, revealing which factors/mechanisms, including gene expression, affect this process in B. subtilis....
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Hybrid sigma factors of RNA polymerase in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Blumenstein, Jan ; Štěpánek, Václav (advisor) ; Krásný, Libor (referee)
Corynebacterium glutamicum is a Gram-positive non-sporulating soil bacterium which is used in biotechnology as a producer of amino acids, nucleotides, biofuels and alcohols. The aim of this thesis was to create a hybrid σ factor of RNA polymerase which would be able to recognize a matching hybrid promoter without effect on expression of the host genes. Based on the σD and σH amino acid sequence, two types of hybrid factors, σDH and σHD , were designed by the sequence combination of sigD and sigH. As an alternative approach, based on the in silico homology modeling, mutations of wild-type σH in the region recognizing the -35 promoter element of the σH -dependent promoter were introduced. Hybrid promoters were constructed by combining the -35 and -10 promoter regions that were derived from the σD - and σH - dependent promoters. Promoter activity was determined by using gfpuv reporter gene under the control of hybrid promoter. The expression of gfpuv in strains with hybrid sigma factors σDH / σHD and hybrid promoters was rather low compared to strains that carried wild-type σ factor and the respective promoter. The aim of the thesis was achieved by using one of the mutant σH factor (σmutH_6A ) with alterations in the region recognizing the -35 element of the σH -dependent promoter. This mutant σ...
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Characteristics of expression vectors for Corynebacterium glutamicum and their use for studies of sigma factors of RNA polymerase
Dvořáková, Pavla ; Pátek, Miroslav (advisor) ; Konopásek, Ivo (referee)
The aim of the thesis was to characterize chosen expression vectors used in biotechnologically important bacterial species, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and to test their use in studies of promoter activity control by sigma factors of RNA polymerase. Different properties of these vectors (level of expression of the cloned gene, leaky expression without inducer, dependence of expression level on inducer concentration and cell population homogeneity) were found by determination of expression level of the model gfpuv gene by fluorescence intensity assay of the produced protein and by gfpuv-expressing C. glutamicum cell population analysis using flow cytometry. The vector pEC-XT99A was chosen for testing the bi-plasmid system for assignment of a sigma factor to the chosen promoter. Although the level of expression provided by pEC-XT99A was not high, the vector showed no leaky expression, expression from the vector was comparable for a wide range of IPTG concentrations and the cell population was homogenous concerning the gene expression. Using pEC-XT99A from which individual stress sig genes were expressed, the σD factor was clearly assigned to the up-to-now unknown Pcg0420 promoter. Another vector for isolation and purification of C. glutamicum proteins was used to express the C. glutamicum sigM gene and to...
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Characterization of Ms1, a newly identified small RNA from Mycobacterium smegmatis
Pospíšil, Jiří ; Krásný, Libor (advisor) ; Lichá, Irena (referee)
Introduction: In recent years, there has been growing interest in regulation of gene expression by small non-coding RNA (sRNA). The first sRNA discovered in 1960s was 6S RNA from E. coli (length ~184 nt). It took ~ 30 years to obtain meaningful insights into its function. 6S RNA binds during stationary phase to RNA polymerase (RNAP) containing sigma factor 70 (primary sigma factor), thereby preventing transcription from σ70 - dependent promoters. In our laboratory we discovered a small RNA (length ~300 nt) in stationary phase of growht in Mycobacterium smegmatis. This sRNA was named Ms 1. The function of Ms 1 is uknown and preliminary experiments indicated that Ms 1may bind to RNAP that lacks σ factor (σA ). Goals: The aim of this Diploma project is to contribute to the characterization of Ms 1. Approaches: First, by molecular cloning, affinity chromatography and in vitro transcription I prepared the tools for subsequent experiments in vitro: RNAP, σA , Ms 1 and its mutated variants. Next, these tools were used for binding experiments on native gels and for transcription experiments. Results: RNAP, σA , Ms 1 and its variants were prepared. In vitro binding assays showed that wt Ms 1 but not a mutated variant of Ms 1 binds to RNAP. Using this assays were identified areas of Ms 1 that are important...
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