Evolution of Regulatory Mechanisms in Bacteria

Abstract

Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP 1 is a nutritionally versatile bacterium that exhibits extraordinary competence for natural transformation. This genetic trait greatly facilitates genetic analysis and in the past has been coupled to random PCR-mutagenesis in order to identify how amino acid residues influence function in enzymes and transcriptional activators associated with catabolic pathways. We now have extended this capability to genes from other organisms, in this case Pseudomonas putida, by creating a docking site that allows PCR-amplified P. putida DNA to be integrated into the Acinetobacter chromosome under control of a promoter causing constitutive expression of genes contained in the integrated DNA. Phenotypic expression of the P. putida DNA allows identification of mutants in which the function of the P. putida gene has been altered. This development opens many opportunities for determination of how structure influences function in proteins from a full range of organisms.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 25, 2003
Accession Number
ADA417800

Entities

People

  • L. N. Ornston

Organizations

  • Yale University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Bacteria
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chain Reactions
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chromosomes
  • Drug Resistance
  • Environment
  • Information Operations
  • Microbiology
  • Microorganisms
  • Military Research
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Pseudomonas Infections
  • Regulators
  • Scientists
  • Technology Transfer

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Microbial Pathology
  • Molecular Genetics

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology