Homologous genetic recombination occurs during the life cycle of virtually every organism Genetic studies especially in prokaryotes and fungi have defined the rules of recombination, led to the characterization of alternate pathways and to the development of molecular models The biochemistry of homologous genetic recombination has advanced most productively in bacteria and fungi due to the extensive genetic understanding of these organisms The identification of mutants defective in homologous recombination, purification and characterization of the gene products that participate in recombination has brought the ultimate goal of reconstituting a cell-k free system for Eschenchia coli, at least with naked DNA substrates, closer to reality.

Bacillus subtilis DNA was cloned by ligating restriction endonuclease-generated fragments to plasmid vectors. The plasmid pUB110 was the vehicle in the construction of eight recombinant plasmids, pNM1 through pNM8. Each bears one or more EcoRI fragment(s) of B. subtilis chromosomal DNA. Recovery of the plasmids from host cells demonstrated that recombinant plasmids that bear some homology to the B, subtilis chromosome may be maintained outside of the chromosome in recombination-proficient hosts. The mean size of cloned fragments was 0.78 megadaltons (Mdal). The recombinant plasmid pNM1 interferes with the mechanism that blocks chromosomal recombination in B. subtilis cells that carry the recE4 mutation. Low-level chromosomal recombination at several loci was demonstrated when chromosomal DNA was accompanied by pNM1 in the transformation of recE4 recipient cells. The recombinant plasmid does not appear to code for recE gene products nor does it produce novel proteins when assayed in minicells of B. subtilis. An alternative approach to cloning B. subtilis DNA was successfully accomplished with the vector plasmid pHV33. The vector functions in both B. subtilis and E. coli hosts. B. subtilis chromosomal DNA was digested with Bg1II, then ligated to the unique BamHI site of pHV33. Ligation products were introduced into E. coli by transformation. Plasmid DNAs were isolated from transformants, pooled into several lots, then used to transform auxotrophic B. subtilis recipient cells. The procedure resulted in the construction of two new recombinant plasmids, pNM1055 and pNM1326. B. subtilis cells with the aroD120 mutation restored their ability to synthesize aromatic amino acids when pNM1055 was introduced. The same effect was observed in E. coli recipient cells that had the equivalent mutation. E. coli cells that carried pNM1326 produced granular colonies characteristic of the extraordinary filamentous growth exhibited by individual cells. The pNM1326 plasmid coded for a 16,000 dalton polypeptide produced in abundant quantities in E. coli hosts. A deletion derivative of pNM1326 did not produce the polypeptide, nor was filamentous growth of host cells exhibited. A plasmid-borne fragment of B. subtilis DNA affects cells growth and division of E. coli hosts.

Antimicrobial peptides are active against bacteria, fungi and viruses as part of the innate immune system in animals and insects. Such peptides are currently produced by extracting them from the host organism or by solid phase peptide synthesis; both techniques are expensive and produce low yields. Recombinant DNA technology opens a window to produce these peptides inexpensively and in large quantities utilizing E. coli expression systems. Two antimicrobial peptides, indolicidin and PGQ, were the focus of this work. They are short amphipathic alpha helical antimicrobial peptides that target a broad range of microorganisms. Genes encoding multimers of indolicidin, PGQ and a hybrid of indolicidin:PGQ were placed into protein expression vectors pET32a+ and pET43.1a+, for peptide production in E. coli. A combination of multimerization and the use of a fusion protein were utilized to mask the toxicity of these peptides in E. coli. The multimerized peptide fusion construct was purified using Ni/NTA affinity chromatography. Methionine residues flanking each monomeric unit were utilized to enable cleavage of the multimerized protein and liberating a biologically active peptide. A Trx:indolicidin trimer fusion was produced in the greatest yield of all constructs investigated. Upon cyanogen bromide cleavage, a band corresponding to the theoretical molecular weight of an indolicidin monomer was observed with SDS-PAGE. Antimicrobial activity of monomeric recombinant indolicidin was tested resulting in zones of clearing. Overall the results indicate that multimerizing antimicrobial peptide genes can potentially produce a larger quantity of peptide per bacterial cell. These studies suggest that multimerization of antimicrobial peptide genes represents a means to control in vivo toxicity of the recombinant peptides and increase production relative to single gene fusions.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The correction of human genetic disorders by transfer of genetic material to cells is under intensive investigation in a number of 1aboratories. One possible way of trying to achieve the transfer of nucleic acid is by attaching DNA to a protein which has specific receptors on cells and which undergoes receptor-mediated endocytosis. In order to make use of the ligand protein-receptor approach for DNA transfer, iron-loaded human serum transferrin has been modified with the water soluble carbodiimides N-ethy1-N I -(3-dilllethy1aminopropyl) carbodiimide (CDI) and its quaterary analogue (ECDI) to give modified N-acy1urea transferrins. N-Acy1urea CDI (Fe 3+) transferrin and N-acy1urea CDI (Fe ) transferrin have been found to interact with and bind DNA in a reversible manner which i! dependent on ionic strength. [1251] N-Acy1urea CDI+(Fe3+) transferrin binds to transferrin receptors on Hea cells in culture and undergoes internalization through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Binding of the modified transferrin in the presence of calf thymus DNA to transferrin receptors also takes place. However, although internalization in the presence of DNA doe! appear to take place, the results of the internalization are not fully understood. Transfection studies with N-acy1urea CDI (Fe ) transferrin and plasmid pBR322 DNA as well as plasmid ptkNEO DNA complexes in the HeLa cell system are reported. The results of a number of transfection experiments suggests that N-acy1urea transferrins are capable of transfecting DNA (ptkNEO DNA), carrying genes for resistance to the antibiotic Geneticin (G41S) in the HeLa cell system. However, further development of the transfection system is necessary in order that consistantly reproducible results may be achievd. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1986.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Spine title: Chemical DNA gene synthesis planning assistant. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-86).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Plant Biology." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-174).