Summary
Three related strains of the genus Bacillus, viz. B. licheniformis, B. subtilis and Bacillus Q were all found to contain a minor species of 5 S RNA in an amount indicating that it is transcribed from only one of the multiple 5 S RNA cistrons known to be present in these strains. The major and minor types of 5 S RNA from each of the three strains could be separated from each other by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of urea. The complete nucleotide sequences of the minor B. subtilis and Bacillus Q 5 S RNAs have been determined. Comparison of these sequences to the previously determined sequence of the minor 5 S RNA from B. licheniformis (Raué et al., 1976) showed the three minor types of 5 S RNA to be identical except for the residues at positions 79, 85 and 95. Moreover, seven out of the eight sequence differences between the major and the minor 5 S RNA are the same in all three strains. Thus, the single cistron coding for minor 5 S RNA has been strongly conserved in all three strains, which may indicate a biological significance for the minor 5 S RNA species.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aubert, M., Scott, J.F., Reynier, M., Monier, R.: Rearrangement of the conformation of Escherichia coli 5 S RNA. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 61, 292–299 (1968)
Brownlee, G.G., Sanger, F., Barrell, B.G.: The sequence of 5 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid. J. molec. Biol. 34, 379–412 (1968)
Brownlee, G.G.: Determination of sequences in RNA. Amsterdam-London: North-Holland 1972
DuBuy, B., Weissmann, S.M.: Nucleotide sequence of Pseudomonas fluorescens 5 S ribonucleic acid. J. biol. Chem. 246, 747–761 (1971)
Marotta, C.A., Varricchio, F., Smith, I., Weissmann, S.M., Sogin, M.L., Pace, N.R.: The primary structure of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus 5 S ribonucleic acids. J. biol. Chem. 251, 3122–3127 (1976)
Pace, B., Pace, N.R.: Gene dosage for 5 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli and Bacillus megatherium. J. Bact. 105, 142–149 (1971)
Potter, S.S., Bott, K.F., Newhold, J.E.: Two-dimensional restriction analysis of the Bacillus subtilis genome: gene purification and ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene organization. J. Bact. 129 492–500 (1977)
Raué, H.A., Gruber, M.: MAK chromatogrphy at 35° causes denaturation of 5 S RNA from Salmonella typhimurium. FEBS Letters 8, 45–48 (1970)
Raué, H.A., Heerschap, A., Planta, R.J.: Occurrence in Bacillus licheniformis of two species of 5 S RNA with multiple differences in primary structure. Europ. J. Biochem. 68, 169–176 (1976)
Raué, H.A., Stoof, T.J., Planta, R.J.: Nucleotide sequence of 5 S RNA from Bacillus licheniformis. Europ. J. Biochem. 59, 35–42 (1975)
Richards, E.G., Coll, J.A., Gratzer, W.B.: Disc electrophoresis of ribonucleic acid in polyacrylamide gels. Anal. Biochem. 12, 452–471 (1965)
Sanger, F., Brownlee, G.G., Barrell, B.G.: A two-dimensional fractionation procedure for radioactive nucleotides. J. molec. Biol. 13, 373–398 (1965)
Stoof, T.J., de Regt, V.C.H.F., Raué, H.A., Planta, R.J.: Two precursor 5 S RNA species in Bacillus licheniformis: Characterization and partial analysis of primary structure. FEBS Letters 49, 237–241 (1974)
Weidner, H., Yuan, R., Crothers, D.: Does 5 S RNA function by a switch between two secondary structures? Nature (Lond.) 266, 193–194 (1977)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by E. Bautz
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raué, H.A., Rosner, A. & Planta, R.J. Heterogeneity of the genes coding for 5 S RNA in three related strains of the genus Bacillus . Molec. Gen. Genet. 156, 185–193 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283491
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283491