Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of transcription and processing signals in the 5′ regions of the two Mycoplasma capricolum rRNA operons

  • Published:
Molecular and General Genetics MGG Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The transcription and RNA processing signals of the rRNA operons (rrnA and rrnB) of Mycoplasma capricolum were analyzed by mapping the 5′ ends of in vivo and in vitro synthesized RNAs. The results of both in vitro and in vivo analyses point to the rrnA operon being transcribed from two promoters (P1 and P2) into large precursor RNAs. Transcripts initiating at P1 contain two tRNAs, and probably 16 S, 23 S, and 5 S rRNAs, whereas the transcripts starting from P2 consist only of the three rRNAs. The precursor RNAs are processed via distinct intermediates into mature tRNAs and rRNAs. In vivo experiments indicated that the rrnB operon is transcribed only from one promoter, although a second promoter could be identified using cell free extracts. The rrnB operon does not contain tRNA genes, but the precursor is still processed in the same way as the rrnA precursor that is synthesized from P2.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amikan D, Glaser G, Razin S (1984) Mycoplasmas (Mollicutes) have a low number of rRNA genes. J Bacteriol 158:376–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Birnboim HC, Doly J (1979) A rapid alkaline extraction procedure for screening recombinant plasmid DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 7:1513–1523

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer HW, Roulland-Dussoix D (1969) A complementation analysis of the restriction and modification of DNA in Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol 41:459–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Caruthers MH (1982) New methods for synthesizing Deoxyoligo-nucleotides. In: Gasser HG, Lang A (eds) Chemical Synthesis of gene fragments. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, pp 71–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen EY, Seeburg PH (1985) Supercoil Sequencing: A fast and simple method for sequencing plasmid DNA. DNA 4:165–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlberg AE, Dahlberg JE, Lund E, Tokimatsu H, Rabson AB, Calvert PC, Reynolds F, Zahalak M (1978) Processing of the 5′ end of Escherichia coli 16 S ribosomal RNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75:3598–3602

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreti L, Karnik SS, Khorana HG, Nassal M, Oprian DD (1986) Total synthesis of a gene for bovine rhodopsin. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:599–603

    Google Scholar 

  • Friis NF (1975) Some recommendations concerning primary isolation of Mycoplasma suipneumoniae and Mycoplasma flocculare. Nord Vet Med 27:337–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser G, Amikam D, Razin S (1984) Physical mapping of the ribosomal RNA genes of Mycoplasma capricolum. Nucleic Acids Res 12:2471–2476

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanahan D (1983) Studies on transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmids. J Mol Biol 166:557–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley CB, Reynolds RP (1987) Analysis of E. coli promoter sequences. Nucleic Acids Res 15:2343–2361

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwami M, Muto A, Yamao F, Osawa S (1984) Nucleotide sequence of the rrnB 16 S ribosomal RNA gene from Mycoplasma capricolum. Mol Gen Genet 196:317–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiss A, Sain B, Venetianer P (1977) The number of rRNA genes in Escherichia coli. FEBS Lett 79:77–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Klinkert MQ, Taschke C, Schaller H, Herrmann R (1986) Identification of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae proteins from an Escherichia coli expression library and analysis of transcription and translation signals. In: Lark DL (ed) Molecular Biology of Microbiological Pathogenicity. FEMS Meeting Lulea, Academic Press, London, pp 369–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Loughney K, Lund E, Dahlberg JE (1983) Ribosomal RNA precursors of Bacillus subtilis. Nucleic Acids Res 11:6709–6721

    Google Scholar 

  • Lund E, Dahlberg JE (1977) Spacer transfer RNAs in ribosomal RNA transcripts of E. coli: processing of 30 S ribosomal RNA in vitro. Cell 11:247–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Maniatis T, Fritsch EF, Sambrook J (1982) Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxam AM, Gilbert W (1980) Sequencing end-labeled DNA with base-specific chemical cleavages. Methods Enzymol 65:499–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Melton DA, Krieg PA, Rebagliati MR, Maniatis T, Zinn K, Green MR (1984) Efficient in vitro synthesis of biologically active RNA and RNA hybridization probes from plasmids containing a bacteriophage SP6 promoter. Nucleic Acids Res 12:7035–7056

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogasawara N, Moriya S, Yoshikawa H (1983) Structure and organization of rRNA operons in the region of the replication origin of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. Nucleic Acids Res 11:6301–6318

    Google Scholar 

  • Panganiban AT, Whitley HR (1983) Purification of a new Bacillus subtilis RNA processing enzyme. J Biol Chem 258:12487–12493

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen OF, Frydenberg J, Christiansen C (1987) Analysis of the leader and spacer regions of the two rRNA operons of Mycoplasma PG50: Two tRNA genes are located upstream of rrnA. Mol Gen Genet 208:23–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Razin S (1978) The Mycoplasmas. Microbiol Rev 42:414–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Razin S (1985) Molecular biology and genetics of Mycoplasmas (Mollicutes). Microbiol Rev 49:419–455

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg M, Court D (1979) Regulatory sequences involved in the promotion and termination of RNA transcription. Annu Rev Genet 13:319–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanger F, Nicklen S, Coulson AR (1977) DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:5463–5467

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawada M, Muto A, Iwami M, Yamao F, Osawa S (1984) Organization of ribosomal RNA genes in Mycoplasma capricolum. Mol Gen Genet 196:311–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprengel R, Reiss B, Schaller H (1985) Translationally coupled initiation of protein synthesis in Bacillus subtilis. Nucleic Acids Res 13:893–909

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart GC, Wilson FE, Bott KF (1982) Detailed physical mapping of the ribosomal RNA genes of Bacillus subtilis. Gene 19:153–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutcliffe JG (1979) Complete nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322. Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol pp 77–90

  • Taschke C, Herrmann R (1986) Analysis of transcription and processing signals of the 16 S–23 S rRNA operon of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Mol Gen Genet 205:434–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Taschke C, Klinkert MQ, Wolters J, Herrmann R (1986) Organization of the ribosomal RNA genes in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: the 5 S rRNA gene is separated from the 16 S and 23 S rRNA genes. Mol Gen Genet 205:428–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Taschke C, Klinkert MQ, Pirkl E, Herrman R (1987) Gene expression signals in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma capricolum. Isr J Med Sci 23:347–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Vicira J, Messing J (1982) The pUC plasmids, an M13mp7-derived system for insertion mutagenesis and sequencing with synthetic universal primers. Gene 19:259–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Woese CR, Maniloff J, Zablen LB (1980) Phylogenic analysis of the Mycoplasmas. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:494–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Young RA, Steitz JA (1978) Complementary sequences 1700 nucleotides apart form a Ribonuclease III cleavage site in Escherichia coli ribosomal precursor RNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75:3593–3597

    Google Scholar 

  • Young RA, Steitz JA (1979) Tandem promoters direct E. coli ribosomal RNA synthesis. Cell 17:225–234

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mikrobiologie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, D-6900, Heidelberg, Germany

    Christoph Taschke & Richard Herrmann

Authors
  1. Christoph Taschke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard Herrmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J.W. Lengeler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taschke, C., Herrmann, R. Analysis of transcription and processing signals in the 5′ regions of the two Mycoplasma capricolum rRNA operons. Mol Gen Genet 212, 522–530 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330859

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330859

Key words

Search

Navigation