11.03.2014 Views

Coordinated regulation of gene expression by E ... - Jacobs University

Coordinated regulation of gene expression by E ... - Jacobs University

Coordinated regulation of gene expression by E ... - Jacobs University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

MATERIALS AND METHODS<br />

ligating them in the presence <strong>of</strong> different amount <strong>of</strong> ethidium bromide. Initially the<br />

plasmid was nicked using 20 units <strong>of</strong> Nt.BstNBI, for every 20μg <strong>of</strong> DNA in a reaction<br />

volume <strong>of</strong> 50μl according to manufacturers specification The nicked plasmids (2.5μg<br />

for each reaction) were then ligated using T4 DNA ligase in the presence <strong>of</strong> different<br />

amount <strong>of</strong> ethidium bromide (concentrations ranging from 800μg/ml to 2.5μg/ml were<br />

used) in an overnight reaction. The reaction products were then extracted twice with<br />

phenol: chlor<strong>of</strong>orm mixture, the DNA precipitated, pelleted and re-dissolved in 10μl <strong>of</strong><br />

TE pH 8.0. The σ values <strong>of</strong> the <strong>gene</strong>rated topoisomers were quantified <strong>by</strong> band counting<br />

method [Keller et al., 1975]. Briefly, mid-point <strong>of</strong> a completely relaxed plasmid (nicked<br />

and ligated without ethidium bromide) population was taken as a σ value <strong>of</strong> zero. Then<br />

<strong>by</strong> determining the mid-point <strong>of</strong> other plasmid topoisomers (ladder) and comparing it<br />

with the relaxed gives the linking number difference (∆Lk). From this the σ is<br />

calculated using the formula σ = ∆Lk / ∆Lk o , where ∆Lk o for pUC18 = 2686 bp / (10.4<br />

bp / turn) = 258. The σ values <strong>of</strong> the plasmids from different growth phase and LZ<br />

strains were determined <strong>by</strong> comparing with the ladder.<br />

2.2.16 In vitro transcription<br />

In vitro transcription was performed from supercoiled plasmids with distinct σ (ptyrT &<br />

ptyrTD) and linearized (∆61tyrT) plasmids. Linearized plasmids were obtained <strong>by</strong><br />

cutting the plasmid with 10 units <strong>of</strong> BamHI for every microgram <strong>of</strong> DNA for 1 hr. The<br />

different topoisomer <strong>of</strong> ptyrT & ptyrTD were obtained <strong>by</strong> incubating 20μg <strong>of</strong><br />

supercoiled plasmid with 25 units Vaccinia topoisomerase I in the presence <strong>of</strong> different<br />

ethidium bromide concentrations in topoisomerase buffer (10mM Tris (pH 8.0), 100mM<br />

NaCl, 20mM EDTA) for two hours at 37 o C.<br />

After obtaining the template, in vitro transcription was performed as described<br />

before [Lazarus & Travers, 1993] with 1μg <strong>of</strong> plasmid DNA, 1μl <strong>of</strong> 1 unit/μl RNAP<br />

(Bohreinger), 44nM FIS when indicated and 2.0mM NTP mix in a 50μl reaction<br />

volume. After the reaction, the RNA synthesized was extracted with phenol: chlor<strong>of</strong>orm<br />

and precipitated as described above. The pellet is dissolved in 10 or 20 μl <strong>of</strong> nuclease<br />

31

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!