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
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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 />
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