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J Bacteriol

Title:		Suppression of Escherichia coli alkB mutants by Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes
Author(s):		Wei YF; Chen BJ; Samson L;
Address:		"Department of Molecular and Cellular Toxicology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"
Journal Title:		J Bacteriol
Year:		1995
Volume:		177
Issue:		17
Page Number:		5009 - 5015
DOI:		10.1128/jb.177.17.5009-5015.1995
ISSN/ISBN:		0021-9193 (Print) 1098-5530 (Electronic) 0021-9193 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The alkB gene is one of a group of alkylation-inducible genes in Escherichia coli, and its product protects cells from SN2-type alkylating agents such as methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). However, the precise biochemical function of the AlkB protein remains unknown. Here, we describe the cloning, sequencing, and characterization of three Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes (YFW1, YFW12, and YFW16) that functionally complement E. coli alkB mutant cells. DNA sequence analysis showed that none of the three gene products have any amino acid sequence homology with the AlkB protein. The YFW1 and YFW12 proteins are highly serine and threonine rich, and YFW1 contains a stretch of 28 hydrophobic residues, indicating that it may be a membrane protein. The YFW16 gene turned out to be allelic with the S. cerevisiae STE11 gene. STE11 is a protein kinase known to be involved in pheromone signal transduction in S. cerevisiae; however, the kinase activity is not required for MMS resistance because mutant STE11 proteins lacking kinase activity could still complement E. coli alkB mutants. Despite the fact that YFW1, YFW12, and YFW16/STE11 each confer substantial MMS resistance upon E. coli alkB cells, S. cerevisiae null mutants for each gene were not MMS sensitive. Whether these three genes provide alkylation resistance in E. coli via an alkB-like mechanism remains to be determined, but protection appears to be specific for AlkB-deficient E. coli because none of the genes protect other alkylation-sensitive E. coli strains from killing by MMS"
Keywords:		"Alkylation Amino Acid Sequence Bacterial Proteins/*genetics Base Sequence Cloning, Molecular Cytochrome P-450 CYP4A Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/*genetics DNA Damage/*genetics DNA Mutational Analysis DNA, Complementary/genetics Dose-Response Relationshi;"
Notes:		"MedlineWei, Y F Chen, B J Samson, L eng CA55042/CA/NCI NIH HHS/ P01-ESO3926/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1995/09/01 J Bacteriol. 1995 Sep; 177(17):5009-15. doi: 10.1128/jb.177.17.5009-5015.1995"