Mutations in the Escherichia coli surE gene increase isoaspartyl accumulation in a strain lacking the pcm repair methyltransferase but suppress stress-survival phenotypes

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1998 Oct 1;167(1):19-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13202.x.

Abstract

The Escherichia coli surE gene is co-transcribed with pcm, encoding the L-isoaspartyl protein repair methyltransferase, and is highly conserved among both the Eubacteria and the Archaea; however, no biochemical function has yet been identified for this gene. Isoaspartyl accumulation during stationary phase was much higher in a pcm surE double mutant than in either single mutant, suggesting that the two genes may represent two parallel pathways by which E. coli can respond to protein damage. A null mutation in surE also suppressed stress-survival defects previously observed in a pcm mutant strain, providing further evidence for an interaction between the two gene products.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acid Phosphatase*
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Mutation*
  • Phenotype
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein D-Aspartate-L-Isoaspartate Methyltransferase
  • Protein Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • Protein Methyltransferases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Protein Methyltransferases
  • Protein D-Aspartate-L-Isoaspartate Methyltransferase
  • Acid Phosphatase
  • umpG protein, E coli