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Journal of Bacteriology, April 1999, p. 2477-2484, Vol. 181, No. 8
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Isolation of Helicobacter pylori Genes That Modulate
Urease Activity
David J.
McGee,
Carrie A.
May,
Rachel M.
Garner,
Janette M.
Himpsl, and
Harry
L. T.
Mobley*
Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Received 4 December 1998/Accepted 10 February 1999
Helicobacter pylori urease, a nickel-requiring
metalloenzyme, hydrolyzes urea to NH3 and CO2.
We sought to identify H. pylori genes that modulate urease
activity by constructing pHP8080, a plasmid which encodes both H. pylori urease and the NixA nickel transporter. Escherichia
coli SE5000 and DH5
transformed with pHP8080 resulted in a
high-level urease producer and a low-level urease producer,
respectively. An H. pylori DNA library was cotransformed into SE5000 (pHP8080) and DH5
(pHP8080) and was screened for cotransformants expressing either lowered or heightened urease activity, respectively. Among the clones carrying urease-enhancing factors, 21 of 23 contained hp0548, a gene that potentially
encodes a DNA helicase found within the cag pathogenicity
island, and hp0511, a gene that potentially encodes a
lipoprotein. Each of these genes, when subcloned, conferred a
urease-enhancing activity in E. coli (pHP8080) compared
with the vector control. Among clones carrying urease-decreasing
factors, 11 of 13 clones contained the flbA (also known as
flhA) flagellar biosynthesis/regulatory gene
(hp1041), an lcrD homolog. The LcrD protein
family is involved in type III secretion and flagellar secretion in
pathogenic bacteria. Almost no urease activity was detected in E. coli (pHP8080) containing the subcloned flbA gene.
Furthermore, there was significantly reduced synthesis of the
urease structural subunits in E. coli (pHP8080)
containing the flbA gene, as determined by Western blot analysis with UreA and UreB antiserum. Thus, flagellar biosynthesis and
urease activity may be linked in H. pylori. These results suggest that H. pylori genes may modulate urease activity.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department
of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore,
Baltimore, MD 21201. Phone: (410) 706-0466. Fax: (410) 706-6751. E-mail: hmobley{at}umaryland.edu.
Journal of Bacteriology, April 1999, p. 2477-2484, Vol. 181, No. 8
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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