Effect of copy number and mRNA processing and stabilization on transcript and protein levels from an engineered dual-gene operon.

To study the effect of mRNA stability and DNA copy number on protein production from a dual-gene operon, a synthetic operon containing the reporter genes gfp and lacZ under the control of the araBAD promoter was placed in pMB1-based (approximately 100 copies/cell) and F plasmid-based (approximately 1 copy/cell) vectors. DNA cassettes encoding secondary structures were placed at the 5' and 3' ends of the genes and a putative RNase E site was placed between the two genes. Although the copy number of the pMB1-based vectors was approximately 100-fold greater than the copy number of the F plasmid-based vectors, transcript and protein levels from the pMB1-based vector were not 100-fold greater than from the F plasmid-based vectors.

A deep-sea hydrothermal vent isolate, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CW961, requires thiosulfate for Cd tolerance and precipitation.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa CW961, an isolate from the vicinity of a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, grew in the presence of 5 mM Cd(2+) and removed Cd(2+) from solution. Sulfate was sufficient for growth when Cd(2+) was not present in the culture medium; however, thiosulfate was necessary for Cd(2+) precipitation and cell survival in the presence of Cd(2+).