Abstract
The insertion sequence (IS) elements, IS1 and IS2, present in multiple copies in the Escherichia coli chromosome1–3, are transposable genetic elements of known nucleotide sequence4,5. These elements can modulate gene expression6–7, but it is not known whether they normally function in genetic control. To determine whether IS elements could exert control through specific RNA transcripts, we hybridised λ NNC1857r14 (carrying IS1) and pBR322 (carrying a portion of IS2) to Northern blots8 of E. coli RNA. Regions of homology between the IS elements and ribosomal RNA were observed. Computer analysis of reported nucleotide sequences detected large segments of homology between the IS elements and both 23S and 16S rRNA. Additional homologous sequences in ΦX174 and a leader region of a ribosomal protein gene cluster were also detected. The homologous sequence between IS2 and 16S rRNA is the same sequence in ΦX174 DNA which codes for the ends of the E and D gene and the start of J. The partial IS sequences may represent silent evolutionary remnants or they could modulate the expression of genes carrying these sequences.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chow, L. J. molec. Biol. 113, 611–621 (1977).
Deonier, R. & Hadley, R. Nature 264, 191–193 (1976).
Saedler, H. & Heiss, B. Molec. gen. Genet. 122, 266–277 (1973).
Ohtsubo, H. & Ohtsubo, E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 615–620 (1978).
Ghosal, D., Sommer, H. & Saedler, H. Nucleic Acids Res. 6, 111–122 (1979).
Starlinger, P. & Saedler, H. Curr. Topics Microbiol. Immun. 75, 111–152 (1976).
Bukhari, A., Shapiro, J. & Adhya, A. (eds) DNA Insertion Elements, Plasmids andEpisomes (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1977).
Alwine, J. C., Kemp, D. & Stark, G. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 5350–5354 (1977).
Nisen, P., Prucker, M. & Shapiro, L. (in preparation).
Rak, B. Molec. gen. Genet. 149, 135–140 (1976).
De Crombrugghe, B., Adhya, S., Gottesman, M. & Pastan, I. Nature new Biol. 241 260–264 (1973).
Brosius, J., Palmer, M. L., Kennery, P. J. & Noller, H. F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 4801–4805 (1978).
Korn, L. J., Queen, C. L. & Wegman, M. N. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 4401–4405 (1977).
Sutcliffe, J. G. Nucleic Acids Res. 5, 2721–2728 (1978).
Fiers, W. et al. Nature 273, 113–130 (1978).
Sures, I. Lowry, J. & Kedes, L. H. Cell 15, 1033–1044 (1978).
Sanger, F. et al. J. molec. Biol. 125, 225–246 (1978).
Post, L., Strycharz, G., Nomura, M., Lewis, H. & Dennis, P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 1697–1701 (1979).
Kuhn, S., Fritz, H. J. & Starlinger, P. Molec. gen. Genet. 167, 235–241 (1979).
Rigby, B., Dieckmann, M., Rhodes, C. & Berg, P. J. molec. Biol. 113, 237–251 (1977).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nisen, P., Shapiro, L. E. coli ribosomal RNA contains sequences homologous to insertion sequences IS1 and IS2. Nature 282, 872–874 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282872a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/282872a0
This article is cited by
-
Insertion Sequences show diverse recent activities in Cyanobacteria and Archaea
BMC Genomics (2008)
-
The sequence of IS4
Molecular and General Genetics MGG (1981)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
