# ORGANIZATION AND EXPRESSION OF MYCOPLASMA GENES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA · 1992 · $144,095

## Abstract

Mycoplasmas comprise a large group of wall-less gram positive prokaryotes
that includes several pathogens of man and animals.  Currently, molecular
analysis of mycoplasma pathogenesis is severely hampered by 1) lack of
tools to mobilize, transfer or mutagenize genes in these organisms; 2)
limited understanding of adaptations used to process critical proteins
secreted through or expressed on the surface of the single limiting
mycoplasma membrane; and 3) lack of classic genetic approaches
(complementation or auxotrophic mutations) to study basic processes such as
metabolite import/export, due to incompatibilities of mycoplasma codon
usage (UGA Trp), and to the requirement for complex growth medium.

The objective of this proposal is to exploit and further define recently
developed strategies that circumvent these limitations, in order to examine
broadly applicable features of mycoplasma membrane protein processing,
transport systems, a novel gene amplification system and
horizontally-transmitted transposon-like genetic elements.  The prototype
Mycoplasma hyorhinis (and commensal species) will be used to address the
following specific aims: 1) to define translocation, signal processing and
anchorage of a highly immunogenic protein (P101) and a putative
lipid-modified membrane protein (P37) associated with a high-affinity
permease operon; and to analyze analogous transport operons detected in two
other pathogenic mycoplasmas; 2) to define a novel eukaryotic-like system
of gene amplification regulating expression of several potential
metal-binding proteins that may be involved with the resistance of
mycoplasmas to heavy metals; and 3) to assess the mobility of
transposon-like and associated chromosomal elements to understand natural
exchange of mycoplasma genetic information, and to develop a mycoplasma
cloning vehicle.  Highly integrated methodologies include standard
techniques for gene cloning, sequencing, transcription, TnphoA or
site-directed mutagenesis; and immunological and membrane biochemical
analysis of gene products.  New techniques involve transformation and
detection of reporter genes in mycoplasmas.  The focus on recombinant
techniques, and their use in mycoplasmas to examine membrane protein
processing and transport systems, is anticipated to enhance experimental
access to and understanding of mycoplasma pathobiology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157285
- **Project number:** 2R01AR035587-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** SZPJL5ZRCLF4
- **Principal Investigator:** KIM S. WISE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $144,095
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1989-03-01 → 1996-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157285

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157285, ORGANIZATION AND EXPRESSION OF MYCOPLASMA GENES (2R01AR035587-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157285. Licensed CC0.

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