Abstract
In this study, the nar promoter of E. coli was characterized to see whether the nar promoter cloned onto pBBR122 can be used as an expression promoter of gram negative microbes. For this purpose, a plasmid with lacZ gene expressing ${\beta}-galactosidase$ instead of the structural genes of nar operon in a gram negative host strain(Agrobacterium.tumefaciens) was used to simplify an assay of induction of the nar promoter. The following effects were investigated to find optimal conditions: methods of inducing the nar promoter, optimal nitrate concentration, maximally inducing the nar promoter, the amount of expressed ${\beta}-galactosidase$ and induction ratio(specific ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity after maximal induction/specific ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity before induction). The following results were obtained from the experiments: the growth of Agrobacterium with E.coli nar promoter was not much affected by nitrate concentration in the shake-flask; induction of nar promoter was optimal when Agrobacterium was grown in the presence of 1% nitrate ion at the beginning of culture and when overnight culture was completely grown in the shake-flask before being transferred to other shake-flask; the amount of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ per cell and per medium volume was maximal when Agrobacterium was grown under aerobic condition to $OD_{600}$ of 1.7; then the nar promoter was induced under microaerobic and anaerobic condition made by lowering dissolved oxygen level(DO). After 2-3h of induction in the YEP medium selected as a main culture medium, the specific ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity became about 17,000 Miller units in the fermentor cluture.
