Offices and Labs
|1997||PhD (Honoris Causa)||Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden|
|1965||PhD||Biology (Genetics)||Johns Hopkins University|
|1961||BA||Biochemical Sciences||Harvard College|
Origin of Mutations Under Selection
Recombination as an Inside Job
While DNA recombination is generally studied by perfoming genetic crosses in the laboratory, the process of recombination is used internally in bacteria, primarily for DNA repair and replication fork restarting. Sexual recombination is very rare in natural populations. We use chromosome rearrangments in Salmonella to learn about recombination mechanisms. Most recently we've found (to our surprise) that gene duplications arise at an extremely high rate and form by a mechanism that does not require recombination. This is despite the general belief that they form by unequal recombination. Many duplications are not simple tandem repeats but contain direct repeats that flank a central third copy positioned in inverse order (a tandem inversion duplication or TID). We're testing a model in which TIDs form by a series of events initiated by short palindromic sequences in the normal genome. These are then converted by remodeling deletions into the several types of duplications that are commonly studied.
Domesticated transposable elements may dicate species-specific patterns of gene amplification
The chromosomes of enteric bacteria harbor several sets of dispersed repeated sequences that are thought to be derived from ancient transposable elements. These include REP, BoxC, RSA and ERIC elements. Despite the inability of these elements to transposose, their sequences and positions appear to be maintained by purifying selection, suggesting that they play a valuable role in cell function. Two properties are shared by all of these elements --- they are palindromic and are usually found within transcribed regions of the genome. Recently we've noticed recombination-independent duplications that form between copies of these palindromic elements, We've also noticed that although these elements are found in many enteric species, particular forms appear to be species specific. For example the AelRep and LasRep elements consist of an RSA or Eric element with an inserted central palindromic element. The resulting composite elements are found in virtually all isolates of Salmonella but in no isolate of its closest relative, E. coli. Convesely the BoxC related BOCE elements are found in E. coli, but ever in Salmonella. We suggest that palindromic elements dictate endpoints of duplications that are of frequent selective value in the life-styles of various bacteria. Their palindromic nature allows them to initiate TID duplications as described above. Duplication formation can be regulated when transcription of the element generates an R-loop, in which the element appears in the excluded sense strand of DNA. When made single stranded, palindromes can form hairpins or more complex secondary structures that are subject to cutting and initiation of duplicaiton formation. Similar functionality may be associated ancient elements in metazoan genomes.
A lifestyle that may define a bacterial species
All Salmonellae dedicate 1% of their genome to synthesis of cobalamin (vitamin B12) and another 1% of their genome to use this cofactor for anaerobic growth on two non-fermentable carbon sources -- ethanolamine and propanediol. This constellation of functions must contribute heavily to Salmonella's fitness in a natural setting. Laboratory studies have had difficultly suggesting how these several functions might contribute to success of natural populations. Recently an solution has been suggested by our colleage Andreas Baumler at the UC Davis Medical School. Baumler's lab has shown that these functions contribute together to enhance Salmonella proliferation in an inflammed mouse gut. Salmonella induces gut inflammation and thereby causes the mouse to provide both of the two carbon sources and an repiratory electron acceptor. The inflammed host gut releases ethanolamine and propanediol and oxidizes hydrogen sulfide to tetrathionate which Salmonella can use as electron acceptor. This give Salmonella a source of nutrients that are not availbable to other gut inhabitants. The functions described above (B12 synthesis, ethanolamine and propanediol degradation, tetrathionate oxidation) have been used individually by taxonomists to identify Salmonella. Since essentially all Salmonella isolates show all of the properties, we suggest that these functions may be central to defining the lifestyle that characterizes Salmonellae and selective holds them together as a taxonomic group. Enzymes for catabolizing ethanolamine and propanediol are held within a protein cage or microcompartment that resembles the carboxysome of photosynthetic bacteria. We are trying to determine how this compartment works and how it benefits Salmonella in the wild. We think that understanding this compartment in Salmonella, may help us understand why similar compartments contain enzymes of CO2 fixation in bacteria that perform 30% of the global carbon fixation.
Department and Center Affiliations
CBS Grad Group Affiliations
Graduate Groups not Housed in CBS
Associates: Eric Kofoid, Sophie Maisnier-Patin, Andrew Reams Undergraduates: Ivy Roush, Mahtab Danai Support staff: Shery Roth, Natalie Duleba
Maisnier-Patin, S. and John R. Roth (2015) The origin of mutants under selection: How natural selection mimics mutagenesis (adaptive mutation) In: Microbial Evolution
Editor: Howard Ochman. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
Reams, A. B. and J. R. Roth (2015) Mechanisms of Gene Duplication and Amplification In: Recombination Mechanisms Editors: Stephen Kowalczykowski, Neil Hunter and Wolf Heyer Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Sano, E., S. Maisnier-Patin, J. P. Aboubechara, S. Quinones-Soto, John R. Roth (2014) Plasmid copy number underlies adaptive mutability in bacteria, Genetics 198(3):919-33. PMID: 25173846 PMCID: PMC4224180
Reams, A.B., Kofoid, E. Duleba, N. and J. R. Roth (2014) Recombination and annealing
pathways compete for substrates in making rrn duplications in Salmonella enterica Genetics 196: 1–17. PMID: 24214339
Huseby, D. and J.R. Roth (2013) Evidence that a metabolic microcompartment contains and recycles private cofactor pools. J. Bacteriol. 195: 2864-79 PMID: 23585538 PMC3697265
Quiñones-Soto, S., A. B. Reams and J. R. Roth (2012) Pathways of genetic adaptation:Multi-step origin of mutants under selection without induced mutagenesis in Salmonella enterica. Genetics 192; 987-999
Reams, A. B. E Kofoid, E. Kugelberg and J. R. Roth. (2012) Multiple pathways of duplication formation with and without recombination (RecA) in Salmonella enterica. Genetics 192: 397–415
Näsvall, J, L. Sun, J. R. Roth, Dan I. Andersson (2012) Real-time evolution of new genes by innovation, amplification, and divergence. Science 338, 384-6
Roth, J. R. and D. I. Andersson (2012) Poxvirus use a ‘‘Gene Accordion’’ to tune out host defenses. Cell 150:671-2
Quiñones-Soto, S. and J. R. Roth (2011) Effect of growth under selection on appearance of chromosomal mutations in Salmonella enterica. Genetics 189: 37-53 PMID: 21705757 PMC3176110
Andersson, D.I., D. Hughes and J.R. Roth (2011) The Origin of Mutants under Selection: Interactions of Mutation, Growth, and Selection In EcoSal: The Cellular and Molecular Biology of Escherichia coli and Salmonella. ASM Press
Thiennimitr, P., S. Winter, M. Wiinter, M. Xavier, V. Tolstikov, D. Huseby, T. Sterzenbach, R. Tsolis, J. R. Roth and A. J. Bäumler (2011) Intestinal inflammation allows Salmonella to use ethanolamine to compete with the microbiota Proc. Natl Acad. Sci (US) 108: 17480–17485
Winter, S. E., P, Thiennimitr, M.G. Winter, B. P. Butler, D. L. Huseby, R. W. Crawford, J. M. Russell, C L. Bevins, L. G Adams, R. M. Tsolis, J R. Roth and A J. Bäumler (2010) Inflammation provides a respiratory electron acceptor for Salmonella in the gut. Nature 467: 426-429
Kugelberg, E., E. Kofoid, D. I. Andersson, Y. Lu, J. Mellor, F. P. Roth, and J. R. Roth. (2010). The tandem inversion duplication in Salmonella enterica: Selection drives unstable precursors to final mutation types. Genetics 185:65-80 PMID: 17082307 PMC2870977
Reams, A. B., E. Kofoid, M. Savageau, and J. R. Roth. (2010). Duplication frequency in a population of Salmonella enterica rapidly approaches steady state with or without recombination. Genetics 184:1077-94. PMID: 17082307 PMC2865909
Reams, D., Kofoid, E., Savageau, M. and J. R. Roth (2010) Duplication frequency in a population of Salmonella enterica rapidly approaches steady state with or without recombination. Genetics 184: 1077–1094
Accumulation of mutants in aging bacterial colonies is due to growth under selection, not stress-induced mutagensis. (2008) Wrande, M, Roth, J. R., Hughes, D. Proc Natl Acad Sci (US) 105:11863-11868
Ohno's Dilemma: Evolution of new genes under continuous selection. (2007) Bergthorsson, U., Andersson, D. I. and John. R. Roth Proc Natl Acad Sci (US) 104:17004-9
Multiple pathways of selected gene amplification during adaptive mutation. (2006) Kugelberg, E., Kofoid. E., Reams, A.B., Andersson, D.I. and J.R. Roth Proc. Natl Acad. Sci 103:17319-24.
Conserving a volatile metabolite: a role for carboxysomes in Salmonella enterica. (2006) Penrod, J. T. and J.R. Roth J. Bacteriol. 188: 2865-74
Evidence that feedback inhibition of NAD kinase controls responses to oxidative stress. (2006) Grose, J. H., Joss, L., Velick, S. and J.R. Roth Proc Natl Acad. Sci (US) 103:7601-7606