Abstract: The invention comprises methods useful within a larger process for identifying compounds and/or designing further compounds with activity to produce a desired phenotype (for example, growth inhibition) in cells whose target cell component is the subject of certain studies to identify such compounds. The invention employs constructed cells comprising a regulable gene encoding a biomolecule which modulates (inhibits or activates) in vivo the function of a target component of the cell which can be an enzyme for example. The process incorporates methods for identifying biomolecules that bind to a chosen target cell component in vitro, methods for identifying biomolecules that also bind to the chosen target and modulate its function intracellularly, causing a phenotypic effect.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods useful within a larger process for identifying compounds and/or designing further compounds with activity to produce a desired phenotype (for example, growth inhibition) in cells whose target cell component is the subject of certain studies to identify such compounds. The invention employs constructed cells comprising a regulable gene encoding a biomolecule which modulates (inhibits or activates) in vivo the function of a target component of the cell which can be an enzyme, for example, methionyl-tRNA synthetase of Staphylococcus aureus. The process incorporates methods for identifying biomolecules that bind to a chosen target cell component in vitro, methods for identifying biomolecules that also bind to the chosen target and modulate its function intracellularly, causing a phenotypic effect.

Abstract: A system has been constructed which is suitable for tetracycline-inducible gene expression in Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The replicon/host gene expression system is tightly regulated, can be used in complex as well as minimal media, and can produce a high level of gene expression upon induction, with a variety of gene products. The gene expression system is suitable for production of products toxic to the host cells, and can be used, for example, for the analysis of gene expression and gene products in Gram-positive bacteria, and in a test of the effect of a peptide or polypeptide inhibitor of an S. aureus enzyme on the growth of S. aureus cells in culture or during infection of an animal.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods useful within a larger process for identifying compounds and/or designing further compounds with activity to produce a desired phenotype (for example, growth inhibition) in cells whose target cell component is the subject of certain studies to identify such compounds. The invention employs constructed cells comprising a regulable gene encoding a biomolecule which modulates (inhibits or activates) in vivo the function of a target component of the cell which can be an enzyme, for example, methionyl-tRNA synthetase of Staphylococcus aureus. The process incorporates methods for identifying biomolecules that bind to a chosen target cell component in vitro, methods for identifying biomolecules that also bind to the chosen target and modulate its function intracellularly, causing a phenotypic effect.

Abstract: A system has been constructed which is suitable for tetracycline-inducible gene expression in Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The replicon/host gene expression system is tightly regulated, can be used in complex as well as minimal media, and can produce a high level of gene expression upon induction, with a variety of gene products. The gene expression system is suitable for production of products toxic to the host cells, and can be used, for example, for the analysis of gene expression and gene products in Gram-positive bacteria, and in a test of the effect of a peptide or polypeptide inhibitor of an S. aureus enzyme on the growth of S. aureus cells in culture or during infection of an animal.

Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acids which encode aminoacyl-tRNA sythetases of enterococcal origin or portions of such enzymes, have been isolated. These nucleic acids can be used to make expression constructs and transformed host cells for the production of enterococcal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. They can also be used in the further isolation of nucleic acids related by DNA sequence similarities, which also encode enterococcal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, or portions thereof. A further embodiment of the invention is antisense nucleic acid which can hybridize to the nucleic acid which encodes the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase of enterococci. The invention also relates to tRNA synthetases such as isolated and/or recombinant enterococcal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Antibodies which bind to these enzymes can be made and can be used in the purification and study of the enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated and/or recombinant nucleic acids which encode Candida tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases, portions thereof, or fusion proteins comprising a Candida tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase or portion thereof. Also disclosed are constructs comprising the nucleic acids of the present invention, host cells comprising a recombinant nucleic acid or construct, and methods of producing a Candida tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, portion thereof, or fusion protein comprising same. Also described are tester strains, which are cells engineered to rely on the function of a Candida tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase or functional fragment thereof encoded by an introduced cloned gene, and which can be used in a method of detecting an inhibitor of Candida tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase function.

Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acids which encode aminoacyl-tRNA sythetases of helicobacter origin have been isolated. These nucleic acids can be used to make expression constructs and transformed host cells for the production of helicobacter aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. They can also be used in the further isolation of nucleic acids related by DNA sequence similarities, which also encode helicobacter aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, or portions thereof. A further embodiment of the invention is antisense nucleic acid which can hybridize to the nucleic acid which encodes the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase of helicobacter. The invention also relates to isolated and/or recombinant helicobacter aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Antibodies which bind to these enzymes can be made and can be used in the purification and study of the enzymes.