Plasmid transformation of Azospirillum brasilense

Abstract Plasmid transformation of the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum brasilense is described. A modification of the method of Hanahan [1] was used to transform this bacterium with the 20-kb plasmid pRK290. The efficiency of transformation ranged from 200–1000 transformants per μg of plasmid DNA according to DNA concentration. Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺ and K⁺ were essential for competence, while Rb⁺ and hexamine cobalt(III) chloride did not appear necessary. The length and the temperature of heat-pulse during transformation affected the efficiency of transformation. The response to different numbers of plasmid molecules was linear, in the range of 0.05–1.0 μg of DNA. No transformants were obtained with pRK290 plasmid DNA linearized with Eco RI. The transformability of different strains of Azospirillum has been compared.     

Mutants of Azospirillum brasilense altered in nitrogen fixation

Abstract Four revertants with Nif⁺ phenotype obtained from asm mutants of Azospirillum brasilense have been studied in respect to nitrogenase, enzymes of ammonia assimilation and utilization of poor nitrogen sources. The results indicate that nitrogenase expression is related to the activity of glutamate synthase and to the adenylylation of glutamine synthetase; moreover, nitrogen fixation seems correlated with the activities of the enzymes involved in the utilization of poor nitrogen sources.     

Sequencing and complementation analysis of the nifUSV genes from Azospirillum brasilense

The functionality of nitrogenase in diazotrophic bacteria is dependent upon nif genes other than the structural nifH, D, and K genes which encode the enzyme subunit proteins. Such genes are involved in the activation of nif gene expression, maturation of subunit proteins, cofactor biosynthesis, and electron transport. In this work, approximately 5500 base pairs located within the major nif gene cluster of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 have been sequenced. The deduced open reading frames were compared to the nif gene products of Azotobacter vinelandii and other diazotrophs. This analysis indicates the presence of five ORFs encoding ORF2, nifU, nifS, nifV, and ORF4 in the same sequential organization as found in other organisms. Consensus σ⁵⁴ and NifA binding sites are present in the putative promoter region upstream of ORF2 in the A. brasilense sequence. The nifV gene of A. brasilense but not nifU or nifS complemented corresponding mutants strains of A. vinelandii.     

Effect of nitrogen compounds on nitrogenase activity in Azospirillum brasilense

Abstract The effect of certain nitrogen compounds on nitrogenase activity was studied in cells of Azospirillum brasilense strain Sp6, grown under microaerophilic conditions with nitrogenase fully derepressed. 0.5 mM NH₄Cl, 0.5 mM glutamine, 1.0 mM KNO₃ and 0.1 mM KNO₂ completely blocked nitrogenase activity. 1.0 mM asparagine, 1.0 mM aspartate, 1.0 mM histidine and 1.0 mM adenine did not caused no inhibition of nitrogenase; indeed asparagine, aspartate and histidine showed a slight stimulatory effect on N₂ fixation. The addition of 10 mM dl -methionine- dl -sulphoximine prevented the inhibitory effect of NH₄Cl and glutamine but did not counteract the effect of KNO₂. Rifampicin and chloramphenicol did not prevent the inhibition of nitrogenase by NH₄Cl.     

固氮螺菌的固氮分子调控研究进展

本文对巴西固氮螺菌周氨基因的结构和调控进行综述。其固氮基因的调控可分为两种水平：通过DRAT-DRAG系统的翻译后水平和通过NifA蛋白的转录水平。通过NifA活性进行调控的机理目前尚不明了。     

Improving micropropagation: effect of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 on acclimatization of rootstocks of fruit tree

Abstract

The effect of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 on the micropropagation of three fruit rootstocks: Mr.S 2/5 plum (Prunus cerasifera×P. spinosa), GF 677 hybrid (Prunus persica×P. amigdalus), and MM 106 apple (Northen Spy×M1) was assessed. Rooted shoots were treated with 3×10⁷ of Sp245 cells during transplantation from in vitro cultures to the acclimatization phase. After 60 days, growth parameters were positively affected by Sp245 inoculum. In the case of Mr.S 2/5, an increase in rootstock stem length and node number by 37% and 42%, respectively, compared to the control was noted. In the case of GF 677, the bacterial inoculum increased stem length and node number by up to the 75% and 65%, respectively, compared to the control. The inoculum did not exert on MM 106 for both parameters suggesting that the effects of Sp245 could depend on a specific clone-microbe association. In all cases, however, a higher vigor, consistent with a wider leaf area, was present in the inoculated plantlets demonstrating that the use of Azospirillum can significantly contribute to optimize plant performance during the phase of adaptation of plants to post-vitrum conditions.     

Azospirillum brasilense glutamine synthetase: influence of the activating metal ions on the enzyme properties

The kinetic properties of the Mg²⁺-activated and Mn²⁺-activated glutamine synthetase (GS) of Azospirillum brasilense in the biosynthetic reaction were studied. The Mg²⁺-supported and Mn²⁺-supported GSs in an average state of adenylylation varied in pH optimum, maximum activity, saturation functions for ammonium and glutamate, affinity to substrates, and in the Me²⁺-ATP ratio required for the optimal enzyme activity. Seventeen other cations were tested for the maintenance of GS activity. The level of the latter and the kinetic behavior of the GS in A.brasilense is suggested to depend essentially on the concentrations of Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺, as well as on their ratio     

Potential roles for the glnB and ntrYX genes in Azospirillum brasilense

Three Azospirillum brasilense mutants constitutive for nitrogen fixation (Nif(C)) in the presence of NH4(+) and deficient in nitrate-dependent growth were used as tools to define the roles of the glnB and ntrYX genes in this organism. Mutant HM14 was complemented for nitrate-dependent growth and NH4(+) regulation of nitrogenase by plasmid pL46 which contains the ntrYX genes of A. brasilense. Mutant HM26 was restored for NH4(+) regulation and nitrate-dependent growth by plasmid pJC1, carrying the A. brasilense glnB gene expressed from a constitutive promoter. Mutant HM053, on the other hand, was not complemented for NH4(+) regulation of nitrogenase and nitrate-dependent growth by both plasmids pJCI and pL46. The levels and control of glutamine synthetase activity of all mutants were not affected by both plasmids pL46 (ntrYX) and pJC1 (glnB). These results support the characterization of strains HM14 as an ntrYX mutant and strain HM26 as a glnB mutant and the involvement of ntrYX and glnB in the regulation of the general nitrogen metabolism in A. brasilense.     

Effect of congo red on the motility of the bacterium Azospirillum brasilense

In semiliquid laboratory media, the bacterium Azospirillum brasilense migrates with the formation of swarming rings. It is demonstrated that adsorption of the sulfonated azodye Congo Red confers on A. brasilense the ability to consistently spread in a semiliquid agar with formation of microcolonies. Spontaneous variants of A. brasilense with increased swarming rate are described, as well as variants that swarm in the presence of Congo Red. It is assumed that at least two types of compounds are formed, which are necessary for swarming and/or spreading with the formation of microcolonies and are capable of interacting with Congo Red.     

Strain-specific salt tolerance and osmoregulatory mechanisms in Azospirillum brasilense

Salinity stress inhibits the growth and nitrogen fixation ability of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense. Five strains of A. brasilense were isolated from the rhizosphere of Indian cereals and grasses and identified on the basis of their phenotypic features and 16S rRNA gene sequence. The five Indian isolates and two standard strains of A. brasilense, Sp7 and Cd, showed notable differences in growth, acetylene-reducing activity under salt stress, and ability to take up and use glycine betaine for the restoration of growth and acetylene-reducing activity under salt stress. Salt stress also enhanced the production of exopolysaccharides and cell aggregates, the extent of which varied in different strains of A. brasilense at different carbon to nitrogen ratios in the culture medium. It can be concluded that the production of exopolysaccharides and cell aggregates is a more consistent physiological response of A. brasilense to salt stress than is the uptake and osmoprotection by glycine betaine.     

Impact of seed-applied fungicide and insecticide on Azospirillum brasilense survival and wheat growth-promoting ability

The use of Azospirillum brasilense as a crop inoculant has increased in recent years. Thus, the compatibility of the inoculation technology with seed treatments using pesticides needs to be evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the effect of an insecticide and fungicide formulation on A. brasilense strain FP2 population by culturing and culture-independent approaches. In addition, we evaluated the impact of these pesticides on the ability of A. brasilense to promote plant growth by monitoring biometric traits (root and shoot dry mass and length) of wheat grown in Greenhouse conditions. Seed pesticide dressings, mainly fungicide, led to a significant mortality of A. brasilense over time. The ability of A. brasilense to promote wheat growth also decreased due to pesticide treatments combined with sowing delay. Considering that pesticides confer fitness advantages to the wheat in field condition, our results suggest that sowing within the first 4 h after inoculation maintain the beneficial effects of A. brasilense on wheat growth promotion. Furthermore, we conclude that inoculation and treatment of seeds with pesticides may be compatible techniques when carried out immediately before sowing.     

Growth and indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 is environmentally controlled

Batch and fed batch cultures of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 were conducted in a bioreactor. Growth response, IAA biosynthesis and the expression of the ipdC gene were monitored in relation to the environmental conditions (temperature, availability of a carbon source and aeration). A. brasilense can grow and produce IAA in batch cultures between 20 and 38 degrees C in a standard minimal medium (MMAB) containing 2.5 gl(-1)l-malate and 50 microgml(-1) tryptophan. IAA synthesis requires depletion of the carbon source from the growth medium in batch culture, causing growth arrest. No significant amount of IAA can be detected in a fed batch culture. Varying the concentration of tryptophan in batch experiments has an effect on both growth and IAA synthesis. Finally we confirmed that aerobic growth inhibits IAA synthesis. The obtained profile for IAA synthesis coincides with the expression of the indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase gene (ipdC), encoding a key enzyme in the IAA biosynthesis of A. brasilense.     

肺炎克氏杆菌NifA对巴西固氮螺菌nifH启动子的转录激活作用

用PR方法克隆了巴西固氮螺菌Yu62 nifH的启动子片段,DNA序列分析表明菌株Yu62与标准菌株sp7之间的DNA序列差异很小。利用启动子探针质粒载体pcBl82,构建了3个不同的nifH：：lacz转录融合质粒,在大肠杆菌中分别测定肺炎克氏杆菌NifA对它们的转录激活作用。结果表明巴西固氮螺菌nifH启动子的转录是依赖于NifA的,缺失了上游激活序列的启动子不能被NifA激活转录,肺炎克氏杆菌NifA对其自身nifH及巴西固氮螺菌nifH启动子的转录激活作用并无很大差异。     

高产吲哚乙酸及高泌氨巴西固氨螺菌的筛选与鉴定

目的：从玉米根际和土壤中分离具有高产吲哚乙酸较强的泌氨能力的巴西固氮螺菌。方法：分别通过半固体NFb培养基、CR培养基、LB培养基分离培养固氮菌株,并经过一系列菌落菌体形态特征、生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列测定等试验对其进行鉴定。结果：经分离纯化获得10株固氮菌,并鉴定均为巴西固氮螺菌（Azospirillum brasilense）,其中菌株R7在甘油半固体培养基上能分泌约14mmol/L的氨,在添加了色氨酸的培养基中能够合成58.8μg/ml的吲哚-3-乙酸（IAA）。结论：成功筛选得到一株既高产吲哚乙酸又有较强的泌氨能力的巴西固氮螺菌。     

巴西固氮螺菌Yu62的EGFP标记及其在小麦体内的定殖研究

以质粒pEGFP-C1为模板,采用PCR方法特异性扩增增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)基因全长序列,将其与原核表达载体pVK-100连接,构建成重组载体pVK-EGFP.利用电转化法将重组载体导入巴西固氮螺菌Yu62中,得到EGFP标记菌株.用EGFP标记菌接种小麦'小偃107'种子,室内限菌条件下培养10 d后,用荧光显微镜观测标记菌在小麦体内的定殖规律并观察接菌植株的田间生长状况.结果显示,巴西固氮螺菌Yu62能定殖于小麦根毛区、茎组织的细胞间隙等部位,而且接菌小麦'小偃107'植株在根系发育、株高、分蘖数等方面比对照有较明显的优势.研究表明,巴西固氮螺菌Yu62能够定殖于小麦根茎内,并具有促进植物生长的作用.     

紫云英根瘤菌及巴西固氮螺菌的氢酶表达特征

紫云英根瘤菌氢酶表达依赖于H_2并受碳底物和高O_2浓度的阻遏及cAMP的显著促进。整体细胞的吸氢活性对O_2不敏感,受碘乙酸(50mmol L~(-1))的强烈抑制。少数氧化还原电位为正值的人工电子受体可支持吸氢活性。与紫云英根瘤菌不同,巴西固氮螺菌氢酶表达并不依赖于H_2,受碳底物阻遏及cAMP促进的效应均不显著,而对O_2敏感。整体细胞吸氢活性受碘乙酸的抑制作用不明显。无论正、负值氧化还原电位人工电子受体均可支持吸氢活性。在经饥饿的静止细胞中,H_2可支持固氮活性并增强固氮酶对O_2的耐受能力。