Interspecies homology of nodule development genes in Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium spp.

Abstract DNA fragments representatives of ndv A and ndv B have been used as probes against genomic DNAs from different Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium species. ndv A and ndv B homologues were found in all species, indicating extensive conservation of these genes. All Rhizobium species show chromosomal localization of ndv A and ndv B homologues.     

应用发光酶基因对快生型大豆根瘤菌HN01结瘤作用进行检测

含发光酶基因luxAB的Tn5转座子自杀质粒pHNC3,在辅助质粒pRK2013的帮助下,转入快生型大豆根瘤菌HN01中小,pHNC3经自杀重组,其Tn5－luxAB转座插入HN01基因组中,从而赋予HN01以发光活性。挑取具有发光活性的HN01杂交单菌落,进行质粒快检和以luxAB为探针的分子杂交,选取Tn5-luxAB分别插入到HN01染色体上和不同质粒上的标记菌株,进行灭菌盆栽实验,并对一株Tn5-luxAB标记于染色体上的菌株HN01LC02进行了模拟大豆栽培条件下的有菌盆栽实验,包括对发光根瘤菌占瘤率的测定和发光根瘤在根系上分布情况的测定。     

Location of nif genes on large plasmids in Rhizobium strains isolated from legume tree root nodules

Abstract The presence of plasmids in Rhizobium strains isolated from legume tree root nodules has been studied. Bacteria isolated from Acacia melanoxylon, A. cyanophylla, Prosopis chilensis and Sophora microphylla harbour 2 to 5 plasmids of an M _r higher than 115 · 10⁶. Hybridization experiments have shown DNA homology between plasmid pID1 ( R. meliloti 41 nifH and D genes) and one of the plasmids in each of the bacteria studied.     

氮源对紫云英根瘤菌nod基因表达的作用

高浓度的硫酸铵阻碍了紫云英根瘤菌诱导紫云英根毛发生典型的根毛变形并明显抑制了紫云英结瘤能力。通过对融合子的β-半乳精苷酶活性的测定进一步表明高浓度的硫酸铵对紫云英的结瘤调节基因nodDZ、共同结瘤基因nodA及nodBC的表达有抑制作用而对结瘤调节基因nodD1的表达无抑制作用。     

Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 can kill subterranean termite Odontotermes obesus by inhibiting cytochrome c oxidase of the termite respiratory chain

In the rhizosphere and their interaction with plants rhizobia encounter many different plant compounds, including phytohormones like auxins. Moreover, some rhizobial strains are capable of producing the auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). However, the role of IAA for the bacterial partner in the legume– Rhizobium symbiosis is not known. To identify the effect of IAA on rhizobial gene expression, a transposon (mTn 5gusA - oriV ) mutant library of Rhizobium etli , enriched for mutants that show differential gene expression under microaerobiosis and/or addition of nodule extracts as compared with control conditions, was screened for altered gene expression upon IAA addition. Four genes were found to be regulated by IAA. These genes appear to be involved in plant signal processing, motility or attachment to plant roots, clearly demonstrating a distinct role for IAA in legume– Rhizobium interactions.     

紫云英根瘤菌共同结瘤基因nodA和nodBC的核苷酸序列

以~(32)p标记的苜蓿根瘤菌(Rhizobium meliloti)2.3kb nod DNA作探针,从紫云英根瘤菌(Rhizobium huakuii即R. astragali)159基因文库中分离到一株能与探针DNA呈阳性反应的克隆pRaN109。同源DNA-DNA杂交及DNA序列分析表明:pRaN109DNA的9kb EcoRI片段上携带了nodD_1BC基因,pRaN109 NDA的18kb EcoRI片段上携带了nodD_2A基因。共同结瘤基因nodA与nodBC两者相距6.7kb。在nodA基因和nodBC基因的上游都存在有结瘤盒(nod box)。与来自不同种属的菌株所报告的结果相比较,紫云英根瘤菌159中的共同结瘤基因有着明显不同的组合。     

普通结瘤基因探针鉴定根瘤菌的研究

普通结瘤基因（ｎｏｄＡＢＣ）是所有根瘤菌所特有的、最为保守的基因,用苜蓿根瘤菌结瘤基因（ｎｏｄＡＢＣ）和豌豆根瘤菌的（ｎｏｄＣ）基因片段为探钉,与５２株包括常见土壤细菌、已知根瘤菌、根瘤未知分离物的总ＤＮＡ进行斑点杂交,探索用普通结瘤基因（ｎｏｄＡＢＣ）或（ｎｏｄＣ）探针鉴定根瘤菌的可能性。结果,未找到合适实验条件,使来自这两个种的结瘤基因只能与根瘤菌菌株杂交,而不与土壤细菌的菌株杂交。但在高温条件下,两种探针都专一性的和种内菌株杂交。此结果表明：在一定的实验条件下,普通结瘤基因探针用做根瘤菌的鉴定,只能     

毛豆根瘤菌转吸氢基因的研究

通过三亲本杂交将携带豌豆根瘤菌吸氢基因的质粒pAL₆₁₈转移到台湾毛豆根瘤菌292-C中,经抗性筛选、质粒检测和吸氢活性测定,得到能稳定遗传的结合株292-C₂和292-C₃。在自生条件下结合株均表现较高的吸氢活性,而受体株292-C不吸氢,在共生条件下结合株表现为高吸氢,而受体株表现为放氢。     

Nodulation of specific legumes is controlled by several distinct loci in Rhizobium trifolii

Summary Three distinct loci (designated regions III, IV and V) were identified in the 14 kb Nod region of Rhizobium trifolii strain ANU843 and were found to determine the host range characteristics of this strain. Deletion of region III or region V only from the 14 kb Nod region affected clover nodulation capacity. The introduction to R. Leguminosarum of DNA fragments on multicopy vectors carrying regions III, IV and V (but not smaller fragments) extended the host range of R. leguminosarum so that infection threads and nodules occurred on white clover plants. The same DNA fragments were introduced to the Sym plasmid-cured strain (ANU845) carrying the R. meliloti recombinant nodulation plasmid pRmSL26. Plasmid pRmSL26 alone does not confer root hair curling or nodulation on clover plants. However, the introduction to ANU845 (pRmSL26) of a 1.4 kb fragment carrying R. trifolii region IV only, resulted in the phenotypic activation of marked root hair curling ability to this strain on clovers but no infection events or nodules resulted. Only the transfer of regions III, IV and V to strain ANU845 (pRmSL26) conferred normal nodulation and host range ability of the original wild type R. trifolii strain. These results indicate that the host range genes determine the outcome of early plant-bacterial interactions primarily at the stage of root hair curling and infection.     

The formation of R-prime deletion mutants and the identification of the symbiotic genes in Rhizobium fredii strain USDA191

Summary R-prime plasmids were formed between the plasmid of Rhizobium fredii strain USDA191 containing nodulation and nitrogen-fixation genes, pRjaUSDA191c, and pRL180, and RP1 derivative. R. fredii USDA191 contains four HindIII fragments that hybridize with an 8.7 kb EcoRI fragment that contains nodulation genes from R. meliloti. These four fragments are on pRjaUSDA191c and are 15.5 kb, 12.5 kb, 6.8 kb, and 5.2 kb in size. A series of R-primes generated in E. coli of pRjaUSDA191c were transferred into a Nod^- Nif^- derivative of strain USDA191 to determine which nodulation region is necessary for nodule formation. Transconjugants containing the 12.5 kb and the 6.8 kb HindIII fragments on segments of pRjaUSDA191c produced nodules on soybean plants. However, transconjugants containing the 12.5 kb HindIII fragment alone were unable to form nodules, suggesting that the 6.8 kb HindIII fragment or the 6.8 kb and the 12.5 kb HindIII fragments together were needed for nodule formation. The 6.8 kb HindIII fragment was subcloned into the vector pVK102 and transferred into transconjugants containing no sequences homologous to R. meliloti nodulation DNA or to transconjugants containing only the 12.5 kb HindIII fragment. Nodules were formed on soybeans only when both the 12.5 kb and the 6.8 kb HindIII fragments were present in R. frediistrain USDA191.     

Characterization of a large plasmid of Rhizobium meliloti involved in enhancing nodulation

Summary The plasmid pattern of Rhizobium meliloti strain GR4 was studied and a gene bank of one of the large plasmids (pRmeGR4) of 140 Mdal, was constructed using the broad host range vector pRK290. A restriction map was established with EcoRI. Two regions of this plasmid involved in the infectivity of GR4 on Medicago sativa were identified. An EcoRI fragment hybridizing with the PstI-nif fragment of pID1 was also identified. However, no homology to the cloned Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase genes (pSA30) was detected.     

Comparison of nucleotide diversity and symbiotic properties of Rhizobium meliloti populations from annual Medicago species

Abstract: Forty-three isolates of Rhizobium meliloti were trapped from soil with five annual species of Medicago (M. polymorpha, M. truncatula, M. rigidula, M. orbicularis and M. minima ) and one perennial species of Medicago (M. sativa) . The annual species were growing naturally near the soil sampling site, and the commonly studied perennial species was used for comparison. Each R. meliloti was characterized by PCR-RFLP methods applied to two DNA regions nested between 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes and between nif D and nif K genes. They fell into two highly divergent groups (groups I and II), separated at a genetic distance of 0.024 by rDNA-amplified pattern analysis (profiles R1 and R2) and at 0.029 by nif -amplified pattern analysis (profiles N1-N2 and N3). These two groups were consistent with some cross-nodulation and -fixation results: rhizobia with the R1 genetic background elicited rudimentary nodules and could not fix nitrogen on M. polymorpha , while they were able to nodulate the five other species of Medicago . In contrast, rhizobia with an R2 profile were highly effective on M. polymorpha and poorly nodulated M. rigidula species, but were able to nodulate efficiently the other species. The striking phenotypic traits on M. polymorpha were also shared by reference strains: strains genetically closed to R2 type triggered typical and efficient nodules on M. polymorpha while those close to R1 type elicited rudimentary and non-efficient ones. Our results suggest that the presence of R. meliloti with R2 genetic backgrounds could be favoured by the distribution of M. polymorpha species.     

Rhizobium pisi sv. trifolii K3.22 harboring nod genes of the Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii cluster

The taxonomic status of the Rhizobium sp. K3.22 clover nodule isolate was studied by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of 16S rRNA and six housekeeping chromosomal genes, as well as by a subsequent phylogenic analysis. The results revealed full congruence with the Rhizobium pisi DSM 30132^T core genes, thus supporting the same taxonomic position for both strains. However, the K3.22 plasmid symbiosis nod genes demonstrated high sequence similarity to Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii, whereas the R. pisi DSM 30132^Tnod genes were most similar to R. leguminosarum sv. viciae. The strains differed in the host range nodulation specificity, since strain K3.22 effectively nodulated red and white clover but not vetch, in contrast to R. pisi DSM 30132^T, which effectively nodulated vetch but was not able to nodulate clover. Both strains had the ability to form nodules on pea and bean but they differed in bean cultivar specificity. The R. pisi K3.22 and DSM 30132^T strains might provide evidence for the transfer of R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii and sv. viciae symbiotic plasmids occurring in natural soil populations.     

根瘤菌属几种同工酶的研究

本文对根瘤菌属12株不同根瘤菌的过氧化物酶,谷氨酸草酰乙酸转氨酶及酯酶同工酶进行了测定,结果发现:所有菌株的过氧化物酶和谷氨酸草酰乙酸转氨酶均呈阴性。酯酶同工酶酶带数在快生型和慢生型根瘤菌之间存在明显的区别,在YMA培养基上,快生型根瘤菌仅有1—2条,迁移率在0.71—0.98之间变化;而慢生型根瘤菌却有4—6条酶带,迁移率在0.15—0.98之间变化,同一菌株在不同碳源上酯酶同工酶酶带数也发生显著变化。     

Rhizobial polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from roots of legumes

The surface structure and chemistry of symbiotic bacteria from the genus Rhizobium are probably important for the outcome of the infection of legume hosts. Exopolysaccharide, capsular polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide and a low-molecular-weight polysaccharide were isolated from R. trifolii UTC 110-1 and R. leguminosarum UTC 114-5 and partially characterized. No or only minor differences in sugar composition could be found for the corresponding fractions from the two organisms. A general method to measure low activities of polymer-degrading enzymes was developed, and used to determine enzyme activities in root extracts of Trifolium repens L. cv. Lena and Pisum xativiini L. cv. Little Marvel against the isolated rhizobial polysaccharides. An enzyme preparation from T. repens partially degraded all polysaccharides isolated from its symbiont R. trifolii while polysaccharides from R. leguminosarum , symbiont of P. sativum , were degraded to a much lesser extent. Correspondingly, an enzyme preparation from P. sativum degraded all polysaccharides isolated from both its symbiont R. leguminosarum and its non-symbiont R. trifolii. The amount of symbiont polysaccharides degraded was larger than the amount of polysaccharides degraded from the non-symbiont R. trifolii.     

Comparison of geographically distant populations of Rhizobium isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris

Seventy-two rhizobial strains were isolated from the root nodules of french beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). They were sampled from two geographically distant field populations and 18 additional different sites in France. They were characterized by a) plasmid profiles, (b) RFLP analysis of total cellular DNA using various chromosomal and symbiotic gene probes (including nif H from Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli ) and c) their ability to nodulate a potential alternative host, L. leucocephala. Over half of the isolates were ascribed to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli on the basis of the hybridization analysis, the possession of multiple copies of nif H and their inability to nodulate L. leucocephala. The remaining isolates belonged to 2 groups which were shown to be genomically distinct from R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli, R. etli bv. phaseoli and R. tropici. Most members of these two groups shared with R. tropici the ability to nodulate L. leucocephala and, for isolates of only one of these groups, the presence of one copy of nif H. Members of each of the 3 taxa were widely distributed in France and circumstantial evidence of pSym transfer between them was shown. R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli and one of the two novel groups co-occurred within the two geographically distant populations. Individual genotypes were conserved between them. The finding of a third taxon at various other locations indicated additional diversity among rhizobia nodulating beans.     

Chromosomal nodulation genes: Sym-plasmid containing Agrobacterium strains need chromosomal virulence genes (chvA and chvB) for nodulation

Summary The chromosomal genes chvA and chvB of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which mediate attachment to plant cells, were found to be essential not only for tumour induction but also for the formation of root nodules on plants.