Complementary Functioning of Nitrogenase Components from a Blue-Green Alga and a Photosynthetic Bacterium

Nitrogenases from Anabaena cylindrica and Chloropseudomonas ethylicum were partially purified into two components. A. cylindrica fraction I protein complemented fraction II protein from C. ethylicum. However, the reciprocal cross between C. ethylicum fraction I and A. cylindrica fraction II was negative.     

Mobility of Nuclear Components and Genome Functioning

Cell nucleus is characterized by strong compartmentalization of structural components in its three-dimensional space. Certain genomic functions are accompanied by changes in the localization of chromatin loci and nuclear bodies. Here we review recent data on the mobility of nuclear components and the role of this mobility in genome functioning.     

Community Composition and Functioning of Denitrifying Bacteria from Adjacent Meadow and Forest Soils

We investigated communities of denitrifying bacteria from adjacent meadow and forest soils. Our objectives were to explore spatial gradients in denitrifier communities from meadow to forest, examine whether community composition was related to ecological properties (such as vegetation type and process rates), and determine phylogenetic relationships among denitrifiers. nosZ, a key gene in the denitrification pathway for nitrous oxide reductase, served as a marker for denitrifying bacteria. Denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) was measured as a proxy for function. Other variables, such as nitrification potential and soil C/N ratio, were also measured. Soil samples were taken along transects that spanned meadow-forest boundaries at two sites in the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the Western Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Results indicated strong functional and structural community differences between the meadow and forest soils. Levels of DEA were an order of magnitude higher in the meadow soils. Denitrifying community composition was related to process rates and vegetation type as determined on the basis of multivariate analyses of nosZ terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles. Denitrifier communities formed distinct groups according to vegetation type and site. Screening 225 nosZ clones yielded 47 unique denitrifying genotypes; the most dominant genotype occurred 31 times, and half the genotypes occurred once. Several dominant and less-dominant denitrifying genotypes were more characteristic of either meadow or forest soils. The majority of nosZ fragments sequenced from meadow or forest soils were most similar to nosZ from the Rhizobiaceae group in α-Proteobacteria species. Denitrifying community composition, as well as environmental factors, may contribute to the variability of denitrification rates in these systems.     

植物内生固氮菌及其固氮机理研究进展

氮素是植物生长必不可少的元素,植物内生固氮菌不仅能够在植物体内产生氮素以供植物利用,而且在自然界氮素循环过程中发挥积极作用,对农业可持续发展具有重要意义。近年来,植物内生固氮菌逐渐成为研究热点。由植物内生固氮菌的发现、作物共生、侵入途径、固氮机理、促生作用机制等方面系统地综述了植物内生固氮菌的研究进展,探讨了植物内生固氮菌新的研究思路以及一些尚未解决的问题,以期为植物内生固氮菌及生物固氮研究提供参考。     

新疆棉田土壤固氮菌遗传多样性分析

利用ERIC-PCR和16SrDNA全序列测定方法,研究了新疆棉田土壤中分离获得的58株固氮菌的遗传多样性及系统发育。采用平均连锁法(UPGMA)分析ERIC-PCR的聚类结果表明在Watson距离为0.65左右时可以将供试菌株分为9个大群。选取ERIC-PCR各群中代表菌株进行16SrRNA全序列测定分析,结果表明这些菌株分别属于Enterobacter、Bacillus、Acinetobacter、Pseudomonas、Serratia和Yersinia6个属。     

Characterization of Two Extracellular Polysaccharides from Marine Bacteria

Two bacterial isolates from the intertidal zone produced significant quantities of extracellular polysaccharide with interesting properties. One polysaccharide was named PS 3a24; the other was named PS 3a35. The relative proportion of sugars in PS 3a35 was 51.6% glucose, 39.0% galactose, 3.1% mannose, and 6.3% rhamnose, with a trace of an unidentified sugar. PS 3a24 was composed of 40.2% glucose, 57.2% galactose, and 2.6% mannose. PS 3a35 contained 6% pyruvate, whereas PS 3a24 contained no pyruvate. Both exhibited high specific viscosity, pseudoplasticity, and stability over a wide range of pH in the presence of a variety of salts. The viscosity of PS 3a35 was relatively insensitive to increasing temperature, whereas that of PS 3a24 showed an irreversible drop on heating.     

Comparison of Acetohydroxy-Acid Synthetases from Two Extreme Thermophilic Bacteria

The acetohydroxy-acid synthetases from two extreme bacterial thermophiles, Thermus aquaticus and Bacillus sp., have been studied. The two enzymes have different pH optima, 8 and 6, respectively, and both are feedback inhibited by valine. The inhibition is of interest because it is not expressed below 60 C, but only at higher temperatures which are optimal for catalytic activity. Valine inhibition in T. aquaticus was noncompetitive, whereas in Bacillus sp., it was competitive. Isoleucine (10(-3) M) also inhibited the two enzymes, whereas leucine (10(-3) M) did not. There was no concerted feedback when the amino acids were added in together. The sensitivity of the enzymes to valine could not be removed by HgCl(2). Both enzymes required Mg(2+) and thiamine pyrophosphate for optimal activity, whereas only the enzyme from T. aquaticus required flavine adenine dinucleotide in addition. None of these cofactors was essential for the feedback inhibition caused by valine. The enzymes from both bacteria could be repressed, but only in the presence of all three branched-chain amino acids indicating that, as in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, the repression system is multivalent.     

Two Related Rolling Circle Replication Plasmids from Salt-Tolerant Bacteria

In a range of salt-tolerant bacteria isolated from soil, rhizosphere, and phyloplane, cross-hybridization tests revealed a group of seven plasmids which were chosen for further study. Two plasmids (pSH1418 and pSH1451) were picked as representative examples of the two related subgroups. Restriction mapping and Southern blotting identified a region common to the two plasmids which later was identified as encoding the replication functions. We were unable to join these plasmids to high-copy-number vectors but this was possible with low-copy-number IncP vectors. InEscherichia coli,cloned plasmids pSH1418 and pSH1451 conferred salt tolerance but the phenotype was unstable, with the loss of salt tolerance apparently being correlated with structural instability of the plasmid DNA. Plasmid pSH1451 was sequenced and shown to be closely related to RCR plasmids of Gram-positive bacteria. The host of this plasmid was classified asBacillus pumilusby rDNA typing and lipid profiling by gas chromatography. A number of open reading frames (orfs) which could code for salt tolerance or other functions were identified in the plasmid sequence. Sequence similarity to previously sequenced genes suggested that the products of orf4 and orf5 may work together to transport a molecule such as aspartate ion that may promote osmotolerance.     

小麦,玉米接种耐氨固氮菌试验初步分析

１９８９—１９９２年,在广东省部分县市进行了小麦、王米施用耐氨固氮菌大田对比试验,小麦接种耐氨固氮菌后,接菌区小麦的穗氏、有效穗、每穗粒数均比不接菌区明显增加,株高、成穗率、千粒重比对照略有增加,平均每亩比对照增产１６．７ｋｇ干麦,平均增产率为８．１％。玉米接种耐氨固氮菌后,接菌区玉米的茎粗、收获时的青叶片数、单苞重均比对照区明显增加,秃顶度比对照区明显减小,晒干率：出米率略有增加,平均每亩比对照增产５２．８ｋｇ玉米,平均增产率为１１．８９％。     

三株溶藻细菌胞外溶藻活性物质若干分离特性的研究

为了探索新分离到的3株溶藻细菌胞外溶藻活性物质的分离特性,选择了对水华鱼腥藻生长无抑制作用的淀粉培养基培养溶藻细菌.采用透析、乙醇沉淀、有机溶剂萃取、活性炭吸附与解吸等方法对其分离特性进行了研究.溶藻细菌L7的溶藻活性物质的分子量小于3.5 kD,溶藻细菌L8、L18的溶藻活性物质的分子量在3.5 kD～7 kD之间;3株溶藻细菌的胞外溶藻活性物质不能用乙醇沉淀法完全分离;3株溶藻细菌的溶藻活性物质具较好的亲水性和较强的极性,且都不能被活性炭吸附.     

三株溶藻细菌胞外溶藻活性物质若干分离特性的研究

为了探索新分离到的3株溶藻细菌胞外溶藻活性物质的分离特性, 选择了对水华鱼腥藻生长无抑制作用的淀粉培养基培养溶藻细菌。采用透析、乙醇沉淀、有机溶剂萃取、活性炭吸附与解吸等方法对其分离特性进行了研究。溶藻细菌L7的溶藻活性物质的分子量小于3.5 kD, 溶藻细菌L8、L18的溶藻活性物质的分子量在3.5 kD~7 kD之间; 3株溶藻细菌的胞外溶藻活性物质不能用乙醇沉淀法完全分离; 3株溶藻细菌的溶藻活性物质具较好的亲水性和较强的极性, 且都不能被活性炭吸附。     

Two Novel Bacteriophages of Thermophilic Bacteria Isolated from Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Fields

Bacteriophages of thermophiles are of great interest due to their important roles in many biogeochemical and ecological processes. However, no virion has been isolated from deep-sea thermophilic bacteria to date. In this investigation, two lytic bacteriophages (termed Bacillus virus W1 and Geobacillus virus E1) of thermophilic bacteria were purified from deep-sea hydrothermal fields in the Pacific for the first time. Bacillus virus W1 (BVW1) obtained from Bacillus sp. w13, had a long tail (300nm in length and 15 nm in width) and a hexagonal head (70 nm in diameter). Another virus, Geobacillus virus E1 (GVE1) from Geobacillus sp. E26323, was a typical Siphoviridae phage with a hexagonal head (130 nm in diameter) and a tail (180 nm in length and 30 nm in width). The two phages contained double-stranded genomic DNAs. The genomic DNA sizes of BVW1 and GVE1 were estimated to be about 18 and 41 kb, respectively. Based on SDS-PAGE of purified virions, six major proteins were revealed for each of the two phages. The findings in our study will be very helpful to realize the effect of virus on thermophiles as well as the communities in deep-sea hydrothermal fields.     

Economy of Photosynthate Use in Nitrogen-fixing Legume Nodules: Observations on Two Contrasting Symbioses

The economy of C use by root nodules was examined in two symbioses, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (cv. Caloona):Rhizobium CB756 and Lupinus albus L. (cv. Ultra):Rhizobium WU425 over a 2-week period in early vegetative growth. Plants were grown in minus N water culture with cuvettes attached to the nodulated zone of their primary roots for collection of evolved CO₂ and H₂. Increments in total plant N and in C and N of nodules, and C:N weight ratios of xylem and phloem exudates were studied by periodic sampling from the plant populations. Itemized budgets were constructed for the partitioning and utilization of C in the two species. For each milligram N fixed and assimilated by the cowpea association, 1.54 ± 0.26 (standard error) milligrams C as CO₂ and negligible H₂ were evolved and 3.11 milligrams of translocated C utilized by the nodules. Comparable values for nodules of the lupin association were 3.64 ± 0.28 milligrams C as CO₂, 0.22 ± 0.05 milligrams H₂, and 6.58 milligrams C. More efficient use of C by cowpea nodules was due to a lesser requirement of C for synthesis of exported N compounds, a smaller allocation of C to nodule dry matter, and a lower evolution of CO₂. The activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in nodule extracts and the rate of ¹⁴CO₂ fixation by detached nodules were greater for the cowpea symbiosis (0.56 ± 0.06 and 0.22 milligrams C as CO₂ fixed per gram fresh weight per hour, respectively) than for the lupin 0.06 ± 0.02 and 0.01 milligrams C as CO₂ fixed per gram fresh weight per hour. The significance of the data was discussed in relation to current information on theoretical costs of nitrogenase functioning and associated nodule processes.     

Nitrogen-fixing activity in peat soils from a raised bog

The nitrogenase (acetylene reductase) activity in monolithic and minced peat samples was found to be low, no more than 0.014-0.022 mg N/(kg h). Incorporation of the 15N2 isotope into organic compounds of peat soil was from 2.71-8.13 mg N/kg over 15 days. The nitrogen-fixing activity was the highest in a 10-20 cm layer of soil and much lower in the upper (under green moss) and deeper (20-30 cm) layers. The addition of glucose to soil samples stimulated nitrogen fixation considerably after 18-26 h. The maximum nitrogenase activity (3.5-3.8 mg N/(kg h)) observed after 60-70 h coincided with the peak of respiratory activity. A repeated addition of glucose after its exhaustion increased nitrogenase activity without a lag period to 8.5 mg N/(kg h). Investigation of the effect of environmental factors (temperature, pH, aeration, and light intensity) on potential nitrogen-fixing activity in peat samples revealed that nitrogen fixation could proceed in a wide range of pH values (from 3.0 to 7.5) and temperatures (from 5 to 35 degrees C). The nitrogen-fixing bacteria belonging to different trophic groups were enumerated by using nitrogen-free media with pH values and mineralization levels close to those in situ. In samples of peat soil, diazotrophic methanol-utilizing bacteria prevailed (2.0-2.5 x 10(6) cells/g); the second largest group was facultatively anaerobic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae.     

Nitrogen-fixing Enterobacter agglomerans isolated from guts of wood-eating termites.

Two strains of facultatively anaerobic, N2-fixing bacteria were isolated from guts of Coptotermes formosanus and identified as Enterobacter agglomerans. The deoxyribonucleic acid base composition of isolates was 52.6 and 53.1 mol% guanine plus cytosine. Both isolates and a known strain of E. agglomerans carried out a mixed acid type of glucose fermentation. N2 fixation by E. agglomerans was inhibited by O2; consequently, N2 served as an N source only for cells growing anaerobically in media lacking a major source of combined N. However, peptone, NH4Cl, or KNO3 served as an N source under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. It was estimated that 2 x 10(2) cells of E. agglomerans were present per termite gut. This value was 100-fold lower than expected, based on N2 fixation, low recoveries of E. agglomerans may be related to the marked decrease in N2 fixation rates observed when intact termites or their extracted guts were manipulated for the isolation of bacteria. It was concluded that the N2-fixing activity of E. agglomerans may be important to the N economy of C. formosanus.     

Hydrolysis of Selected Organophosphorus Insecticides by Two Bacteria Isolated from Flooded Soil

Flavobacterium sp. ATCC 27551 hydrolysed both diethyl (parathion and diazinon) and dimethyl (methyl parathion and fenitrothion) phosphorothioates while Pseudomonas sp. ATCC 29353 hydrolysed only diethyl (parathion and diazinon) phosphorothioates. Glucose inhibited the hydrolysis of parathion by Pseudomonas sp., but not by Flavobacterium sp. Evidently, the Flavobacterium hydrolase differs from that of Pseudomonas sp. The Pseudomonas sp. converted 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of glucose and to nitrite in its absence; 4-nitrophenol was not metabolized by the Flavobacterium sp.