Phosphate Assimilation in Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti: Identification of a pit-Like Gene

AUTOR(ES)

Bardin, Sylvie D.

FONTE

American Society for Microbiology

RESUMO

Rhizobium meliloti mutants defective in the phoCDET-encoded phosphate transport system form root nodules on alfalfa plants that fail to fix nitrogen (Fix−). We have previously reported that two classes of second-site mutations can suppress the Fix− phenotype of phoCDET mutants to Fix+. Here we show that one of these suppressor loci (sfx1) contains two genes, orfA and pit, which appear to form an operon transcribed in the order orfA-pit. The Pit protein is homologous to various phosphate transporters, and we present evidence that three suppressor mutations arose from a single thymidine deletion in a hepta-thymidine sequence centered 54 nucleotides upstream of the orfA transcription start site. This mutation increased the level of orfA-pit transcription. These data, together with previous biochemical evidence, show that the orfA-pit genes encode a Pi transport system that is expressed in wild-type cells grown with excess Pi but repressed in cells under conditions of Pi limitation. In phoCDET mutant cells, orfA-pit expression is repressed, but this repression is alleviated by the second-site suppressor mutations. Suppression increases orfA-pit expression compensating for the deficiencies in phosphate assimilation and symbiosis of the phoCDET mutants.

Documentos Relacionados

• Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Degradation in Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti: Isolation and Characterization of a Gene Encoding 3-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase
• Pit-like changes of the optic nerve head in open-angle glaucoma.
• Characterization of the Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti high- and low-affinity phosphate uptake systems.
• Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti phn Genes: Characterization and Identification of Their Protein Products
• Genetic Analysis of Mutations Affecting Pcka Regulation in Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) Meliloti