Environmental modulation of the pssTNOP gene expression in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii

Can J Microbiol. 2004 Mar;50(3):201-11. doi: 10.1139/w04-004.

Abstract

Exopolysaccharide production by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is required for successful establishment of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Using plasmid-borne transcriptional fusions of promoters of pss genes with promoterless lacZ the effect of root exudate, phosphate, and ammonia on expression of pssT, pssN, pssO, and pssP genes in wild-type strain RtTA1 background was determined. A stimulating effect of these environmental factors on pssO and pssP gene expression was observed. The putative pssO gene promoter was determined to be a strong promoter within which the divergent nod-box element was identified. The pssO promoter was slightly inducible in a flavonoid-dependent manner in wild-type R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strains RtTA1 and ANU843 and very weakly active in a mutant of strain ANU843 that lacks the regulatory nodD gene. The expression of pssO and pssP genes in planta was investigated using plasmid-borne pssO-gusA and pssP-gusA fusions under different phosphate availability to clover. The level of pssO-gusA fusion expression was shown to be dependent on phosphate concentration in the plant growth medium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Gene Fusion
  • Base Sequence
  • Flavonoids / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Gene Order
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Glucuronidase / genetics
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism
  • Medicago / microbiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphates / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / biosynthesis*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / metabolism
  • Rhizobium leguminosarum / genetics*
  • Symbiosis
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Phosphates
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • Glucuronidase