Rhizobium--plant signal exchange

A Rhizobium meliloti homolog of the Escherichia coli peptide-antibiotic transport protein SbmA is essential for bacteroid development

Alfalfa nodules induced by a Rhizobium meliloti strain carrying the bacA386::TnphoA mutation (formerly fix386::TnphoA) were examined by light and electron microscopy. These ineffective nodules were found to contain bacteria within infection threads, but no mature bacteroids were observed. A closer examination revealed that there were undeveloped senescent bacteroids in the plant cells of the nodule invasion zone, strongly suggesting that the symbiotic defect of the bacA386::TnphoA mutant is attributable to an early block in bacteroid development. The expression of the bacA gene in effective nodules was monitored with a bacA-phoA fusion and found to be strongest in the region where developing bacteroids are found. The bacA+ gene was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis indicated that BacA is probably an integral inner membrane protein with seven transmembrane domains and that it is extremely homologous to Escherichia coli SbmA, an inner membrane protein required for the uptake of microcin B17, a peptide antibiotic. Southern blotting experiments indicate that a gene closely related to bacA/sbmA is found in many bacteria, including some that invade eukaryotic cells. Possible roles for BacA in symbiosis are discussed.

Biosynthesis of succinoglycan, a symbiotically important exopolysaccharide of Rhizobium meliloti

The exo genes of Rhizobium meliloti are needed for the synthesis of an acidic exopolysaccharide, succinoglycan. We have assigned biosynthetic roles to the products of the exo genes by characterizing succinoglycan biosynthetic intermediates from exo mutant strains. We propose a model of succinoglycan biosynthesis in which the products of the exoY and exoF genes function in the addition of the first sugar, galactose, to the lipid carrier; the products of the exoA, exoL, exoM, exoO, exoU, and exoW genes function in subsequent sugar additions; and the product of the exoV gene functions in the addition of pyruvate. The products of the exoP, exoQ, and exoT genes are required for polymerization of the octasaccharide subunits or transport of the completed polymer.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a sym plasmid locus that regulates cultivar-specific nodulation of soybean by Rhizobium fredii USDA257

Rhizobium fredii strain USDA257 produces nitrogen-fixing nodules on primitive soybean cultivars such as Peking but fails to nodulate agronomically improved cultivars such as McCall. Transposon-mutant 257DH4 has two new phenotypes: it nodulates McCall, and its ability to do so is sensitive to the presence of parental strain USDA257, i.e. it is subject to competitive nodulation blocking. We have isolated a cosmid containing DNA that corresponds to the site of transposon insertion in 257DH4 and have localized Tn5 on an 8.0 kb EcoRI fragment. The 5596 bp DNA sequence that surrounds the insertion site contains seven open reading frames. Five of these, designated nolBTU, ORF4, and nolV, are closely spaced and of the same polarity. nolW and nolX are of the opposite polarity. The initiation codon for nolW lies 155 bp upstream from that of nolB, and its is separated from nolX by 281 bp. The predicted NolT and NolW proteins have putative membrane-spanning regions. The N-terminus of the hypothetical NolW protein also has limited homology to NodH of Rhizobium meliloti, but none of the deduced protein sequences has significant homology to known nodulation gene products. Site-directed mutagenesis with mudII1734 confirms that inactivation of nolB, nolT, nolU, nolV, nolW, or nolX extends host range for nodulation to McCall soybean. This phenotype could not be genetically dissected from sensitivity to competitive nodulation blocking. Expression of nolBTU and nolX is induced as much as 30-fold by flavonoid signal molecules, even though these genes lack nod-box promoters. Histochemical staining of McCall roots inoculated with nolB-, nolU-, or nolX-lacZ fusions verifies that these genes are expressed continuously from preinfection to the stage of the functional nodule. Although a nolU-ORF4-nolV clone hybridizes to a single 8.0 kb EcoRI fragment from 10 strains of R. fredii and broad-host-range Rhizobium sp. NGR234, hybridizing sequences are not detectable in other rhizobia.

The acetyl substituent of succinoglycan is not necessary for alfalfa nodule invasion by Rhizobium meliloti Rm1021

Rhizobium meliloti Rm1021 requires a Calcofluor-binding exopolysaccharide, termed succinoglycan or EPS I, to invade alfalfa nodules. We have determined that a strain carrying a mutation in the exoZ locus produces succinoglycan that lacks the acetyl substituent. The exoZ mutant nodules alfalfa normally.

Overproduction, solubilization, purification and DNA-binding properties of AmpR from Citrobacter freundii

AmpR belongs to the LysR family of prokaryotic DNA-binding transcriptional regulators and controls induction of the enterobacterial ampC beta-lactamase gene. The ampR gene of Citrobacter freundii was deregulated by employing the polymerase chain reaction to introduce an efficient ribosome-binding sequence and suitable restriction enzyme sites for cloning into a chemically inducible tac-promoter expression vector. When induced in Escherichia coli, the modified ampR gene rapidly overproduced the AmpR protein as an insoluble aggregate. The AmpR protein could be solubilized with 1.32 M guanidine/HCl and remained soluble when dialyzed against 0.5 M NaCl. The solubility properties of AmpR were exploited to selectively precipitate and resolubilize the protein in a nearly homogenous state. AmpR was then purified by a single gel-filtration chromatography step which demonstrated that AmpR exists in solution as a monodisperse homodimeric protein. Several milligrams of purified AmpR could be obtained routinely from a 1-1 culture of induced bacteria. A DNA-binding assay buffer containing 300 mM potassium glutamate and 30% glycerol was found to stabilize AmpR and used to demonstrate sequence-specific DNA-binding. Additionally, purified AmpR binds a half-operator DNA with an inverted-repeat sequence which competes with binding by the wild-type operator. These findings are discussed in terms of the helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif, whereby AmpR is proposed to interact with its wild-type operator as a dimer of dimers.

The NodL and NodJ proteins from Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium strains are similar to capsular polysaccharide secretion proteins from gram-negative bacteria

The NodL and NodJ nodulation proteins have been described in different Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium species. The nodLJ genes belong to the nod regulon. Other genes from this regulon are involved in the biosynthesis and modification of lipo-oligosaccharide molecule(s) which are morphogenic signals when acting on legume roots. It has been proposed that the NodL and NodJ proteins belong to a bacterial inner membrane transport system of small molecules. Nucleotide sequencing of Mudll PR13 insertions in the nodulation region of the symbiotic plasmid from a Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli strain CE3 has revealed the presence of nodL and nodJ-related sequences downstream of nodC. Computer nucleotide sequence analysis of the entire NodL and NodJ sequences from R. leguminosarum bv. viciae and Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains show that both proteins are similar to the KpsT and KpsM proteins from Escherichia coli K1 and K5 strains, to the BexB and BexA proteins from Haemophilis influenzae and to the CtrD and CtrC proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, respectively. Except for the NodL and NodJ proteins, all of them have been involved in the mechanism of secretion of polysaccharides in each of their harbouring species. On the basis of the similarity found, we propose that the NodL and the NodJ proteins could be involved in the export of a lipo-oligosaccharide.

Carbohydrate analysis

Carbohydrate analysis is an active field that is expanding rapidly. Hundreds of new structures are reported each year and methods for screening glycopolymers for known structures are now becoming accessible to the nonspecialist. Detailed structure analysis of recombinant glycoproteins has become relatively routine in specialist laboratories. Rapid advances are being made in the understanding of structure and function of biologically active carbohydrates that are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry.

Rhizobium NodB protein involved in nodulation signal synthesis is a chitooligosaccharide deacetylase

The common nodulation genes nodABC are conserved in all rhizobia and are involved in synthesis of a lipooligosaccharide signal molecule. This bacterial signal consists of a chitooligosaccharide backbone, which carries at the nonreducing end a fatty acyl chain. The modified chitooligosaccharide molecule triggers development of nodules on the roots of the leguminous host plant. To elucidate the specific role of the NodB protein in nodulation factor synthesis, we have purified recombinant NodB and determined its biochemical role by direct assays. Our data show that the NodB protein of Rhizobium meliloti deacetylates the nonreducing N-acetylglucosamine residue of chitooligosaccharides. The monosaccharide N-acetylglucosamine is not deacetylated by NodB. In the pathway of Nod factor synthesis, deacetylation at the nonreducing end of the oligosaccharide backbone may be a necessary requirement for attachment of the fatty acyl chain.

The physical biochemistry and molecular genetics of sulfate activation

This article is an overview of current research in the area of sulfate activation. Emphasis is placed on presenting unresolved issues in an appropriate context for critical evaluation by the reader. The energetics of sulfate activation is reevaluated in light of recent findings that demonstrate that the synthesis of activated sulfate is thermodynamically driven by GTP hydrolysis. The structural and functional bases of this GTPase activation are discussed in detail. The bonding and hydrolysis of the high-energy, phosphoric-sulfuric acid anhydride bond of activated sulfate are presented along with an analysis of the importance of the divalent cation and pyrophosphate protonation in the equilibria governing activated sulfate formation. The molecular genetics of sulfate assimilation in prokaryotes is reviewed with an emphasis on the regulation of the pathway. Recent discoveries connecting sulfate activation to plant/microbe symbiogenesis are presented, as are several examples of the importance of activated sulfate in human metabolism and disease.

Molecular mechanism of host specificity in legume-rhizobium symbiosis

Rhizobium - legume symbiosis is a highly specific interaction between the two partners. Host specificity is evident at early stages of infection and results from multiple interactions involving signalling among bacteria and host plants. Host specific plant signals (flavanoids) convert the NodD protein to an active form and its binding with nod box initiates the transcription of inducible nod operons. Common nod genes (nodABC) code for an extracellular mitogenic Nod factor which is required for nodule organogenesis. Host specific genes (hsn) modify the Nod factor to induce root hair deformation on specific hosts. The structure of Nod factor controls host range distinction between species and biovars of rhizobia. Interactions of lectins and Exopolysaccharide/Lipopolysaccharide result in host specific attachment of Rhizobium and its subsequent invasion. Change in Expopolysaccharide structure by the transfer of hsn genes enables the Rhizobium to bind with heterologous host lectins. Conversely, changes in root lectins via gene manipulation enables the heterologous rhizobia to bind and initiate nodulation on heterologous hosts. Finally, host specific signals are required to initiate nitrogen fixation in nodules that are formed.

Broad-host-range Rhizobium species strain NGR234 secretes a family of carbamoylated, and fucosylated, nodulation signals that are O-acetylated or sulphated

Rhizobium species strain NGR234 is the most promiscuous known rhizobium. In addition to the non-legume Parasponia andersonii, it nodulates at least 70 genera of legumes. Here we show that the nodulation genes of this bacterium determine the production of a large family of Nod-factors which are N-acylated chitin pentamers carrying a variety of substituents. The terminal non-reducing glucosamine is N-acylated with vaccenic or palmitic acids, is N-methylated, and carries varying numbers of carbamoyl groups. The reducing N-acetyl-glucosamine residue is substituted on position 6 with 2-O-methyl-L-fucose which may be acetylated or sulphated or non-substituted. All three internal residues are N-acetylated. At pico- to nanomolar concentrations, these signal molecules exhibit biological activities on the tropical legumes Macroptilium and Vigna (Phaseoleae), as well as on both the temperate genera Medicago (Trifoliae) and Vicia (Viciae). These data strongly suggest that the uniquely broad host range of NGR234 is mediated by the synthesis of a family of varied sulphated and non-sulphated lipo-oligosaccharide signals.

Molecular signals in the interactions between plants and microbes

The field of plant-microbe interactions has witnessed several recent breakthroughs, such as the molecular details of vir gene induction, identification of Nod factors, and the cloning and characterization of avr genes. Other breakthroughs, such as the cloning and characterization of R genes, appear imminent. Parallels to mammalian systems are emerging in the world of plant-microbe interactions, for example, ion channels formed by Rhizobium proteins, similarities of hrp genes to pathogenicity genes of mammalian pathogens, and plant signal transduction via calcium and protein phosphorylation. We remain, however, largely ignorant of many facets of signaling in plant-microbe interactions. We know little about how microbial signals are perceived by plants or how subsequent signal transduction occurs within plant cells and are probably unaware of many of the microbe-generated signals to which plants respond or of plant-generated signals to which bacteria and fungi respond. Contributions from those working on the genetics, molecular biology, and physiology of bacteria, fungi, and plants will be required to address these questions. The many nonpathogenic plant-microbe interactions in addition to the Rhizobium-plant interaction remain relatively unexplored. Genetic and molecular approaches are being initiated to investigate the signaling that is likely to underlie interactions such as those between mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots and between epiphytic bacteria and plant leaf surfaces. The importance of these interactions to plant growth and development makes it likely that they will figure more prominently at future symposia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Developmental biology of legume nodulation

Many legumes respond to Rhizobium inoculation by developing unique structures known as nodules on their roots. The development of a legume nodule in which rhizobia convert atmospheric N₂ into ammonia is a finely tuned process. Gene expression from both partners of the symbiosis must be temporally and spatially coordinated. Exactly how this coordination takes place is an area of intense study. Nodule morphogenesis appears to be elicited by at least two distinct signals: one from Rhizobium, a product of the nod genes (Nod factor), and a second signal, which is generated within plant tissues after treatment with Nod factor. The identity of the second signal is unknown but changes in the balance of endogenous plant hormones or the sensitivity of plant tissues to these hormones are likely to be involved. These hormonal changes may be triggered by endogenous flavonoids produced by the root in response to inoculation with Rhizobium. There is some controversy as to whether the legume nodule is an organ sui generis or a highly derived lateral root. A resolution of this question may become more critical as attempts to induce nodules on non-legume hosts, such as rice or maize, increase in number and scope. CONTENTS Summary 211 I. Introduction 211 II. Nodule development 213 III. Nodule initiation 220 IV. The second signal for nodule morphogenesis: role for the plant hormones ? 225 V. Lateral root development 229 VI. Are nodules modified lateral roots ? 229 VII. Conclusions and future prospects 231 Acknowledgements and dedication 232 References 232.

Molecular mechanisms of attachment of Rhizobium bacteria to plant roots

Attachment of bacteria to plant cells is one of the earliest steps in many plant-bacterium interactions. This review covers the current knowledge on one of the best-studied examples of bacterium-plant attachment, namely the molecular mechanism by which Rhizobium bacteria adhere to plant roots. Despite differences in several studies with regard to growth conditions of bacteria and plants and to methods used for measuring attachment, an overall consensus can be drawn from the available data. Rhizobial attachment to plant root hairs appears to be a two-step process. A bacterial Ca(2+)-binding protein, designated as rhicadhesin, is involved in direct attachment of bacteria to the surface of the root hair cell. Besides this step, there is another step which results mainly in accumulation and anchoring of the bacteria to the surface of the root hair. This leads to so-called firm attachment. Depending on the growth conditions of the bacteria, the latter step is mediated by plant lectins and/or by bacterial appendages such as cellulose fibrils and fimbriae. The possible role of these adhesions in root nodule formation is discussed.

Control of the cell cycle

Cell division is arguably the most fundamental developmental process for single-celled and multicellular organisms alike. The pathway from one cell division to the next is known as the cell cycle. A conserved biochemical regulatory network controls progress along this pathway in plants, animals, and yeasts. This review is intended to serve as a primer on the current state of the eukaryotic cell cycle regulatory model, an introduction to the special roles of cell division and its control in plant development, and a review of recent progress in applying the universal mitotic control paradigm to higher plant systems.