The purMN genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum and a superficial link with siderophore production

James B. Stevens, Nicola G. de Luca, John E. Beringer, John P. Ringer, Kay H. Yeoman, Andrew W. B. Johnston

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9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We isolated a mutant of R. leguminosarum initially on the basis of reduced production of the siderophore Vicibactin on chrome azurol sulfonate (CAS)/agar indicator plates. The mutation was in the purMN operon and the mutant was shown to be an adenine auxotroph and defective for nodulation of peas. The siderophore defect appears to be trivial, being due to diminished growth of the auxotroph on agar-based minimal medium, which contains unknown contaminant(s) that allow it grow poorly. Transcriptional fusions showed that purMN was transcribed at relatively high levels in media containing purines. Expression was enhanced, approximately twofold, if purines were omitted.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)228-231
Number of pages4
JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2000

Keywords

  • N 2 fixation
  • Purine auxotrophy

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