Characterization of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum NtrC regulon by DNA Microarray analysis.
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ABSTRACT: The Bradyrhizobium japonicum NtrC regulatory protein influences gene expression in response to changes in intracellular nitrogen status. Under conditions of low nitrogen, phosphorylation of NtrC results in up-regulation of a number of genes involved in nitrogen metabolism and nitrogen acquisition. To better define the exact nature of NtrC’s influence on gene expression, a ntrC mutation was created in B. japonicum and transcriptional profiling was performed by DNA microarray analysis of both the mutant and wild type strains. Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 and a ntrC mutant in the USDA 110 background were cultured in minimal medium supplemented with either 10mM glutamate (low nitrogen) or 10mM ammonium and 10mM glutamate (high nitrogen) as nitrogen sources. Four comparisons were performed: wild type high nitrogen vs. mutant high nitrogen, wild type low nitrogen vs. wild type high nitrogen, wild type low nitrogen vs. mutant low nitrogen, and mutant low nitrogen vs. mutant high nitrogen. For each of the four comparisons, three biological replicates were prepared for each strain and dye swap replications were performed for each hybridization producing a total of six arrays per comparison and 24 arrays in total.
Project description:The Bradyrhizobium japonicum NtrC regulatory protein influences gene expression in response to changes in intracellular nitrogen status. Under conditions of low nitrogen, phosphorylation of NtrC results in up-regulation of a number of genes involved in nitrogen metabolism and nitrogen acquisition. To better define the exact nature of NtrC’s influence on gene expression, a ntrC mutation was created in B. japonicum and transcriptional profiling was performed by DNA microarray analysis of both the mutant and wild type strains.
Project description:The Bradyrhizobium japonicum NtrC regulatory protein influences gene expression in response to changes in intracellular nitrogen status. Under conditions of low nitrogen, phosphorylation of NtrC results in up-regulation of a number of genes involved in nitrogen metabolism and nitrogen acquisition. To better define the exact nature of NtrC’s influence on gene expression, a ntrC mutation was created in B. japonicum and transcriptional profiling was performed by DNA microarray analysis of both the mutant and wild type strains.
Project description:Elevated atmospheric CO2 can influence the structure and function of rhizosphere microorganisms by altering root growth and the quality and quantity of compounds released into the rhizosphere via root exudation. In these studies we investigated the transcriptional responses of Bradyrhizobium japonicum cells growing in the rhizosphere of soybean plants exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2. Transciptomic expression profiles indicated that genes involved in carbon/nitrogen metabolism, and FixK2-associated genes, including those involved in nitrogen fixation, microanaerobic respiration, respiratory nitrite reductase, and heme biosynthesis, were significantly up-regulated under conditions of elevated CO2, relative to plants and bacteria grown under ambient CO2 growth conditions. The expression profile of genes involved in lipochitinoligosaccharide Nod factor biosynthesis and negative transcriptional regulators of nodulation genes, nolA and nodD2, were also influenced by plant growth under conditions of elevated CO2. Taken together, results of these studies indicate that growth of soybeans under conditions of elevated atmospheric CO2 influences gene expressions in B. japonicum in the soybean rhizosphere, resulting in changes to carbon/nitrogen metabolism, respiration, and nodulation efficiency. Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains were grown in the soybean rhizosphere under two different CO2 concentrations. Transcriptional profiling of B. japonicum was compared between cells grown under elevated CO2 and ambient conditions. Four biological replicates of each treatment were prepared, and four microarray slides were used for each strain.
Project description:A transcriptomic analysis of bacteroids isolated from soybean plants inoculated with B. japonicum USDA 110, relative to cells cultured in HM-arabinose medium was performed and the results combined with two other transcriptomic analyses to form a reiterated pool of transcripts that define genes essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Four independent biological replicates for bacteroids and free-living cells. Total of 8 arrays including dye swap.
Project description:A time-course transcriptomic analysis of bacteroids isolated from soybean plants inoculated with B. japonicum USDA 110, relative to cells cultured in HM-arabinose medium was performed to characterize senescence genes. Four independent biological materials for bacteroids and free-living cells at 6 time points. Seven or eight arrays including dye swap are presented at each time point.
Project description:The ability of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. elkanii strains to utilize alkane and aromatic sulfonates as sole sources of sulfur for growth was investigated. All of the strains tested were able to utilize alkane sulfonates, but not aromatic sulfonates for growth. Whole-genome transcriptional profiling was used to assess B. japonicum USDA 110 genes involved in growth on alkane sulfonates, as compared to growth on sulfate and cysteine. Two sets of genes, bll7007 to bll7011 and bll6449 to 6456 were highly expressed during growth with sulfate and sulfonates. These genes were predicted to encode alkanesulfonate monooxygenases and ABC transporter components. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analyses showed that these genes were organized in two operon-like structures and expressed as polycistronic messages. The sulfonate monooxygenase encoded by bll7010 (ssuD) complemented an E. coli mutant defective in utilization of sulfonates. The expression of many genes that were induced during growth on cysteine and taurine were under the control of the FixLJ-FixK2-FixK1 symbiotic nitrogen fixation cascade, indicating there is a novel linkage between sulfur metabolism and nitrogen fixation. Taken together, results of this study indicate that Bradyrhizobium sp. strains are metabolically diverse and likely use organosulfur compounds for growth and survival, and for legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soil systems.
Project description:The ability of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. elkanii strains to utilize alkane and aromatic sulfonates as sole sources of sulfur for growth was investigated. All of the strains tested were able to utilize alkane sulfonates, but not aromatic sulfonates for growth. Whole-genome transcriptional profiling was used to assess B. japonicum USDA 110 genes involved in growth on alkane sulfonates, as compared to growth on sulfate and cysteine. Two sets of genes, bll7007 to bll7011 and bll6449 to 6456 were highly expressed during growth with sulfate and sulfonates. These genes were predicted to encode alkanesulfonate monooxygenases and ABC transporter components. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analyses showed that these genes were organized in two operon-like structures and expressed as polycistronic messages. The sulfonate monooxygenase encoded by bll7010 (ssuD) complemented an E. coli mutant defective in utilization of sulfonates. The expression of many genes that were induced during growth on cysteine and taurine were under the control of the FixLJ-FixK2-FixK1 symbiotic nitrogen fixation cascade, indicating there is a novel linkage between sulfur metabolism and nitrogen fixation. Taken together, results of this study indicate that Bradyrhizobium sp. strains are metabolically diverse and likely use organosulfur compounds for growth and survival, and for legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soil systems. Three independent biological materials were prepared for sulfate or sulfonate supplemented cells. Total 12 arrays including dye swap were analyzed.
Project description:Legumes interact with nodulating bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for plant use. This nitrogen fixation takes place within root nodules that form after infection of root hairs by compatible rhizobia. Using cDNA microarrays, we monitored gene expression in soybean (Glycine max) inoculated with the nodulating bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum 4, 8, and 16 days after inoculation (dai), time points that coincided with nodule development and the onset of nitrogen fixation. This experiment identified several thousand genes that were differentially expressed in response to B. japonicum inoculation. Expression of 27 genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR and their expression patterns mimicked the microarray results confirming integrity of analyses. The microarray results suggest that B. japonicum reduces plant defense responses during nodule development. In addition, the data revealed a high level of regulatory complexity (transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, post-translational) that is likely essential for development of the symbiosis and adjustment to an altered nutritional status. Keywords = symbiosis Keywords = nodulation Keywords = rhizobium Keywords = defense Keywords = ANOVA Keywords = plant loop design, 7 samples, 7 comparison, 2 technical repeats including dye swaps, 4 biological repeats
Project description:A transcriptomic analysis of bacteroids isolated from soybean plants inoculated with B. japonicum USDA 110, relative to cells cultured in HM-arabinose medium was performed and the results combined with two other transcriptomic analyses to form a reiterated pool of transcripts that define genes essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.