Isolation and characterization of Azotobacter vinelandii mutants impaired in alkylresorcinol synthesis: alkylresorcinols are not essential for cyst desiccation resistance.

ABSTRACT: During encystment of Azotobacter vinelandii, a family of alkylresorcinols (ARs) and alkylpyrones (APs) are synthesized. In the mature cyst, these lipids replace the membrane phospholipids and are also components of the layers covering the cyst. In this study, A. vinelandii strains unable to synthesize ARs were isolated after mini-Tn5 mutagenesis. Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the affected loci revealed the presence of the transposons within the arsA gene of the previously reported arsABCD gene cluster, which encodes a type I fatty acid synthase. A mutant strain (SW-A) carrying an arsA mutation allowing transcription of arsBCD was constructed and shown to be unable to produce ARs, indicating that the ArsA protein is essential for the synthesis of these phenolic lipids. Transcription

SUBMITTER: Segura D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2681798 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature