The Sinorhizobium meliloti RNA chaperone Hfq mediates symbiosis of S. meliloti and alfalfa.

ABSTRACT: There exist commonalities between symbiotic Sinorhizobium meliloti and pathogenic Brucella bacteria in terms of extensive gene synteny and the requirements for intracellular survival in their respective hosts. The RNA chaperone Hfq is essential for virulence for several bacterial groups, including Brucella; however, its role in S. meliloti has not been investigated. Our studies of an S. meliloti loss-of-function hfq mutant have revealed that Hfq plays a key role in the establishment of the symbiosis between S. meliloti and its host Medicago sativa. S. meliloti Hfq is involved in controlling the population density under a free-living state and affects the growth parameters and nodulation. An hfq mutant poorly colonizes the infection threads that are necessary for the bacteria to invade the

SUBMITTER: Barra-Bily L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2832522 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature