Expression and characterization of an N-truncated form of the NifA protein of Azospirillum brasilense.

ABSTRACT: Azospirillum brasilense is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with important agricultural crops such as rice, wheat and maize. The expression of genes responsible for nitrogen fixation (nif genes) in this bacterium is dependent on the transcriptional activator NifA. This protein contains three structural domains: the N-terminal domain is responsible for the negative control by fixed nitrogen; the central domain interacts with the RNA polymerase σ(54) co-factor and the C-terminal domain is involved in DNA binding. The central and C-terminal domains are linked by the interdomain linker (IDL). A conserved four-cysteine motif encompassing the end of the central domain and the IDL is probably involved in the oxygen-sensitivity of NifA. In the present study, we have expressed, purified and c

SUBMITTER: Nishikawa CY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3854256 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature