Most Sinorhizobium meliloti Extracytoplasmic Function Sigma Factors Control Accessory Functions.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria must sense alterations in their environment and respond with changes in function and/or structure in order to cope. Extracytoplasmic function sigma factors (ECF σs) modulate transcription in response to cellular and environmental signals. The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti carries genes for 11 ECF-like σs (RpoE1 to -E10 and FecI). We hypothesized that some of these play a role in mediating the interaction between the bacterium and its plant symbiotic partner. The bacterium senses changes in its immediate environment as it establishes contact with the plant root, initiates invasion of the plant as the root nodule is formed, traverses several root cell layers, and enters plant cortical cells via endocytosis. We used genetics, transcripto

SUBMITTER: Lang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6180224 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature