Functional Analysis of Nine Putative Chemoreceptor Proteins inSinorhizobium meliloti
10.1128/jb.00883-06
Crossref journal-article
American Society for Microbiology
Journal of Bacteriology (235)
Abstract

ABSTRACTThe genome of the symbiotic soil bacteriumSinorhizobium meliloticontains eight genes coding for methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) McpS to McpZ and one gene coding for a transducer-like protein, IcpA. Seven of the MCPs are localized in the cytoplasmic membrane via two membrane-spanning regions, whereas McpY and IcpA lack such hydrophobic regions. The periplasmic regions of McpU, McpV, and McpX contain the small-ligand-binding domain Cache. In addition, McpU possesses the ligand-binding domain TarH. By probing gene expression withlacZfusions, we have identifiedmcpUandmcpXas being highly expressed. Deletion of any one of the receptor genes caused impairments in the chemotactic response toward most organic acids, amino acids, and sugars in a swarm plate assay. The data imply that chemoreceptor proteins inS. melilotican sense more than one class of carbon source and suggest that many or all receptors work as an ensemble. Tactic responses were virtually eliminated for a strain lacking all nine receptor genes. Capillary assays revealed three important sensors for the strong attractant proline: McpU, McpX, and McpY. Receptor deletions variously affected free-swimming speed and attractant-induced chemokinesis. Noticeably, cells lackingmcpUwere swimming 9% slower than the wild-type control. We infer that McpU inhibits the kinase activity of CheA in the absence of an attractant. Cells lacking one of the two soluble receptors were impaired in chemokinetic proficiency by more than 50%. We propose that the internal sensors, IcpA and the PAS domain containing McpY, monitor the metabolic state ofS. meliloti.

Bibliography

Meier, V. M., Muschler, P., & Scharf, B. E. (2007). Functional Analysis of Nine Putative Chemoreceptor Proteins inSinorhizobium meliloti. Journal of Bacteriology, 189(5), 1816–1826.

Authors 3
  1. Veronika M. Meier (first)
  2. Paul Muschler (additional)
  3. Birgit E. Scharf (additional)
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Dates
Type When
Created 18 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 22, 2006, 8:34 p.m.)
Deposited 1 year, 6 months ago (Feb. 9, 2024, 10:43 a.m.)
Indexed 1 week, 5 days ago (Aug. 19, 2025, 5:55 a.m.)
Issued 18 years, 5 months ago (March 1, 2007)
Published 18 years, 5 months ago (March 1, 2007)
Published Print 18 years, 5 months ago (March 1, 2007)
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@article{Meier_2007, title={Functional Analysis of Nine Putative Chemoreceptor Proteins inSinorhizobium meliloti}, volume={189}, ISSN={1098-5530}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jb.00883-06}, DOI={10.1128/jb.00883-06}, number={5}, journal={Journal of Bacteriology}, publisher={American Society for Microbiology}, author={Meier, Veronika M. and Muschler, Paul and Scharf, Birgit E.}, year={2007}, month=mar, pages={1816–1826} }