An Energy Taxis Transducer Promotes Root Colonization byAzospirillum brasilense
10.1128/jb.186.19.6595-6604.2004
Crossref journal-article
American Society for Microbiology
Journal of Bacteriology (235)
Abstract

ABSTRACTMotility responses triggered by changes in the electron transport system are collectively known as energy taxis. InAzospirillum brasilense, energy taxis was shown to be the principal form of locomotor control. In the present study, we have identified a novel chemoreceptor-like protein, named Tlp1, which serves as an energy taxis transducer. The Tlp1 protein is predicted to have an N-terminal periplasmic region and a cytoplasmic C-terminal signaling module homologous to those of other chemoreceptors. The predicted periplasmic region of Tlp1 comprises a conserved domain that is found in two types of microbial sensory receptors: chemotaxis transducers and histidine kinases. However, the function of this domain is currently unknown. We characterized the behavior of atlp1mutant by a series of spatial and temporal gradient assays. Thetlp1mutant is deficient in (i) chemotaxis to several rapidly oxidizable substrates, (ii) taxis to terminal electron acceptors (oxygen and nitrate), and (iii) redox taxis. Taken together, the data strongly suggest that Tlp1 mediates energy taxis inA. brasilense. Using qualitative and quantitative assays, we have also demonstrated that thetlp1mutant is impaired in colonization of plant roots. This finding supports the hypothesis that energy taxis and therefore bacterial metabolism might be key factors in determining host specificity inAzospirillum-grass associations.

Bibliography

Greer-Phillips, S. E., Stephens, B. B., & Alexandre, G. (2004). An Energy Taxis Transducer Promotes Root Colonization byAzospirillum brasilense. Journal of Bacteriology, 186(19), 6595–6604.

Authors 3
  1. Suzanne E. Greer-Phillips (first)
  2. Bonnie B. Stephens (additional)
  3. Gladys Alexandre (additional)
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Dates
Type When
Created 20 years, 11 months ago (Sept. 16, 2004, 2:43 p.m.)
Deposited 1 year, 7 months ago (Jan. 14, 2024, 5:48 a.m.)
Indexed 1 month ago (Aug. 2, 2025, 12:30 a.m.)
Issued 20 years, 11 months ago (Oct. 1, 2004)
Published 20 years, 11 months ago (Oct. 1, 2004)
Published Print 20 years, 11 months ago (Oct. 1, 2004)
Funders 0

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@article{Greer_Phillips_2004, title={An Energy Taxis Transducer Promotes Root Colonization byAzospirillum brasilense}, volume={186}, ISSN={1098-5530}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jb.186.19.6595-6604.2004}, DOI={10.1128/jb.186.19.6595-6604.2004}, number={19}, journal={Journal of Bacteriology}, publisher={American Society for Microbiology}, author={Greer-Phillips, Suzanne E. and Stephens, Bonnie B. and Alexandre, Gladys}, year={2004}, month=oct, pages={6595–6604} }