A CheR/CheB fusion protein is involved in cyst cell development and chemotaxis in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7.

Abstract

We here report the sequence and functional analysis of cstB of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7. The predicted cstB contains C-terminal two PAS domains and N-terminal part which has similarity with CheB-CheR fusion protein. cstB mutants had reduced swarming ability compared to that of A. brasilense wild-type strain, implying that cstB was involved in chemotaxis in A. brasilense. A microscopic analysis revealed that cstB mutants developed mature cyst cells more quickly than wild type, indicating that cstB is involved in cyst formation. cstB mutants were affected in colony morphology and the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) which are essential for A. brasilense cells to differentiate into cyst-like forms. These observations suggested that cstB was a multi-effector involved in cyst development and chemotaxis in A. brasilense.

• Authors: Lixian Wu, Yanhua Cui, Yuanyuan Hong, Sanfeng Chen
• Journal: Microbiological research (Microbiol Res) Vol. 166 Issue 8 Pg. 606-17 (Dec 20 2011) ISSN: 1618-0623 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 21232929 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Bacterial Proteins
• DNA, Bacterial
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial
• CheB protein, Bacteria
• Methyltransferases

Topics

• Azospirillum brasilense (cytology, genetics, growth & development, physiology)
• Bacterial Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Chemotaxis
• DNA, Bacterial (chemistry, genetics)
• Gene Deletion
• Gene Fusion
• Locomotion
• Methyltransferases (genetics, metabolism)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial (metabolism)
• Protein Structure, Tertiary
• Sequence Analysis, DNA