April
2010
, Volume
23
, Number
4
Pages
355
-
365
Authors
Mengsheng Gao,1
Melanie J. Barnett,2
Sharon R. Long,2 and
Max Teplitski1
Affiliations
1Soil and Water Science Department, Cancer and Genetics Research Complex, Room 330E, University of Florida-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville 32610, U.S.A.; 2Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, U.S.A.
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Accepted 15 December 2009.
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein Hfq is a global regulator which controls diverse cellular processes in bacteria. To begin understanding the role of Hfq in the Sinorhizobium meliloti--Medicago truncatula nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, we defined free-living and symbiotic phenotypes of an hfq mutant. Over 500 transcripts were differentially accumulated in the hfq mutant of S. meliloti Rm1021 when grown in a shaking culture. Consistent with transcriptome-wide changes, the hfq mutant displayed dramatic alterations in metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds, even though its carbon source utilization profiles were nearly identical to the wild type. The hfq mutant had reduced motility and was impaired for growth at alkaline pH. A deletion of hfq resulted in a reduced symbiotic efficiency, although the mutant was still able to initiate nodule development and differentiate into bacteroids.
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© 2010 The American Phytopathological Society