Skip to main content
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1994 Sep;60(9):3413–3415. doi: 10.1128/aem.60.9.3413-3415.1994

Isolation of Azospirillum lipoferum 4T Tn5 Mutants Affected in Melanization and Laccase Activity

D Faure 1,*, M L Bouillant 1, R Bally 1
PMCID: PMC201819  PMID: 16349390

Abstract

Azospirillum lipoferum 4T has original properties such as nonmotility, melanin synthesis, and laccase activity. Following random Tn5 mutagenesis in A. lipoferum 4T, we obtained 10 mutants which were affected in melanization and laccase activity. The class 1 mutants, with intermediate levels of laccase activity, showed some coloration; the class 2 mutants, which were completely negative for laccase activity, were also colorless. The Tn5 localization on the chromosome or on the cryptic 300-MDa plasmid of A. lipoferum 4T was proven by hybridization for all class 1 mutants or for most class 2 mutants, respectively.

Full text

PDF
3413

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bally R., Givaudan A. Mobilization and transfer of Azospirillum lipoferum plasmid by the Tn5-Mob transposon into a plasmid-free Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain. Can J Microbiol. 1988 Dec;34(12):1354–1357. doi: 10.1139/m88-239. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bao W., O'malley D. M., Whetten R., Sederoff R. R. A laccase associated with lignification in loblolly pine xylem. Science. 1993 Apr 30;260(5108):672–674. doi: 10.1126/science.260.5108.672. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Beringer J. E. R factor transfer in Rhizobium leguminosarum. J Gen Microbiol. 1974 Sep;84(1):188–198. doi: 10.1099/00221287-84-1-188. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Borthakur D., Lamb J. W., Johnston A. W. Identification of two classes of Rhizobium phaseoli genes required for melanin synthesis, one of which is required for nitrogen fixation and activates the transcription of the other. Mol Gen Genet. 1987 Apr;207(1):155–160. doi: 10.1007/BF00331503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cubo M. T., Buendia-Claveria A. M., Beringer J. E., Ruiz-Sainz J. E. Melanin production by Rhizobium strains. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1988 Jul;54(7):1812–1817. doi: 10.1128/aem.54.7.1812-1817.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Eckhardt T. A rapid method for the identification of plasmid desoxyribonucleic acid in bacteria. Plasmid. 1978 Sep;1(4):584–588. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(78)90016-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hawkins F. K., Johnston A. W. Transcription of a Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli gene needed for melanin synthesis is activated by nifA of Rhizobium and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Mol Microbiol. 1988 May;2(3):331–337. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1988.tb00036.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. JENSEN S. L., COHEN-BAZIRE G., NAKAYAMA T. O., STANIER R. Y. The path of carotenoid synthesis in a photosynthetic bacterium. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1958 Sep;29(3):477–498. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(58)90003-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lee Y. H., Chen B. F., Wu S. Y., Leu W. M., Lin J. J., Chen C. W., Lo S. C. A trans-acting gene is required for the phenotypic expression of a tyrosinase gene in Streptomyces. Gene. 1988 May 15;65(1):71–81. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(88)90418-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lerch K., Ettinger L. Purification and characterization of a tyrosinase from Streptomyces glaucescens. Eur J Biochem. 1972 Dec 18;31(3):427–437. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1972.tb02549.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Martín M. F., Liras P. Organization and expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of antibiotics and other secondary metabolites. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1989;43:173–206. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.43.100189.001133. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Mercado-Blanco J., García F., Fernández-López M., Olivares J. Melanin production by Rhizobium meliloti GR4 is linked to nonsymbiotic plasmid pRmeGR4b: cloning, sequencing, and expression of the tyrosinase gene mepA. J Bacteriol. 1993 Sep;175(17):5403–5410. doi: 10.1128/jb.175.17.5403-5410.1993. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Michiels K., De Troch P., Onyeocha I., Van Gool A., Elmerich C., Vanderleyden J. Plasmid localization and mapping of two Azospirillum brasilense loci that affect exopolysaccharide synthesis. Plasmid. 1989 Mar;21(2):142–146. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(89)90058-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Nelson L. M., Knowles R. Effect of oxygen and nitrate on nitrogen fixation and denitrification by Azospirillum brasilense grown in continuous culture. Can J Microbiol. 1978 Nov;24(11):1395–1403. doi: 10.1139/m78-223. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Onyeocha I., Vieille C., Zimmer W., Baca B. E., Flores M., Palacios R., Elmerich C. Physical map and properties of a 90-MDa plasmid of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7. Plasmid. 1990 May;23(3):169–182. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(90)90049-i. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Sadasivan L., Neyra C. A. Cyst production and brown pigment formation in aging cultures of Azospirillum brasilense ATCC 29145. J Bacteriol. 1987 Apr;169(4):1670–1677. doi: 10.1128/jb.169.4.1670-1677.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Shin T., Murao S., Matsumura E. A chromogenic oxidative coupling reaction of laccase: applications for laccase and angiotensin I converting enzyme assay. Anal Biochem. 1987 Nov 1;166(2):380–388. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(87)90588-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Shivprasad S., Page W. J. Catechol Formation and Melanization by Na -Dependent Azotobacter chroococcum: a Protective Mechanism for Aeroadaptation? Appl Environ Microbiol. 1989 Jul;55(7):1811–1817. doi: 10.1128/aem.55.7.1811-1817.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Simon R., Quandt J., Klipp W. New derivatives of transposon Tn5 suitable for mobilization of replicons, generation of operon fusions and induction of genes in gram-negative bacteria. Gene. 1989 Aug 1;80(1):161–169. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(89)90262-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES