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. 1977 Nov;60(5):771–774. doi: 10.1104/pp.60.5.771

Isolation of Bacteria, Transforming Bacteria, and Bacteroids from Soybean Nodules 1

Te May Ching a, Saundra Hedtke a, William Newcomb b
PMCID: PMC542712  PMID: 16660182

Abstract

Postnuclei supernatant of soybean (Glycine max cv. Chippewa 64) nodule homogenate was fractionated by stepwise sucrose density gradient centrifugation into supernatant, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and three distinct bands with 1.22, 1.25, and 1.27 g/cm3 of peak density. Based on their enzymic activities, composition of electron transport components, and ultrastructural characteristics, the lightest band appears to be the mature bacteroids; the intermediate band the transforming bacteria; and the heaviest, the bacteria. The isolation procedure separates nodule symbionts into different functional and developmental fractions, and it may be a valuable tool for studies involving development, regulation, and senescence of bacteroids in the nodule.

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Selected References

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