Complex quorum-sensing regulatory systems regulate bacterial growth and symbiotic nodulation in Mesorhizobium tianshanense

Arch Microbiol. 2009 Mar;191(3):283-9. doi: 10.1007/s00203-008-0454-7. Epub 2008 Dec 30.

Abstract

LuxR/LuxI-type quorum-sensing systems have been shown to be important for symbiotic interactions between a number of rhizobium species and host legumes. In this study, we found that different isolates of Mesorhizobium tianshanense, a moderately-growing Rhizobium that forms nodules on a number of types of licorice plants, produces several different N-acyl homoserine lactone-like molecules. In M. tianshanense CCBAU060A, we performed a genetic screen and identified a network of regulatory components including a set of LuxI/LuxR-family regulators as well as a MarR-family regulator that is required for quorum-sensing regulation. Furthermore, compared with the wild-type strains, quorum-sensing deficient mutants showed a reduced growth rate and were defective in nodule formation on their host plant Glycyrrhiza uralensis. These data suggest that different M. tianshanense strains may use diverse quorum-sensing systems to regulate symbiotic process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyl-Butyrolactones / metabolism
  • Alphaproteobacteria / genetics
  • Alphaproteobacteria / growth & development*
  • Alphaproteobacteria / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Glycyrrhiza uralensis / microbiology
  • Multigene Family
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Quorum Sensing*
  • Root Nodules, Plant / microbiology*
  • Symbiosis*

Substances

  • Acyl-Butyrolactones