Project description:Cyanuric acid hydrolase (CAH) catalyzes the hydrolytic ring-opening of cyanuric acid (2,4,6-trihydroxy-1,3,5-triazine), an intermediate in s-triazine bacterial degradation and a by-product from disinfection with trichloroisocyanuric acid. In the present study, an X-ray crystal structure of the CAH-barbituric acid inhibitor complex from Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS 571 has been determined at 2.7 Å resolution. The CAH protein fold consists of three structurally homologous domains forming a ?-barrel-like structure with external ?-helices that result in a three-fold symmetry, a dominant feature of the structure and active site that mirrors the three-fold symmetrical shape of the substrate cyanuric acid. The active site structure of CAH is similar to that of the recently determined AtzD with three pairs of active site Ser-Lys dyads. In order to determine the role of each Ser-Lys dyad in catalysis, a mutational study using a highly sensitive, enzyme-coupled assay was conducted. The 10?-fold loss of activity by the S226A mutant was at least ten times lower than that of the S79A and S333A mutants. In addition, bioinformatics analysis revealed the Ser226/Lys156 dyad as the only absolutely conserved dyad in the CAH/barbiturase family. These data suggest that Lys156 activates the Ser226 nucleophile which can then attack the substrate carbonyl. Our combination of structural, mutational, and bioinformatics analyses differentiates this study and provides experimental data for mechanistic insights into this unique protein family.
Project description:Legumes interact with nodulating bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for plant use. This nitrogen fixation takes place within root nodules that form after infection of root hairs by compatible rhizobia. Using cDNA microarrays, we monitored gene expression in soybean (Glycine max) inoculated with the nodulating bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum 4, 8, and 16 days after inoculation (dai), time points that coincided with nodule development and the onset of nitrogen fixation. This experiment identified several thousand genes that were differentially expressed in response to B. japonicum inoculation. Expression of 27 genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR and their expression patterns mimicked the microarray results confirming integrity of analyses. The microarray results suggest that B. japonicum reduces plant defense responses during nodule development. In addition, the data revealed a high level of regulatory complexity (transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, post-translational) that is likely essential for development of the symbiosis and adjustment to an altered nutritional status. Keywords = symbiosis Keywords = nodulation Keywords = rhizobium Keywords = defense Keywords = ANOVA Keywords = plant Keywords: nodulating vs not nodulating
Project description:the acetylation sites, peptides and protein numbers in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS 571 were identified, and bioinformatics analysis was performed.
Project description:Alnus glutinosa belongs to a family of angiosperms called actinorhizal plants because they can develop nitrogen-fixing nodules in association with the soil bacteria Frankia. The aim of this transcriptomic study was to get a global view of the plant symbiotic genetic program and to identify new key plant genes that control nodulation during symbiosis in A. glutinosa. Symbiosis between A. glutinosa and Frankia was obtained after inoculation of young plant with a concentrated culture of the bacteria. Inoculation was performed in a medium depleted in nitrogen which favors the induction of nitrogen fixing symbiosis. For this study we considered two stages of symbiosis: - an early stage where inoculated roots were harvested 7 days after inoculation with the bacteria and compared to two controls (non-inoculated roots grown with or without nitrogen and harvested at the same time) - a late stage where nodules (nitrogen-fixing specific organs) were harvested 21 days after inoculation and compared to non-inoculated roots harvested on the day of inoculation (which is our reference time 0d). Three biological replicates were used for each condition.
Project description:Casuarina glauca belongs to a family of angiosperms called actinorhizal plants because they can develop nitrogen-fixing nodules in association with the soil bacteria Frankia. The aim of this transcriptomic study was to get a global view of the plant symbiotic genetic program and to identify new key plant genes that control nodulation during symbiosis in C. glauca. Symbiosis between C. glauca and Frankia was obtained after inoculation of young plant with a concentrated culture of the bacteria. Inoculation was performed in a medium depleted in nitrogen which favors the induction of nitrogen fixing symbiosis. For this study we considered two stages of symbiosis: - an early stage where inoculated roots were harvested 7 days after inoculation with the bacteria and compared to two controls (non-inoculated roots grown with or without nitrogen and harvested at the same time) - a late stage where nodules (nitrogen-fixing specific organs) were harvested 21 days after inoculation and compared to non-inoculated roots harvested on the day of inoculation (which is our reference time 0d). Three biological replicates were used for each condition.