Project description:Elevated atmospheric CO2 can influence the structure and function of rhizosphere microorganisms by altering root growth and the quality and quantity of compounds released into the rhizosphere via root exudation. In these studies we investigated the transcriptional responses of Bradyrhizobium japonicum cells growing in the rhizosphere of soybean plants exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2. The results of microarray analyses indicated that atmospheric elevated CO2 concentration indirectly influences on expression of large number of Bradyrhizobium genes through soybean roots. In addition, genes involved in C1 metabolism, denitrification and FixK2-associated genes, including those involved in nitrogen fixation, microanaerobic respiration, respiratory nitrite reductase, and heme biosynthesis, were significantly up-regulated under conditions of elevated CO2 in the rhizosphere, relative to plants and bacteria grown under ambient CO2 growth conditions. The expression profile of genes involved in lipochitinoligosaccharide Nod factor biosynthesis and negative transcriptional regulators of nodulation genes, nolA and nodD2, were also influenced by plant growth under conditions of elevated CO2. Taken together, results of these studies indicate that growth of soybeans under conditions of elevated atmospheric CO2 influences gene expressions in B. japonicum in the soybean rhizosphere, resulting in changes to carbon/nitrogen metabolism, respiration, and nodulation efficiency.
Project description:Elevated atmospheric CO2 can influence the structure and function of rhizosphere microorganisms by altering root growth and the quality and quantity of compounds released into the rhizosphere via root exudation. In these studies we investigated the transcriptional responses of Bradyrhizobium japonicum cells growing in the rhizosphere of soybean plants exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2. Transciptomic expression profiles indicated that genes involved in carbon/nitrogen metabolism, and FixK2-associated genes, including those involved in nitrogen fixation, microanaerobic respiration, respiratory nitrite reductase, and heme biosynthesis, were significantly up-regulated under conditions of elevated CO2, relative to plants and bacteria grown under ambient CO2 growth conditions. The expression profile of genes involved in lipochitinoligosaccharide Nod factor biosynthesis and negative transcriptional regulators of nodulation genes, nolA and nodD2, were also influenced by plant growth under conditions of elevated CO2. Taken together, results of these studies indicate that growth of soybeans under conditions of elevated atmospheric CO2 influences gene expressions in B. japonicum in the soybean rhizosphere, resulting in changes to carbon/nitrogen metabolism, respiration, and nodulation efficiency. Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains were grown in the soybean rhizosphere under two different CO2 concentrations. Transcriptional profiling of B. japonicum was compared between cells grown under elevated CO2 and ambient conditions. Four biological replicates of each treatment were prepared, and four microarray slides were used for each strain.
Project description:To study long-term elevated CO2 and enriched N deposition interactive effects on microbial community and soil ecoprocess, here we investigated soil microbial community in a grassland ecosystem subjected to ambient CO2 (aCO2, 368 ppm), elevated CO2 (eCO2, 560 ppm), ambient nitrogen deposition (aN) or elevated nitrogen deposition (eN) treatments for a decade. There exist antagonistic CO2×N interactions on microbial functional genes associated with C, N, P S cycling processes. More strong antagonistic CO2×N interactions are observed on C degradation genes than other genes. Remarkably antagonistic CO2×N interactions on soil microbial communities could enhance soil C accumulation.
Project description:To study whether and how soil nitrogen conditions affect the ecological effects of long-term elevated CO2 on microbial community and soil ecoprocess, here we investigated soil microbial community in a grassland ecosystem subjected to ambient CO2 (aCO2, 368 ppm), elevated CO2 (eCO2, 560 ppm), ambient nitrogen deposition (aN) or elevated nitrogen deposition (eN) treatments for a decade. Under the aN condition, a majority of microbial function genes, as measured by GeoChip 4.0, were increased in relative abundance or remained unchanged by eCO2. Under the eN condition, most of functional genes associated with carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycling, energy processes, organic remediation and stress responses were decreased or remained unchanged by eCO2, while genes associated with antibiotics and metal resistance were increased. The eCO2 effects on fungi and archaea were largely similar under both nitrogen conditions, but differed substantially for bacteria. Coupling of microbial carbon or nitrogen cycling genes, represented by positive percentage and density of gene interaction in association networks, was higher under the aN condition. In accordance, changes of soil CO2 flux, net N mineralization, ammonification and nitrification was higher under the aN condition. Collectively, these results demonstrated that eCO2 effects are contingent on nitrogen conditions, underscoring the difficulty toward predictive modeling of soil ecosystem and ecoprocesses under future climate scenarios and necessitating more detailed studies.
Project description:Antimicrobial resistance is a leading mortality factor worldwide. Here we report the discovery of clovibactin, a new antibiotic, isolated from uncultured soil bacteria. Clovibactin efficiently kills drug-resistant Gram-positivebacterial pathogens without detectable resistance. Using biochemical assays,solid-state NMR, and atomic force microscopy, we dissect its mode of action. Clovibactin blocks cell wall synthesis by targeting pyrophosphate of multiple essential peptidoglycan precursors (C55PP, Lipid II, LipidWTA). Clovibactin uses anunusual hydrophobic interface to tightly wrap aroundpyrophosphate, butbypasses the variable structural elements of precursors, accounting for the lack of resistance. Selective and efficient target binding is achieved by the sequestration of precursors into supramolecular fibrils that only form on bacterial membranes that contain lipid-anchored pyrophosphate groups.Uncultured bacteria offer a rich reservoir of antibiotics with new mechanisms of action that could replenish the antimicrobial discovery pipeline.
Project description:The aim of our study is to elucidate the gene expression changes in rice in response to colonization by a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria such as the Bacillus subtilis through microarray high throughput technology. In particular, the effect of B.subtilis on root exudation (secretion of phytochemicals through roots) will be analysed. For this rice plantlets were grown in hydroponics and treated with B.subtilis RR4 for 48 hrs. The root samples of the control and treated plants were then used for the microarray experiment. The data obtained through microarray revealed genes related to cell wall modification, phytohormone synthesis, defense response, root exudation, etc. to be differentially regulated in response to B.subtilis RR4. Real time PCR analysis of few chosen genes (OsMS, OsALMT, OsABC, OsSDH, etc) also confirmed the validity of the microarray data. The initial responses of a plant in response to colonization by the microbe will be changes in cell wall of the plant tissues and the secretion of phytochemicals to attract/repel the colonizing beneficial/pathogenic organism. From analysis of microarray data we found the cell wall related genes which aid in root colonization and the root exudate related genes (biosynthesis and transport) which play a role in providing nutrition for the bacterial growth to be differentially regulated significantly. Analysis of specific genes and their biosynthesis pathways indicated that rice plants responded positively to root colonization by B.subtilis RR4. Notable among the exudation related genes such as Malate synthase and ALMT were found to be upregulated which indicates the significant role played by organic acids particularly malate in recruiting the PGPR towards the plant roots. This recruitment will thereby facilitate plant growth. Subsequently, these genes can be engineered in crop plants to recruit beneficial bacteria which might further open new avenues for improved crop production.