Deficiency of a Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA Mutant in Alfalfa Symbiosis Correlates with Alteration of the Cell Envelope
Author
Ferguson, Gail P.; Roop, R. Martin II; Walker, Graham C.
Abstract
The BacA protein is essential for the long-term survival of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Brucella abortus within acidic compartments in plant and animal cells, respectively. Since both the S. meliloti and B. abortus bacA mutants have an increased resistance to bleomycin, it was hypothesized that BacA was a transporter of bleomycin and bleomycin-like compounds into the bacterial cell. However, our finding that the S. meliloti bacA mutant also has an increased sensitivity to detergents, a hydrophobic dye, ethanol, and acid pH supported a model in which BacA function affects the bacterial cell envelope. In addition, an S. meliloti lpsB mutant that is defective at a stage in infection of the host similar to that found for a bacA mutant is also sensitive to the same agents, and the carbohydrate content of its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is altered. However, analysis of crude preparations of the bacA mutant LPS suggested that, unlike that for LpsB, BacA function did not affect the carbohydrate composition of the LPS. Rather, we found that at least one function of BacA is to affect the distribution of LPS fatty acids, including a very-long-chain fatty acid thought to be unique to the alpha-proteobacteria, including B. abortus. Originally published Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 184, No. 20, Oct 2002
Date
2002-10
Citation:
APA:
Ferguson, Gail P., & Roop, R. Martin II, & Walker, Graham C.. (October 2002).
Deficiency of a Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA Mutant in Alfalfa Symbiosis Correlates with Alteration of the Cell Envelope.
Journal of Bacteriology,
184(20),
5625-
5632;. Retrieved from
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/3280
MLA:
Ferguson, Gail P., and Roop, R. Martin II, and Walker, Graham C..
"Deficiency of a Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA Mutant in Alfalfa Symbiosis Correlates with Alteration of the Cell Envelope". Journal of Bacteriology.
184:20. (5625-5632;),
October 2002.
September 27, 2023.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/3280.
Chicago:
Ferguson, Gail P. and Roop, R. Martin II and Walker, Graham C.,
"Deficiency of a Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA Mutant in Alfalfa Symbiosis Correlates with Alteration of the Cell Envelope," Journal of Bacteriology 184, no.
20 (October 2002),
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/3280 (accessed
September 27, 2023).
AMA:
Ferguson, Gail P., Roop, R. Martin II, Walker, Graham C..
Deficiency of a Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA Mutant in Alfalfa Symbiosis Correlates with Alteration of the Cell Envelope. Journal of Bacteriology.
October 2002;
184(20):
5625-5632;.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/3280. Accessed
September 27, 2023.
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Publisher
East Carolina University