The common nodulation genes of Astragalus sinicus rhizobia are conserved despite chromosomal diversity

Xue Xian Zhang, Sarah L. Turner, Xian Wu Guo, Hui Jun Yang, Frédéric Debellé, Guo Ping Yang, Jean Dénarié, J. Peter W. Young, Fu Di Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

The nodulation genes of Mesorhizobium sp. (Astragalus sinicus) strain 7653R were cloned by functional complementation of Sinorhizobium meliloti nod mutants. The common nod genes, nodD, nodA, and nodBC, were identified by heterologous hybridization and sequence analysis. The nodA gene was found to be separated from nodBC by approximately 22 kb and was divergently transcribed. The 2.0-kb nodDBC region was amplified by PCR from 24 rhizobial strains nodulating A. sinicus, which represented different chromosomal genotypes and geographic origins. No polymorphism was found in the size of PCR products, suggesting that the separation of nodA from nodBC is a common feature of A. sinicus rhizobia. Sequence analysis of the PCR-amplified nodA gene indicated that seven strains representing different 16S and 23S ribosomal DNA genotypes had identical nodA sequences. These data indicate that, whereas microsymbionts of A. sinicus exhibit chromosomal diversity, their nodulation genes are conserved, supporting the hypothesis of horizontal transfer of nod genes among diverse recipient bacteria.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2988-2995
Number of pages8
JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology
Volume66
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2000
Externally publishedYes

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