This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Chien, Y.-T.
Right arrow Articles by Zinder, S. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Chien, Y.-T.
Right arrow Articles by Zinder, S. H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Bacteriology, June 2000, p. 3247-3253, Vol. 182, No. 11
0021-9193/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Analysis of Genes Encoding an Alternative Nitrogenase in the Archaeon Methanosarcina barkeri 227

Yueh-Tyng Chien,dagger Victoria Auerbuch,Dagger Andrew D. Brabban,§ and Stephen H. Zinder*

Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853

Received 6 December 1999/Accepted 9 March 2000

Methanosarcina barkeri 227 possesses two clusters of genes potentially encoding nitrogenases. We have previously demonstrated that one cluster, called nif2, is expressed under molybdenum (Mo)-sufficient conditions, and the deduced amino acid sequences for nitrogenase structural genes in that cluster most closely resemble those for the Mo nitrogenase of the gram-positive eubacterium Clostridium pasteurianum. The previously cloned nifH1 from M. barkeri shows phylogenetic relationships with genes encoding components of eubacterial Mo-independent eubacterial alternative nitrogenases and other methanogen nitrogenases. In this study, we cloned and sequenced nifD1 and part of nifK1 from M. barkeri 227. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by nifD1 from M. barkeri showed great similarity with vnfD gene products from vanadium (V) nitrogenases, with an 80% identity at the amino acid level with the vnfD gene product from Anabaena variabilis. Moreover, there was a small open reading frame located between nifD1 and nifK1 with clear homology to vnfG, a hallmark of eubacterial alternative nitrogenases. Stimulation of diazotrophic growth of M. barkeri 227 by V in the absence of Mo was demonstrated. The unusual complement of nif genes in M. barkeri 227, with one cluster resembling that from a gram-positive eubacterium and the other resembling a eubacterial V nitrogenase gene cluster, suggests horizontal genetic transfer of those genes.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, Wing Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Phone: (607) 255-2415. Fax: (607) 255-3904. E-mail: shz1{at}cornell.edu.

dagger Present address: Scriptgen, Inc., Boston, Mass.

Dagger Present address: University of California, Berkeley, Calif.

§ Present address: Evergreen State College, Olympia, Wash.


Journal of Bacteriology, June 2000, p. 3247-3253, Vol. 182, No. 11
0021-9193/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Dekas, A. E., Poretsky, R. S., Orphan, V. J. (2009). Deep-Sea Archaea Fix and Share Nitrogen in Methane-Consuming Microbial Consortia. Science 326: 422-426 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mehta, M. P., Baross, J. A. (2006). Nitrogen Fixation at 92{degrees}C by a Hydrothermal Vent Archaeon. Science 314: 1783-1786 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pratte, B. S., Thiel, T. (2006). High-Affinity Vanadate Transport System in the Cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413. J. Bacteriol. 188: 464-468 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Cabello, P., Roldan, M. D., Moreno-Vivian, C. (2004). Nitrate reduction and the nitrogen cycle in archaea. Microbiology 150: 3527-3546 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lilburn, T. G., Kim, K. S., Ostrom, N. E., Byzek, K. R., Leadbetter, J. R., Breznak, J. A. (2001). Nitrogen Fixation by Symbiotic and Free-Living Spirochetes. Science 292: 2495-2498 [Abstract] [Full Text]