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 Castañeda, M.
Right arrow Articles by Espín, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Castañeda, M.
Right arrow Articles by Espín, G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Bacteriology, May 2000, p. 2624-2628, Vol. 182, No. 9
0021-9193/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

The GacS Sensor Kinase Regulates Alginate and Poly-beta -Hydroxybutyrate Production in Azotobacter vinelandii

Miguel Castañeda, Josefina Guzmán, Soledad Moreno, and Guadalupe Espín*

Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos 62250, México

Received 11 November 1999/Accepted 14 February 2000

Azotobacter vinelandii produces two polymers: the extracellular polysaccharide alginate and the intracellular polyester poly-beta -hydroxybutyrate (PHB). A cosmid clone (pSMU588) from an A. vinelandii gene library diminished alginate production by A. vinelandii mucoid strain ATCC 9046. The nucleotide sequence and predicted amino acid sequence of the locus responsible for the mucoidy suppression revealed 65% identity to Pseudomonas GacS, a transmembrane sensor kinase of the two-component regulators, whose cognate response regulator, GacA, is a global activator regulating several products and virulence factors. Plasmid pMC15, harboring gacS, and a strain carrying a gacS nonpolar mutation were constructed. Either pMC15 or the gacS mutation significantly reduced alginate production and transcription of algD, the gene coding for the key enzyme GDP-mannose dehydrogenase of the alginate biosynthetic pathway. We found that the gacS mutation also reduced PHB accumulation and impaired encystment. Taken together, these data indicate that in A. vinelandii the gacSA global system regulates polymer synthesis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apd. Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos 62250, México. Phone: 52-73-291644. Fax: 52-73-172388. E-mail: espin{at}ibt.unam.mx.

Journal of Bacteriology, May 2000, p. 2624-2628, Vol. 182, No. 9
0021-9193/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Nunez, C., Bogachev, A. V., Guzman, G., Tello, I., Guzman, J., Espin, G. (2009). The Na+-translocating NADH : ubiquinone oxidoreductase of Azotobacter vinelandii negatively regulates alginate synthesis. Microbiology 155: 249-256 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Tomenius, H., Pernestig, A.-K., Mendez-Catala, C. F., Georgellis, D., Normark, S., Melefors, O. (2005). Genetic and Functional Characterization of the Escherichia coli BarA-UvrY Two-Component System: Point Mutations in the HAMP Linker of the BarA Sensor Give a Dominant-Negative Phenotype. J. Bacteriol. 187: 7317-7324 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Korotkova, N., Chistoserdova, L., Lidstrom, M. E. (2002). Poly-{beta}-Hydroxybutyrate Biosynthesis in the Facultative Methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1: Identification and Mutation of gap11, gap20, and phaR. J. Bacteriol. 184: 6174-6181 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Bourret, R. B., Charon, N. W., Stock, A. M., West, A. H. (2002). Bright Lights, Abundant Operons--Fluorescence and Genomic Technologies Advance Studies of Bacterial Locomotion and Signal Transduction: Review of the BLAST Meeting, Cuernavaca, Mexico, 14 to 19 January 2001. J. Bacteriol. 184: 1-17 [Full Text]  
  • Schnider-Keel, U., Lejbolle, K. B., Baehler, E., Haas, D., Keel, C. (2001). The Sigma Factor AlgU (AlgT) Controls Exopolysaccharide Production and Tolerance towards Desiccation and Osmotic Stress in the Biocontrol Agent Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 5683-5693 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Castaneda, M., Sanchez, J., Moreno, S., Nunez, C., Espin, G. (2001). The Global Regulators GacA and sigma S Form Part of a Cascade That Controls Alginate Production in Azotobacter vinelandii. J. Bacteriol. 183: 6787-6793 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Goodier, R. I., Ahmer, B. M. M. (2001). SirA Orthologs Affect both Motility and Virulence. J. Bacteriol. 183: 2249-2258 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Willis, D. K., Holmstadt, J. J., Kinscherf, T. G. (2001). Genetic Evidence that Loss of Virulence Associated with gacS or gacA Mutations in Pseudomonas syringae B728a Does Not Result from Effects on Alginate Production. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 1400-1403 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Page, W. J., Tindale, A., Chandra, M., Kwon, E. (2001). Alginate formation in Azotobacter vinelandii UWD during stationary phase and the turnover of poly-{beta}-hydroxybutyrate. Microbiology 147: 483-490 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Núñez, C., León, R., Guzmán, J., Espín, G., Soberón-Chávez, G. (2000). Role of Azotobacter vinelandii mucA and mucC Gene Products in Alginate Production. J. Bacteriol. 182: 6550-6556 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Núñez, C., Moreno, S., Cárdenas, L., Soberón-Chávez, G., Espín, G. (2000). Inactivation of the ampDE Operon Increases Transcription of algD and Affects Morphology and Encystment of Azotobacter vinelandii. J. Bacteriol. 182: 4829-4835 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»