title: Synthesis of an opine-like compound, a rhizopine, in alfalfa nodules is symbiotically regulated.
abstract: We show that the promoter of the mos locus, which encodes genes required for the synthesis of a nodule-specific, opine-like compound, a rhizopine, in alfalfa nodules is regulated by the symbiotic nitrogen-fixation regulatory gene nifA. The 5'-regulatory region and amino-terminal end of the first open reading frame of the mos locus are highly homologous to the 5'-regulatory region and amino-terminal portion of the Rhizobium meliloti nifH gene. The coordinate regulation of mos and nif genes suggests that the mos locus plays a symbiotic role. We propose that the rhizopine enhances the survival of the bacterial partner in the symbiosis.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung, Abteilung Schell, Köln, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heycke
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Trenz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ratet
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: de Bruijn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schell
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D005796:Genes; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000235:genetics*; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins