Transfer and expression of Klebsiella nif genes in Alcaligenes faecalis, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with rice root.
Plasmid pRD1 carrying Klebsiella nif genes was found to be transferable by conjugation from Escherichia coli JC5466 (pRD1) to Alcaligenes faecalis A-15 at a frequency of 5 X 10(-4). Nitrogenase activity of four A-15 (pRD1) strains tested was found to be higher than that of their parent A-15, as determined by the acetylene reduction assay. A-15-1 was a Nif- mutant derived from A-15. After mating with JC5466 (pRD1), the nitrogenase activity was restored. PRD1 was stable in A. faecalis and could be transferred to E. coli JC5466-1 by conjugation. The fact that Klebsiella nif genes carried in pRD1 can be expressed in A. faecalis makes it possible to use pRD1 as a tool for genetic analysis and genetic engineering of the nitrogen fixation system in A. faecalis.
D000421:Alcaligenes / Q000235:genetics*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics*; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000235:genetics
D009591:Nitrogenase