NolR controls expression of the Rhizobium meliloti nodulation genes involved in the core Nod factor synthesis.
The synthesis of Rhizobium meliloti Nod signal molecules, encoded by the nod gene products, is finely regulated. A negative control of plasmid-borne nod gene expression is provided by the NolR repressor encoded by the chromosomal nolR gene. NolR was previously shown to downregulate the expression of the activator nodD1 gene and the common nodABC operon by binding to an overlapping region of the two promoters adjacent to the n1 nod-box (Kondorosi et al., 1989). We demonstrate here that NolR also controls the expression of two additional genes, nodD2 and nodM, but does not directly regulate the expression of the host-specific nod genes located downstream of the n2, n3 and n5 nod-boxes. Thus, the nod genes are differentially regulated by NolR and only those providing common nodulation functions, by determining the synthesis of the core Nod factor structure, are subjected to this negative regulation. Furthermore, NolR has a strong negative effect on the production of Nod metabolites, the level of which may serve as a fine-tuning mechanism for optimal nodulation, specific to host-plant genotypes. In addition, it elicits preferential synthesis of Nod factors carrying unsaturated C16 fatty acids. Expression of nolR was high both in the free-living bacterium and in the bacteroid and it was downregulated by its own product and by the nod gene inducer luteolin.
Cren
M
M
Institut des Sciences Végétales, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Kondorosi
A
A
Kondorosi
E
E
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005945:Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing); D047311:Luteolin; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000382:microbiology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005419:Flavonoids; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C060773:NodD protein, Bacteria; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C072143:NolR protein, Sinorhizobium meliloti; D005945:Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing); C068604:nodM protein, Rhizobium; D047311:Luteolin