title: Chemotaxis of Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4) to the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate.
abstract: Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4) and several other species of motile bacteria can degrade the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D), but it was not known if bacteria could sense and swim towards 2,4-D by the process of chemotaxis. Wild-type R. eutropha cells were chemotactically attracted to 2,4-D in swarm plate assays and qualitative capillary assays. The chemotactic response was induced by growth with 2,4-D and depended on the presence of the catabolic plasmid pJP4, which harbors the tfd genes for 2,4-D degradation. The tfd cluster also encodes a permease for 2,4-D named TfdK. A tfdK mutant was not chemotactic to 2,4-D, even though it grew at wild-type rates on 2,4-D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Caroline S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Harwood
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002633:Chemotaxis; D020118:Cupriavidus necator / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006540:Herbicides / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006540:Herbicides; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C111945:TfdK protein, Ralstonia eutropha; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid