title: The ybiT gene of Erwinia chrysanthemi codes for a putative ABC transporter and is involved in competitiveness against endophytic bacteria during infection.
abstract: We investigated the role in bacterial infection of a putative ABC transporter, designated ybiT, of Erwinia chrysanthemi AC4150. The deduced sequence of this gene showed amino acid sequence similarity with other putative ABC transporters of gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as structural similarity with proteins of Streptomyces spp. involved in resistance to macrolide antibiotics. The gene contiguous to ybiT, designated as pab (putative antibiotic biosynthesis) showed sequence similarity with Pseudomonas and Streptomyces genes involved in the biosynthesis of antibiotics. A ybiT mutant (BT117) was constructed by marker exchange. It retained full virulence in potato tubers and chicory leaves, but it showed reduced ability to compete in planta against the wild-type strain or against selected saprophytic bacteria. These results indicate that the ybiT gene plays a role in the in planta fitness of the bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnología-UPM, E.T.S. Ingenieros Agrónomos, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Arancha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llama-Palacios
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Solanilla
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Palenzuela
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018651:Cichorium intybus / Q000382:microbiology; D016974:Dickeya chrysanthemi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D018942:Macrolides; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018942:Macrolides