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Role of the all1549 (ana-rsh) Gene, A relA/spoT Homolog, of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120

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Abstract

The role of a single relA/spoT homolog all1549 (designated hereafter as ana-rsh) of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120 was investigated. The complementation test in Escherichia coli showed that the protein encoded by ana-rsh possesses guanosine tetraphosphate (p)ppGpp-synthase/hydrolase activity. Under laboratory growth conditions, a low level of ppGpp was detected in Anabaena sp. PCC7120 and the loss of ana-rsh was lethal. Amino acid starvation induced ppGpp accumulation to an appropriate level, and nitrogen deficiency did not alter the ppGpp concentration in Anabaena cells. These data suggest that ana-rsh is required for cell viability under normal growth conditions and involved in the (p)ppGpp-related stringent response to amino acid deprivation, but not related to heterocyst formation and nitrogen fixation of Anabaena sp. PCC7120.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30771176).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment Sciences, College of Environment, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Degang Ning & Xiaogang Miao

  2. Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Yaru Qian

  3. Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, 301# Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Chongwei Wen

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  1. Degang Ning
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  2. Yaru Qian
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  3. Xiaogang Miao
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Correspondence to Degang Ning.

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Ning, D., Qian, Y., Miao, X. et al. Role of the all1549 (ana-rsh) Gene, A relA/spoT Homolog, of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120. Curr Microbiol 62, 1767–1773 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-011-9926-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-011-9926-0

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