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Molecular Cloning and Regulation of a Mineral Phosphate Solubilizing Gene from Erwinia Herbicola

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Abstract

At levels less than 1mM of soluble orthophosphate (Pi) E. herbicola solubilizes dicalcium phosphate (DCP) or hydroxyapatite (HAP) in the external culture media. E. coli is capable of solubilizing dicalcium phosphate but not hydroxyapatite. The mineral phosphate solubilizing (MPS) trait is induced (repressed) by low (high) levels of exogenous Pi. A cosmid library of E. herbicola genomic DNA was constructed in E. coli. Screening for the MPS trait resulted in the isolation of a recombinant clone that showed inducible/repressible hydroxapatite solubilization at a level comparable with E. herbicola. We propose that these genes play a role in bacterial phosphate starvation metabolism.

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  1. S. T. Liu: Biotechnology Group Chevron Chemical Company, Richmond, CA 94804.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University Of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721

    A. H. Goldstein & S. T. Liu

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  1. A. H. Goldstein
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  2. S. T. Liu
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Goldstein, A., Liu, S. Molecular Cloning and Regulation of a Mineral Phosphate Solubilizing Gene from Erwinia Herbicola. Nat Biotechnol 5, 72–74 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0187-72

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0187-72

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