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Transcriptional regulation of nitrogen fixation genes by DNA supercoiling

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Summary

DNA gyrase (ATP dependent topoisomerase type II, EC 5.99.1.3) was found to be essential for the expression of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogen fixation gene cluster carried by plasmid pRD1 in Escherichia coli. In the absence of DNA gyrase activity, nitrogen fixation activity could be restored by providing a constitutively expressed nifA function in trans. Our results suggest that nif gene regulation by oxygen may be mediated through the alteration of the superhelical status of the promoter of the nifLA regulatory operon, in addition to the action of the nifL gene product.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetic Engineering Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, 110 067, New Delhi, India

    G. P. Dimri & H. K. Das

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  1. G. P. Dimri
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  2. H. K. Das
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Communicated by J. Schell

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Dimri, G.P., Das, H.K. Transcriptional regulation of nitrogen fixation genes by DNA supercoiling. Mol Gen Genet 212, 360–363 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334707

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334707

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