Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sym plasmid of Rhizobium trifolii expressed in different rhizobial species and Agrobacterium tumefaciens

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Bacteria of the genus Rhizobium fix nitrogen in symbiotic association with legumes such as clover, pea and bean. If the efficiency of this plant–bacterium relationship is to be improved or the host range of the rhizobia extended, the genes involved in the symbiosis must first be identified and localized. Accumulating genetic and biochemical data support the proposal that genes on a large plasmid1 are involved in root nodulation, in analogy with the Ti genes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which is closely related to the fast-growing species of Rhizobium2,4 (for reviews, see refs 5, 6). Although most of the data concern Rhizobium leguminosarum7–11, some deal with Rhizobium trifolii12–14, which associates with clover. We report here that one particular plasmid in R. trifolii—which we call Sym(biosis) plasmid—not only determines host specificity, but also controls several, if not most, other steps leading to root nodule formation and nitrogen fixation on clover roots.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nuti, M. P., Ledeboer, A. M., Lepidi, A. A. & Schilperoort, R. A. J. gen. Microbiol. 100, 241–248 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Heberlein, G. T., Deley, J. & Tijtgat, R. J. Bact. 94, 116–124 (1967).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Moffet, M. L. & Colwell, R. R. J. gen. Microbiol. 51, 245–266 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. White, L. O. J. gen. Microbiol. 72, 565–574 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Schilperoort, R. A. et al. in Plasmids of Medical, Environmental and Commercial Importance (eds Timmis, K. N. & Fühler, A.) 339–352 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hooykaas, P. J. J., Schilperoort, R. A. & Rörsch, A. in Genetic Engineering Vol. 1 (eds Setlow, J. K. & Hollaender, A.) 151–179 (Plenum, New York, (1979).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Johnston, A. W. B. et al. Nature 276, 634–636 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Buchanon-Wollaston, A. V. et al. Molec. gen. Genet. 178, 185–190 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Brewin, N. J. et al. J. gen. Microbiol. 116, 261–270 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Prakash, R. K. et al. in Nitrogen Fixation Vol. 2 (eds Newton, W. E. & Orme-Johnston, W. H.) 139–163 (University Park Press, Baltimore, (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Nuti, M. P. et al. Nature 282, 533–535 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Higashi, S. J. gen. appl. Microbiol. 13, 391–403 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Stanley, J. & Dunican, L. K. Molec. gen. Genet. 174, 211–220 (1979).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Zurkowski, W. & Lorkiewicz, Z. Arch. Microbiol. 123, 195–201 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Beringer, J. E. et al. Nature 276, 633–634 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Prakash, R. K., Schilperoort, R. A. & Nuti, M. P. J. Bact. 145, (1981).

  17. Hooykaas, P. J. J. thesis, Univ. Leiden (1979).

  18. Hooykaas, P. J. J. et al. J. gen. Microbiol. 98, 477–484 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Haack, A. Zentbl. Bakt. Parasitkde 117, 343–366 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Dazzo, F. B. & Hubbell, D. H. Appl. Microbiol. 30, 1017–1033 (1975).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Zurkowski, W. Microbios 27, 27–32 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Casse, F. et al. J. gen. Microbiol. 113, 229–242 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Jensen, H. L. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 66, 98 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

    P. J. J. Hooykaas, H. den Dulk-Ras, G. M. S. van Slogteren & R. A. Schilperoort

  2. Department of Botany, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

    A. A. N. van Brussel

Authors
  1. P. J. J. Hooykaas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. A. N. van Brussel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. den Dulk-Ras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. M. S. van Slogteren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. A. Schilperoort
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hooykaas, P., van Brussel, A., den Dulk-Ras, H. et al. Sym plasmid of Rhizobium trifolii expressed in different rhizobial species and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Nature 291, 351–353 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291351a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/291351a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation