Obiettivo
THE SPECIES CHOSEN FOR THIS WORK, R.MELILOTI R.LEGUMINOSARUM AND R.PHASEOLI NODULATE IMPORTANT CROPS IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES SUCH AS ALFALFA, PEA, BROAD BEAN AND BEAN. THE IMPACT EXPECTED FROM THE IMPROVEMENT OF THESE SYMBIOSES IS A REDUCTION OF THE ENERGY AND PROTEIN DEPENDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A LOWERING OF FERTILIZATION COSTS. METHODS ENABLING TO MANIPULATE THE SOIL MICROFLORA, SPECIALLY WITH REFERENCE TO ALFALFA AND PEA, WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THIS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED RESEARCH.
Research was carried out in order to gain a deeper insight into the steps and regulatory pathways involved in the development of the Rhizobium legume nitrogen fixing symbiosis, and to identify genes controlling these processes in Rhizobium. This involved: identification and genetic analysis of mutants defective in later stages of symbiotic development; isolation of the relevant genes and investigation of their function and regulation; and establishing the significance of these genes by analysing and comparing different Rhizobium strains and species (mainly R meliloti and R leguminosarum).
A cluster of new genes essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation was indentified in R meliloti. Most of these genes encode membrane proteins involved, for example, in transferring electrons to the nitrogenase enzyme. Similar genes were present in a wide range of other symbiotic nitrogen fixing species. Lipopolysaccharide, another membrane component, was required for successful symbiotic interaction. Similarly, strains assumed to have surface alterations due to the presence of IncPl plasmids showed defects in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Regulatory genes were identified which ensure that nitrogen fixation genes are expressed only in low oxygen environments (such as within root nodules) appropriate for nitrogenase function. This regulatory pathway differs in R meliloti and R leguminosarum and may represent an important variable between Rhizobium species.
LATE SYM GENES ARE SUPPOSED TO CONTROL SYMBIOTIC EFFICIENCY. THIS EFFICIENCY MAY BE IMPROVED EITHER BY GENETIC ENGINEERING OF LATE SYM GENES OR BY CREATING MORE EFFICIENT COMBINATIONS OF THESE GENES IN INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS. BOTH METHODS NECESSITATE IDENTIFICATION AND STUDY OF THE EXPRESSION OF LATE SYM GENES. THE LABORATORY OF TOULOUSE WILL IDENTIFY LATE SYM GENES ON SYM MEGAPLASMID OF R.MELILOTI. LABORATORY OF DUBLIN WILL DETECT THOSE GENES EITHER ON THE CHROMOSOME OR ON PLASMIDS OF R.LEGUMINOSARUM.
LABORATORY OF HARPENDEN WILL ISOLATE MORE PLASMIDS OR CHROMOSOMAL FRAGMENTS ACROSS VARIOUS STRAINS OF R.LEGUMINOSARUM AND R.PHASEOLI. GENETIC AND MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF THE REGIONS OF INTEREST WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN TOULOUSE, DUBLIN AND BIELEFELD, WHEREAS THE STUDY OF SYMBIOTIC EFFICIENCY OF THE HYBRID STRAINS CONSTRUCTED WILL BE THE TASK OF HARPENDEN.GENE EXPRESSION WILL BE STUDIED USING GENE FUSIONS IN LABORATORY OF TOULOUSE AND BIELEFELD.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineering
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticschromosomes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedslegumes
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Data not availableInvito a presentare proposte
Data not availableMeccanismo di finanziamento
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinatore
75341 Paris
Francia