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Variations in Outer-membrane Characteristics of Two Stem-nodulating Bacteria of Sesbania rostrata and its Role in Tolerance Towards Diverse Stress

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Abstract

Outer-membrane characteristics may determine the survivability of rhizobia under diverse abiotic and biotic stresses. Therefore, the role of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and membrane proteins of two stem-nodulating bacteria of Sesbania rostrata (Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 and Rhizobium sp. WE7) in determining tolerance towards abiotic and biotic stresses (hydrophobics and phages) was investigated. Outer-membrane characteristics (LPS and membrane–protein profiles) of ORS571, WE7 and thirteen standard strains were distinct. ORS571 and WE7 also showed susceptibility towards morphologically distinct phages, i.e., ACSR16 (short-tailed) and WESR29 (long-tailed), respectively. ORS571 and WE7 were tolerant to hydrophobic compounds (triton X-100, rifampicin, crystal violet and deoxycholate). To ascertain the role of outer membrane characteristics in stress tolerance, phage-resistant transconjugant mutants of ORS571 (ORS571-M8 and ORS571-M20) and WE7 (WE7-M9) were developed. LPS- and membrane–protein profiles of mutants differed from that of respective wild types (ORS571 and WE7). In in vitro assay, phages got adsorbed onto purified LPS-membrane protein fractions of wild types. Phages did not adsorb onto membrane fraction of mutants and standard strains. Mutant with reduced expression of LPS (ORS571-M20 and WE7-M9) showed reduced tolerance towards hydrophobics. However, the tolerance was unaffected in mutant (ORS571-M8) where expression of LPS was not reduced but pattern was different. The tolerance level of mutants towards hydrophobics varied with the expression of LPS, whereas the specificity towards phages is correlated with the specific LPS pattern.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and the University of Delhi for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Biology, Laboratory of Bioresources and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India

    Radhey Shyam Sharma & Vandana Mishra

  2. International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, Malaria Research Division, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110 067, India

    Asif Mohmmed

  3. Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Cherukuri Raghavendra Babu

Authors
  1. Radhey Shyam Sharma
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  2. Vandana Mishra
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  3. Asif Mohmmed
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  4. Cherukuri Raghavendra Babu
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Correspondence to Radhey Shyam Sharma.

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Sharma, R.S., Mishra, V., Mohmmed, A. et al. Variations in Outer-membrane Characteristics of Two Stem-nodulating Bacteria of Sesbania rostrata and its Role in Tolerance Towards Diverse Stress. Curr Microbiol 63, 81–86 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-011-9946-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-011-9946-9

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