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Molecular characterization of nosRZDFYLX genes coding for denitrifying nitrous oxide reductase of Bradyrhizobium japonicum

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Abstract

The nosRZDFYLX gene cluster for the respiratory nitrous oxide reductase from Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain USDA110 has been cloned and sequenced. Seven protein coding regions corresponding to nosR, nosZ, the structural gene, nosD, nosF, nosY, nosL, and nosX were detected. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited a high degree of similarity to other nitrous oxide reductases from various sources. The NosZ protein included a signal peptide for protein export. Mutant strains carrying either a nosZ or a nosR mutation accumulated nitrous oxide when cultured microaerobically in the presence of nitrate. Maximal expression of a PnosZ -lacZ fusion in strain USDA110 required simultaneously both low level oxygen conditions and the presence of nitrate. Microaerobic activation of the fusion required FixLJ and FixK2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biotecnología. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, E-03150-La Alberca, Murcia, Spain

    Leonardo Velasco

  2. Institut für Mikrobiologie, ETH-Zentrum/LFV. Schmelzbergstrasse 7, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland

    Socorro Mesa

  3. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Potato Research Centre, 850 Lincoln Road, P.O. Box 20280, Fredericton, NB, E3B 4Z7, Canada

    Chang-ai Xu

  4. Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, E-18080, Granada, Spain

    María J. Delgado & Eulogio J. Bedmar

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  1. Leonardo Velasco
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  2. Socorro Mesa
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  3. Chang-ai Xu
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  4. María J. Delgado
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  5. Eulogio J. Bedmar
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Velasco, L., Mesa, S., Xu, Ca. et al. Molecular characterization of nosRZDFYLX genes coding for denitrifying nitrous oxide reductase of Bradyrhizobium japonicum . Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 85, 229–235 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ANTO.0000020156.42470.db

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