• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2017

Fungi of the Metarhizium genus are a very versatile model for understanding pathogenicity in insects and their symbiotic relationship with plants. To establish a co-transformation system for the transformation of multiple M. robertsii genes using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, we evaluated whether the antibiotic nourseothricin has the same marker selection efficiency as phosphinothricin using separate vectors. Subsequently, in the two vectors containing the nourseothricin and phosphinothricin resistance cassettes were inserted eGFP and mCherry expression cassettes, respectively. These new vectors were then introduced independently into A. tumefaciens and used to transform M. robertsii either in independent events or in one single co-transformation event using an equimolar mixture of A. tumefaciens cultures. The number of transformants obtained by co-transformation was similar to that obtained by the individual transformation events. This method provides an additional strategy for the simultaneous insertion of multiple genes into M. robertsii.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 1986

Nitrogen fixation (nif) genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum were transferred to nif Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli by conjugation after partial heat induction of $RP_4$ :: Mu cts in Rhizobium $R^+$ transconjugant, and the hybrid plasmids in the transconjugant strains were isolated and characterized. In order to transfer the nif genes from Rhizobium, the hybrid plasmid $RP_4$ :: Mu cts was transferred by conjugation from E. coil to the symbiotic nitrogen fixer, R. leguminosarum. After stabillity test, the $RP_4$ :: Mu cts in Rhixobium $R^+$ transconjugant was subjected to partial heat induction by culturing it statically at $38^{\circ}C$ for 16 hours, and then conjugated with the nif defective mutant strains of K. pneumoniae or nif mutant strains of E. coli having whole nif gene plasmid. Recombinant strains of K. pneumoniae, which could grow in a N-free medium and exhibit the nitrogenase activity were selected. However, in the case of E. coli, they could grow well in a NA medium containing antibiotices, but hardly frow in a N-free medium. The hybrid plasmids in these transconjugal strains were isolated by gel electrophoresis and compared their molecular sizes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.373-382
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• 2020

Candidatus Carsonella ruddii is an endosymbiont that resides in specialized cells within the body cavity of plant sap-feeding insects called psyllids. The establishment of symbiotic associations is considered one of the key factors for the evolutionary success of psyllids, as it may have helped them adapt to imbalanced food resources like plant sap. Although C. ruddii is defined as a psyllid primary symbiont, the genes for some essential amino acid pathways are absent. Complete genome sequences of several C. ruddii strains have been published. However, in-depth intra-species comparison of C. ruddii strains has not yet been done. This study therefore aimed to perform a comparative genome analysis of six C. ruddii strains, allowing the interrogation of phylogenetic group, functional category of genes, and biosynthetic pathway analysis. Accordingly, overall genome size, number of genes, and GC content of C. ruddii strains were reduced. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome proteomes of 30 related bacterial strains revealed that the six C. ruddii strains form a cluster in same clade. Biosynthetic pathway analysis showed that complete sets of genes for biosynthesis of essential amino acids, except tryptophan, are absent in six C. ruddii strains. All genes for tryptophan biosynthesis are present in three C. ruddii strains (BC, BT, and YCCR). It is likely that the host may depend on a secondary symbiont to complement its deficient diet. Overall, it is therefore possible that C. ruddii is being driven to extinction and replacement by new symbionts.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2008

The stromatal forms of T. fuciformis and the mycelia of Hypoxylon sp. were collected. The DNA sequence in the ITS region of the 5.8S ribosomal genes of isolated strain KG103 was very similar to that of T. fuciformis AF042409 with a homology of over 98% in the EMBL/GenBank database through BLAST searching. A second isolate, No KG201, one of the symbiotic strains for cultivating T. fuciformis also exhibited high homology with Annulohhypoxylon stygium AJ390406. Potato Dextrose Medium exhibited the best mycelial growth of 14 mm/14 days and 85 mm/14 days for T. fuciformis and its symbiotic fungi, respectively. Optimum culture conditions for the micelial growth were pH 5 at $25^{\circ}C$. For the optimization of artificial cultivation of T. fuciformis in bottle with sawdust medium, several conditions such as type of sawdust, supplements, pH, moisture content, and incubation temperature were investigated. T. fuciformis and symbiotic fungi showed fast mycelial growth on corn cob media (77 and 52%) followed by oak tree sawdust and cotton seed meal. The optimal temperature for mycelial growth of T. fuciformis and symbiotic fungi on corn cob media was $25^{\circ}C$ at 55% of moisture content.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2004

An interaction between Legumes and Rhizobia establishes a symbiotic new organ, the nodule that supports atmospheric nitrogen fIxation. The specific communications between the microbes and legume plants are necessary for both nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Through genetic and biochemical analyses several genes playing pivotal roles in nodulation had been identified to be a receptor kinase like CALVATAl involved signal transduction for development. This emphasizes peptides as signals to be transmitted for a short or long distance transport for nodulation. In addition, a quorum sensing in rhizobia has become a focus as counterpart signal. In an attempt to reveal proteins factors and signaling molecules acting on nodulation, proteome analyses of nodule and the proteins in apoplast upon communication between Legumes and Rhizobia were performed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2009

Development of symbiotic root nodules in legumes involves the induction and repression of numerous genes in conjunction with changes in the level of phytohormones. We have isolated several genes that exhibit differential expression patterns during the development of soybean nodules. One of such genes, which were repressed in mature nodules, was identified as a putative aldo/keto reductase and thus named Glycine max aldo/keto reductase 1 (GmAKR1). GmAKR1 appears to be a close relative of a yeast aldo/keto reductase YakC whose in vivo substrate has not been identified yet. The expression of GmAKR1 in soybean showed a root-specific expression pattern and inducibility by a synthetic auxin analogue 2,4-D, which appeared to be corroborated by presence of the root-specific element and the stress-response element in the promoter region. In addition, constitutive overexpression of GmAKR1 in transgenic soybean hairy roots inhibited nodule development, which suggests that it plays a negative role in the regulation of nodule development. One of the Arabidopsis orthologues of GmAKR1 is the ARF-GAP domain 2 protein, which is a potential negative regulator of vesicle trafficking; therefore GmAKR1 may have a similar function in the roots and nodules of legume plants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.118-125
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• 2006

The region responsible for replication of the megaplasmid pAtC58 in the nopaline-type Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 was determined. A derivative ofa Co1E1 vector, pBluscript SK-, incapable of autonomous replication in Agrobacterium spp, was cloned with a 7.6-kb Bg1II-HindIII fragment from a cosmid clone of pAtC58, which contains a region adjacent to the operon for the utilization of deoxyfructosyl glutamine (DFG). The resulting plasmid conferred resistance to carbenicillin on the A. tumefaciens strain UIA5 that is a plasmidfree derivative of C58. The plasmid was stably maintained in the strain even after consecutive cultures for generations. Analysis of nested deletions of the 7.6-kb fragment showed that a 4.3-kb BglII-XhoI region sufficiently confers replication of the derivative of the ColE1 vector on UIA5. The region comprises three ORFs, which have high homologies with repA, repB, and repC of plasm ids in virulent Agrobacterium spp. including pTiC58, pTiB6S3, pTi-SAKURA, and pRiA4b as well as those of symbiotic plasmids from Rhizobium spp. Phylogenie analysis showed that rep genes in pAtC58 are more closely related to those in pRiA4 than to pTi plasmids including pTiC58, suggesting that the two inborn plasmids, pTiC58 and pAtC58, harbored in C58 evolved from distinct origins.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 1992

nif (nitrogen fixation)-H.D, K genes of Frankia sp. SNU 014201. a symbiotic strain isolated from root nodule of Alnus hirsura, were found to be located in the genome on 13.5 kb of EcoRI, 18.0 kb of BamHI, 10.5 kb of BglII and 4.5 kb of KpnI fragments. Using EMBL-3 BamHI arms of bacteriophage lambda. the genomic library was constructed. from which fourteen recombinant phage nif-clones were selected. Among them, Ahnif-I2 had insert DNA of 18 kb, in which 7.9 kb of BamHl fragment contained nif-H, D, K and 3.6 kb of HindlIl/KpnI had nif-H and partial -D. Therefore, the 7.9 kb and 3.6 kb fragments were subcloned and partial restriction maps were constructed. As the results, nif-F1, D.K genes were found to be located continuously on the 6.5 kb of HindII/BamHI and 5.2 kb of SalIIBamHI fragment in the genome of Frankia sp. SNU 014201.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.163-177
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• 2001

Most, if not all, aphids harbor intracellular bacterial symbionts, called Buchnera, in their bacteriocytes, huge cells differentiated for this purpose. The association between Buchnera and aphids is so intimate, mutualistic and obligate that neither of them can any longer reproduce independently. Buchnera are vertically transmitted through generations of the host insects. Evidence suggests that Buchnera were acquired by a common ancestor of aphids 160-280 million years ago, and have been diversified, since then, in parallel with their aphid hosts. Molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that Buchnera belong to the g subdivision of the Proteobacteria. Although Buchnera are close relatives of Escherichia coli, they contain move than 100 genomic copies per cell, and their genome size is only one seventh that of E. coli. The complete genome sequence of Buchnera revealed that their gene repertoire is quite different from those of parasitic bacteria such as Mycoplasma, Rickettsia and Chlamydia, though their genome sizes have been reduced to a similar extent. Whereas these parasitic bacteria have lost most genes for the biosynthesis of amino acids, Buchnera retain many of them. In particular, Buchnera's gene repertoire is characteristic in the richness of the genes for the biosynthesis of essential amino acids that the eukaryotic hosts are not able to synthesize, reflecting a nutritional role played by these symbionts. Buchnera, when housed in the bacteriocyte, selectively synthesize a large amount of symbionin, which is a homolog of GroEL, the major stress protein of E. coli. Symbionin not only functions as molecular chaperone, like GroEL, but also has evolutionarily acquired the phosphotransferase activity through amino acid substitutions. Aphids usually profit from Buchnera's fuction as a nutritional supplier and, when faced with an emergency, consume the biomass of Buchnera cells as nutrient reserves.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.185-193
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• 2007

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root nodules is a distinctly beneficial metabolic process in legume plants. Legumes control the nodule number and nodulation zone through a systemic negative regulatory system between shoot and root. Mutation in the soybean NTS gene encoding GmNARK, a CLAVATA1-like serine/threonine receptor-like kinase, causes excessive nodule development called hypernodulation. To examine the effect of nts mutation on the gene expression profile in the leaves, suppression subtractive hybridization was performed with the trifoliate leaves of nts mutant 'SS2-2' and the wild-type (WT) parent 'Sinpaldalkong2', and 75 EST clones that were highly expressed in the leaves of the SS2-2 mutant were identified. Interestingly, the expression of jasmonate (JA)-responsive genes such as vspA, vspB, and Lox2 were upregulated, whereas that of a salicylate-responsive gene PR1a was suppressed in the SS2-2 mutant. In addition, the level of JA was about two-fold higher in the leaves of the SS2-2 mutant than in those of the WT under natural growth conditions. Moreover, the JA-responsive gene expression persists in the leaves of SS2-2 mutant without rhizobia infection in the roots. Taken together, our results suggest that the nts mutation increases JA synthesis in mature leaves and consequently leads to constitutive expression of JA-responsive genes which is irrelevant to hypernodulation in the root.