Abstract
To better understand the role of proteases in Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae, a gene with homology to the carboxy-terminal protease (CtpA), which belongs to a novel group of serine proteases, was studied. The ctpA gene was cloned and mutated using allelic exchange and a gusA reporter gene was used to study ctpA expression. Mutational analysis shows that ctpA is critical for the viability of R. leguminosarum when cells are grown on complex semi-solid media but is dispensable when cells are grown in complex liquid media and that this is likely due to an increase in susceptibility to desiccation on semi-solid media. The ctpA mutant also displayed an increased sensitivity to detergents, indicating an alteration in the permeability of the cell envelope. This is the first characterization of a ctpA gene within the Rhizobiaceae and the first report of a ctpA mutant that exhibits an increased sensitivity to desiccation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Algal Proteins
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
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Artificial Gene Fusion
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
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Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
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Carboxypeptidases / genetics*
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Carboxypeptidases / physiology*
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Cell Membrane / physiology
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Dehydration
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Detergents / pharmacology
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Gene Deletion
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
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Genes, Bacterial / genetics
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Genes, Essential / genetics
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Genes, Reporter
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Glucuronidase / analysis
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Glucuronidase / genetics
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Microbial Viability / genetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutagenesis, Insertional
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Permeability
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Proprotein Convertases / genetics*
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Proprotein Convertases / physiology*
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Rhizobium leguminosarum / cytology
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Rhizobium leguminosarum / drug effects
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Rhizobium leguminosarum / enzymology*
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Rhizobium leguminosarum / genetics
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Rhizobium leguminosarum / physiology*
Substances
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Algal Proteins
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Bacterial Proteins
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Detergents
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Glucuronidase
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Carboxypeptidases
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Proprotein Convertases
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photosystem II, D1 polypeptide carboxy-terminal processing protease