Genetics and Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation in Free-Living Bacteria

ISBN-13: 9789048166077 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 300 str.

Werner Klipp; Bernd Masepohl; John R. Gallon

Opis

Genetics and Regulation of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria This book is the second volume of a seven-volume series, which covers all fields of research related to nitrogen fixation - from basic studies through applied aspects to environmental impacts. Volume II provides a comprehensive and detailed source of information concerning the genetics and regulation of biological nitrogen fixation in free-living prokaryotes. This preface attempts to provide the reader with some insight into how this volume originated, how it was planned, and then how it developed over the several years of its production. Once the editorial team was established, the first job was to decide which of the many free-living diazotrophs that have been subjected to genetic analysis should be included in this volume. Would we need to develop specific criteria for selection or would the organisms, in effect, select themselves? Of course, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Azotobacter vinelandii, which have served (and still serve) as the main model organisms for the genetic analysis of diazotrophy, plus some of the other bacteria described in this volume, did indeed select themselves. However, there was considerable discussion surrounding well-characterized fixing species, like Azorhizobium caulinodans and Herbaspirillum seropedicae, both of which are able to fix atmospheric N under free-living conditions.

Spis treści

Series Preface. Preface. List of Contributors. Dedication. 1: Historical Perspective – Development of nif Genetics and Regulation in Klebsiella pneumoniae; R. Dixon 1. Introduction 2. The Early Years 3. Defining the K. pneumoniae nif Genes 4. The Recombinant DNA Era 5. nif Gene Regulation 6. Coda References 2: Genetics of Nitrogen Fixation and Related Aspects of Metabolism in Species of Azotobacter: History and Current Status; C. Kennedy and P. Bishop 1. Research on the Genus Azotobacter (1901-2003) 2. Application of the Tools of Genetics and Molecular Biology in Species of Azotobacter 3. The nif Genes encoding the Enzymes for Structure, Function, and Biosynthesis of Mo-containing Nitrogenase 4. Regulation of Expression of nif and Associated Genes by Ammonium and O2 5. Ancillary Properties of Azotobacter Species that Aid the Efficiency of Nitrogen Fixation 6. Discovery of Molybdenum-independent Nitrogenase Systems in A. vinelandii 7. Molybdenum-independent Nitrogenase systems in other Azotobacter Species Acknowledgements References 3: Nitrogen Fixation in the Clostridia; J.-S. Chen 1. Introduction 2. The Nitrogen-fixing Clostridia 3. Distinctive Features of the nif Genes of the Clostridia 4. Genes of Ammonia Assimilation 5. Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation and Ammonia Assimilation 6. Concluding Remarks References 4: Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation in Methanogenic Archaea; J.A. Leigh 1. Introduction 2. History and Background 3. Transcriptional Regulation 4. Regulation of Nitrogenase Activity 5. Summary References 5: Nitrogen Fixation in Heterocyst-Forming Cyanobacteria; T. Thiel 1.Introduction 2. Structure of Heterocysts 3. Nitrogenase Genes 4. Heterocyst Metabolism 5. Genes Important for Heterocyst Formation 6. heterocyst Pattern Formation 7. Regulation Acknowledgements References 6: N2 Fixation by Non-Heterocystous Cyanobacteria; J.R. Gallon 1. Introduction 2. Non-heterocystous Cyanobacteria 3. Patterns of N2 Fixation Acknowledgements References 7: Nitrogen Fixation in the Photosynthetic Purple Bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus; B. Masepohl, T. Drepper and W. Klipp 1. Introduction 2. Organization of Nitrogen-fixing Genes 3. The Nitrogen-fixation Regulon of R. capsulatus 4. Ammonium Control of Synthesis and Activity of both Nitrogenases 5. Environmental Factors Controlling Nitrogen Fixation 6. Linkage of Nitrogen Fixation, Photosynthesis, and Carbon Dioxide Assimilation 7. Nitrogen Fixation in other Photosynthetic Purple Bacteria References 8: Post-translational Regulation of Nitorgenase in Photosynthetic Bacteria; S. Nordlund and P.W. Ludden 1. Introduction 2. Discovery of Nitrogen Fixation by Photosynthetic Bacteria 3. In vitro Studies of Nitrogenase in Photosynthetic Bacteria 4. The Protein Era 5. Evidence for the Drat/Drag System in other Organisms 6. Other ADP-Ribosylations 7. Genetics of the Drag/Drat System 8. Signal Transduction to Drat and Drat 9. Conclustions Acknowledgement References 9: Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation in Free-Living Diazotrophs; M.J. Merrick 1. Introduction 2. General Nitrogen Control Systems 3. nif-specific Nitrogen Control 4. Nitrogen Control of Nitrogenase Activity 5. Conclusions References 10: Molybdenum Uptake and Homeostatis; R.N. Pau 1. Molybdenum Outside Cells 2.