Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Classification

Gram-negative nitrogen fixing bacteria

Higher order taxa

Domain: Bacteria, Phylum: Proteobacteria, Class: Alphaproteobacteria, Order: Rhizobiales, Family: Bradyrhizobiaceae

Strains: Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain USDA 110. Bradyrhizobium japonicum bv. genistearum. Bradyrhizobium japonicum bv. glycinearum.

Edited by Erik Low, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Genus

Genus species: Bradyrhizobium japonicum

NCBI: Taxonomy

Edited by Erik Low, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Description and significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.

Bradyrhizobium japonicum is gram negative, rod shaped, nitrogen fixing bacteria that forms a symbiotic relationship with the soybean plant Glycean Max. It is located on the root tips of the soy bean plant Glycine Max and eventually begins to colonize in the root nodules of the plant itself. Within these root nodules, Bradyrhizobium japonicum is located in symbiosomes derived from the plant membrane. One to several of these bacteria can inhabit a single symbiosome. In the symbiotic relationship, the plant provides a safe environment with a constant supply of carbon for growth and energy. Such carbon sources come in the form of dicarboxylic acids, succinate, fumarate, and malate. The bacteria in turn, provides the plant with fixed nitrogen, which is nitrogen gas that has been reduced and is readily usable by the plant. This allows the plant to grow significantly in the absence of external fertilizer. It is important to have the Bradyrhizobium japonicum's genome sequenced because manipulation of its genome can produce benefitial and desirable traits, which can improve soy bean crop production. It was originally isolated from a soybean nodule in Florida, USA in 1957 through whole genome shotgun sequencing combined with bridging shotgun method.

Edited by Erik Low, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 has a complete genome. It is made up of dsDNA and 1 chromosome. It is circular and the length is 2,843,201 nucleotides. The GC content is 37%. It has 2838 genes. Replicon Type: chromosome.

Edited by Neena Patel, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

The genome reveals factors mediating coaggregation, cell signaling, and stress protection. It has a spiral shape and is arranged in singles. It is a mobile organism but does not contain any endospores. Motility is by rapid rotation around the long axis, flexation of the cell and locomotion along a helical path. The most distinctive property is the presence of periplasmic flagella wound around the helical protoplasmic cylinder and encased in an outer sheath.

Edited by Neena Patel, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

Treponema denticola is a bacterial pathogen and plant plastid. It causes periodontal disease and gum inflammation.

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Edited by Neena Patel, student of Rachel Larsen at UCSD.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

[http://expasy.org/sprot/hamap/BRAJA.html, Kaneko T., Nakamura Y., Sato S., Minamisawa K., Uchiumi T., Sasamoto S., Watanabe A., Idesawa K., Iriguchi M., Kawashima K., Kohara M., Matsumoto M., Shimpo S., Tsuruoka H., Wada T., Yamada M., Tabata S. ; "Complete genomic sequence of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110."; DNA Res. 9:189-197(2002)] Joe Bischoff, Mikhail Domrachev, Scott Federhen, Carol Hotton, Detlef Leipe, Vladimir Soussov, Richard Sternberg, Sean Turner. David J. Westenberg

example: Glockner, F. O., M. Kube, M. Bauer, H. Teeling, T. Lombardot, W. Ludwig, D. Gade, A. Beck, K Borzym, K Heitmann, R. Rabus, H. Schlesner, R. Amann, and R. Reinhardt. 2003. "Complete genome sequence of the marine planctomycete Pirellula sp. strain 1." Proceedings of the National Acedemy of Sciences, vol. 100, no. 14. (8298-8303)

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano