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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Taxonomic characterization of denitrifying bacteria that degrade aromatic compounds and description of Azoarcus toluvorans sp. nov. and Azoarcus toluclasticus sp. nov.

A taxonomic characterization of twenty-one strains capable of degrading aromatic compounds under denitrifying conditions, isolated from ten different geographical locations, was performed on the basis of general morphological and physiological characteristics, cellular fatty acids, DNA base composition, small ribosomal (16S) subunit DNA sequences, whole-cell protein patterns and genomic DNA fragmentation analysis, in addition to DNA similarity estimations using hybridization methods. The collection of strains was subdivided into a number of different groups. A first group, consisting of four strains, could be assigned to the previously described species Azoarcus tolulyticus. A second group (five strains) had DNA which reannealed highly to that of strains of the first group, and it is considered to represent a genomovar of A. tolulyticus. The third and fourth groups, composed of a total of five strains, represent a new species of Azoarcus, Azoarcus toluclasticus (group 3) and a genomovar of this species (group 4), respectively. Finally, the fifth group, with two strains, corresponds to another new species of the genus Azoarcus, Azoarcus toluvorans. In addition to these five groups, the collection includes five individual strains perhaps representing as many different new species. The above classification is partially consistent with the results of approaches other than DNA-DNA hybridization (electrophoretic patterns of whole-cell proteins and of the fragments obtained after digestion of total DNA with infrequently cutting restriction enzymes). On the other hand, no correlation of these groupings was found in terms of the cellular fatty acid composition. It is also unfortunate that no simple sets of easily determinable phenotypic properties could be defined as being characteristic of each of the groups.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed1995

Taxonomic position of aromatic-degrading denitrifying pseudomonad strains K 172 and KB 740 and their description as new members of the genera Thauera, as Thauera aromatica sp. nov., and Azoarcus, as Azoarcus evansii sp. nov., respectively, members of the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria.

In the past workers have isolated several pseudomonad strains which have been used for studies of anaerobic aromatic metabolism. The best studied of these strains are strains KB 740T (T = type strain) and K 172T. The taxonomic positions of these two organisms were determined by classical methods, including experiments to determine substrate spectrum, quinone type, and total fatty acid composition. Our results clearly excluded these strains from the authentic genus Pseudomonas, which belongs to the gamma subclass of the Proteobacteria. Instead, the properties of these organisms indicated that they belong to the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria. The sequences of the 16S ribosomal DNA genes confirmed this conclusion and indicated that strain K 172T represents a new species of the genus Thauera, Thauera aromatica, and that strain KB 740T represents a new species of the genus Azoarcus, Azoarcus evansii.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Phylogenetic analyses of a new group of denitrifiers capable of anaerobic growth of toluene and description of Azoarcus tolulyticus sp. nov.

To understand the phylogeny and taxonomy of eight new toluene-degrading denitrifying isolates, we performed a 16S rRNA sequence analysis and a gas chromatographic analysis of their cellular fatty acids and examined some of their biochemical and physiological features. These isolates had 16s rRNA sequence signatures identical to those of members of the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria. The levels of similarity were as follows: 97.9 to 99.9% among the new isolates; 91.2 to 92.4% between the new isolates and Azoarcus sp. strain S5b2; 95.3 to 96.2% between the new isolates and Azoarcus sp. strain BH72; and 94.8 to 95.3% between the new isolates and Azoarcus indigens VB32T (T = type strain). Phylogenetic trees constructed by using the distance matrix, maximum-parsimony, and maximum-likelihood methods showed that our eight denitrifying isolates form a phylogenetically coherent cluster which represents a sister lineage of the previously described Azoarcus species. Furthermore, the fatty acid profiles, the cell morphology, and several physiological and nutritional characteristics of the eight isolates and the previously described members of the genus Azoarcus were also similar. In contrast to the previously described members of the genus Azoarcus, the eight new isolates were capable of degrading toluene under denitrifying conditions. We concluded that these toluene-degrading denitrifiers are members of a new species of the novel nitrogen-fixing genus Azoarcus. We propose the name Azoarcus tolulyticus for these toluene-degrading denitrifying isolates and designate strain Tol-4 the type strain.

Anaerobiosis↗

PubMed1995

Identification of grass-associated and toluene-degrading diazotrophs, Azoarcus spp., by analyses of partial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences.

The genus Azoarcus includes nitrogen-fixing, grass-associated strains as well as denitrying toluene degraders. In order to identify and group members of the genus Azoarcus, phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA genes (16S rDNAs) is proposed. 16S rRNA-targeted PCR using specific primers to exclude amplification in the majority of other members of the beta subclass of the class Proteobacteria was combined with direct sequencing of the PCR products. Tree inference from comparisons of 446-bp rDNA fragments yielded similar results for the three known Azoarcus spp. sequences and for analysis of the complete 16S rDNA sequence. These three species formed a phylogenetically coherent group with representatives of two other Azoarcus species which were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing in this study. This group was related to Rhodocyclus purpureus and Thauera selenatis. New isolates and also sequences of so far uncultured bacteria from roots of Kallar grass were assigned to the genus Azoarcus as well. Also, strains degrading monoaromatic hydrocarbons anaerobically in the presence of nitrate clustered within this genus, albeit not with grass-associated isolates. All representative members of the five species harboring rhizospheric bacteria were able to form N2O from nitrate and showed anaerobic growth on malic acid with nitrate but not on toluene. In order to visualize different Azoarcus spp. by whole-cell in situ hybridizations, we generated 16S rRNA-targeted, fluorescent probes by in vitro transcription directly from PCR products which spanned the variable region V2. Hybridization was species specific for Azoarcus communis and Azoarcus indigens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Preferential occurrence of diazotrophic endophytes, Azoarcus spp., in wild rice species and land races of Oryza sativa in comparison with modern races.

Several diazotrophic species of Azoarcus spp. occur as endophytes in the pioneer plant Kallar grass. The purpose of this study was to screen Asian wild rice and cultivated Oryza sativa varieties for natural association with these endophytes. Populations of culturable diazotrophs in surface-sterilized roots were characterized by 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and Azoarcus species were identified by genomic fingerprints. A. indigens and Azoarcus sp. group C were detected only rarely, whereas Azoarcus sp. group D occurred frequently in samples of flooded plants: in 75% of wild rice, 80% of land races of O. sativa from Nepal and 33% of modern cultivars from Nepal and Italy. The putatively endophytic populations of diazotrophs differed with the rice genotype. The diversity of cultured diazotrophs was significantly lower in wild rice species than in modern cultivars. In Oryza officinalis (from Nepal) and O. minuta (from the Philippines), Azoarcus sp. group D were the predominant diazotrophic putative endophytes in roots. In contrast, their number was significantly lower in modern cultivars of O. sativa, whereas numbers and diversity of other diazotrophs, such as Azospirillum spp., Klebsiella sp., Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Burkholderia sp. and Azorhizobium caulinodans, were increased. In land races of O. sativa, the diazotrophic diversity was equally high; however, Azoarcus sp. was found in high apparent numbers. Similar differences in populations were also observed in a culture-independent approach comparing a wild rice (O. officinalis) and a modern-type O. sativa plant: in clone libraries of root-associated nitrogenase (nifH) gene fragments, the diazotrophic diversity was lower in the wild rice species. New lineages of nifH genes were detected, e.g. one deeply branching cluster within the anf (iron) nitrogenases. Our studies demonstrate that the natural host range of Azoarcus spp. extends to rice, wild rice species and old varieties being preferred over modern cultivars.

Asia↗

PubMed1999

Characterization of the Azoarcus ribozyme: tight binding to guanosine and substrate by an unusually small group I ribozyme.

We report novel chemical properties of the ribozyme derived from the smallest group I intron (subgroup IC3) that comes from the pre-tRNA(Ile) of the bacterium Azoarcus sp. BH72. Despite the small size of the Azoarcus ribozyme (195 nucleotides (nt)), it binds tightly to the guanosine nucleophile (Kd = 15 +/- 3 microM) and exhibits activity at high temperatures (approximately 60-70 degrees C). These features may be due to the two GA3 tetraloop interactions postulated in the intron and the high GC content of the secondary structure. The second order rate constant for the Azoarcus ribozyme, ((k(cat)/Km)S = 8.4 +/- 2.1 x 10(-5) M(-1) min(-1)) is close to that found for the related ribozyme derived from the pre-tRNA(Ile) of the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC7120. pH dependence studies and kinetic analyses of deoxy-substituted substrates suggest that the chemical cleavage step is the rate-determining process in the Azoarcus ribozyme. This may be due to the short 3-nt guide sequence-substrate pairing present in the Azoarcus ribozyme. Finally, the Azoarcus ribozyme shares features conserved in other group I ribozymes including the pH profile, the stereospecificity for the Rp-phosphorothioate at the cleavage site and the 1000-fold decrease in cleavage rate with a deoxyribonucleoside leaving group.

Azoarcus↗

PubMed2006

Oxygen-dependent regulation of the central pathway for the anaerobic catabolism of aromatic compounds in Azoarcus sp. strain CIB.

The role of oxygen in the transcriptional regulation of the PN promoter that controls the bzd operon involved in the anaerobic catabolism of benzoate in the denitrifying Azoarcus sp. strain CIB has been investigated. In vivo experiments using PN::lacZ translational fusions, in both Azoarcus sp. strain CIB and Escherichia coli cells, have shown an oxygen-dependent repression effect on the transcription of the bzd catabolic genes. E. coli Fnr was required for the anaerobic induction of the PN promoter, and the oxygen-dependent repression of the bzd genes could be bypassed by the expression of a constitutively active Fnr* protein. In vitro experiments revealed that Fnr binds to the PN promoter at a consensus sequence centered at position -41.5 from the transcription start site overlapping the -35 box, suggesting that PN belongs to the class II Fnr-dependent promoters. Fnr interacts with RNA polymerase (RNAP) and is strictly required for transcription initiation after formation of the RNAP-PN complex. An fnr ortholog, the acpR gene, was identified in the genome of Azoarcus sp. strain CIB. The Azoarcus sp. strain CIB acpR mutant was unable to grow anaerobically on aromatic compounds and it did not drive the expression of the PN::lacZ fusion, suggesting that AcpR is the cognate transcriptional activator of the PN promoter. Since the lack of AcpR in Azoarcus sp. strain CIB did not affect growth on nonaromatic carbon sources, AcpR can be considered a transcriptional regulator of the Fnr/Crp superfamily that has evolved to specifically control the central pathway for the anaerobic catabolism of aromatic compounds in Azoarcus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

16S rRNA-targeted polymerase chain reaction and oligonucleotide hybridization to screen for Azoarcus spp., grass-associated diazotrophs.

Phylogenetic analyses after reverse transcriptase sequencing of 16S rRNA of nitrogen-fixing, grass-associated Azoarcus strains confirmed their affiliation to the beta subdivision of the Proteobacteria. Strains representing three different species formed a phylogenetically coherent unit related to Rhodocyclus purpureus, with actual percent similarities among the three sequences ranging from 93.1 to 97.3%. Within variable regions V2 and V5, we found stretches of sequences considerably conserved within the genus Azoarcus but differing from most other gram-negative bacteria, with the specificity being enhanced when different regions were combined. Genus-specific primers selected from both regions amplified fragments from all but one Azoarcus species in polymerase chain reactions (PCR) but not from any reference strain tested. Primers of lesser specificity generated fragments from members of all five Azoarcus species as well as from some reference strains. Those unspecific amplifications could be differentiated by oligonucleotide hybridization, detecting only fragments generated from Azoarcus strains except strain 6a3, which represents the same group which could not be detected by genus-specific PCR. Thus we propose the application of PCR amplification with 16S rRNA-targeted, genus-specific primers in combination with hybridization of a 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide to PCR-generated fragments as diagnostic tests; this allows an initial screening for presence of members of the genus Azoarcus.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Identification of N2-fixing plant- and fungus-associated Azoarcus species by PCR-based genomic fingerprints.

Most species of the diazotrophic Proteobacteria Azoarcus spp. occur in association with grass roots, while A. tolulyticus and A. evansii are soil bacteria not associated with a plant host. To facilitate species identification and strain comparison, we developed a protocol for PCR-generated genomic fingerprints, using an automated sequencer for fragment analysis. Commonly used primers targeted to REP (repetitive extragenic palindromic) and ERIC (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus) sequence elements failed to amplify fragments from the two species tested. In contrast, the BOX-PCR assay (targeted to repetitive intergenic sequence elements of Streptococcus) yielded species-specific genomic fingerprints with some strain-specific differences. PCR profiles of an additional PCR assay using primers targeted to tRNA genes (tDNA-PCR, for tRNA(IIe)) were more discriminative, allowing differentiation at species-specific (for two species) or infraspecies-specific level. Our protocol of several consecutive PCR assays consisted of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA)-targeted, genus-specific PCR followed by BOX- and tDNA-PCR; it enabled us to assign new diazotrophic isolates originating from fungal resting stages (sclerotia) to known species of Azoarcus. The assignment was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. Additionally, the phylogenetic distances and the lack of monophyly suggested emendment of the genus Azoarcus: the unnamed species Azoarcus groups C and D and a new group (E) of Azoarcus, which was detected in association with fungi, are likely to have the taxonomic rank of three different genera. According to its small subunit rRNA, the sclerotium-forming basidiomycete was related to the Ustilagomycetes, facultatively biotrophic parasites of plants. Since they occurred in a field which was under cultivation with rice and wheat, these fungi might serve as a niche for survival for Azoarcus in the soil and as a source for reinfection of plants.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1997

Divergence in nitrogenases of Azoarcus spp., Proteobacteria of the beta subclass.

Nitrogenase is a functionally constant protein catalyzing N2 reduction, which is found in many phylogenetic lineages of Archaea and Bacteria. A phylogenetic analysis of nif genes may provide insights into the evolution of the bacterial genomes. Moreover, it may be used to study diazotrophic communities, when classical isolation techniques may fail to detect all contributing populations. Among six species of the genus Azoarcus, diazotrophic Proteobacteria of the beta subclass, the deduced amino acid sequences of nifH genes of two species were unusually divergent from each other. Nitrogenases of the "authentic" Azoarcus branch formed a monophyletic unit with those of gamma Proteobacteria, thus being in accordance with 16S ribosomal DNA phylogeny. The nitrogenase proteins of the two aberrant strains clustered within the alpha proteobacterial clade with rhizobial nitrogenases. This relationship was supported by bootstrap values of 87 to 98% obtained by various distance and maximum parsimony methods. Phylogenetic distances of NifH proteins indicate a possible lateral gene transfer of nif genes to Azoarcus from a common donor of the alpha subclass at the time of species diversification or several more recent, independent transfers. Application of the phylogenetic analysis to DNA isolated from environmental samples demonstrated novel habitats for Azoarcus: in guts of termites and rice grown in Japan, nifH genes belonging to the authentic Azoarcus branch were detected. This is the first evidence suggesting the occurrence of Azoarcus spp. in a plant other than its originally described host, Kallar grass. Moreover, evidence for expression of nif genes inside grass roots was obtained by in situ hybridization studies with antisense nifH probes.

Gram-Negative Facultatively Anaerobic Rods↗

PubMed1993

Cloning, expression in Escherichia coli, and characterization of cellulolytic enzymes of Azoarcus sp., a root-invading diazotroph.

We screened members of a new genus of grass-associated diazotrophs (Azoarcus spp.) for the presence of cellulolytic enzymes. Out of five Azoarcus strains representing different species, only in the endorhizosphere isolate BH72, which is also capable of invading grass roots, was significant endoglucanase activity, in addition to beta-glucosidase and cellobiohydrolase activity, present. Reducing sugars were readily released from medium-viscosity carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), but neither CMC, cellulose filter strips, Avicel, cellobiose, nor D-glucose served as the sole carbon source for growth of Azoarcus spp. Clones from a plasmid library of strain BH72 expressed all three enzymes in Escherichia coli, apparently not from their own promoter. According to restriction endonuclease mapping and subclone analysis, beta-glucosidase and cellobiohydrolase activities were localized on a single 2.6-kb fragment not physically linked to a 1.45-kb fragment from which endoglucanase (egl) was expressed. Two isoenzymes of endoglucanase probably resulting from proteolytic cleavage had pI values of 6.4 and 6.1 and an apparent molecular mass of approximately 36 kDa. Cellobiohydrolase and beta-glucosidase activity were conferred by one enzyme 41 kDa in size with a pI of 5.4, which we classified as an unspecific exoglycanase (exg) according to substrate utilization and specificity mapping; hydrolysis of various oligomeric substrates differentiated it from endoglucanase, which degraded substituted soluble cellulose derivatives but not microcrystalline cellulose. Both enzymes were not excreted but were associated with the surface of Azoarcus cells. Both activities were only slightly influenced by the presence of CMC or D-glucose in the growth medium but were enhanced by ethanol. egl was located on a large transcript approximately 15 kb in size, which was detectable only in cells grown under microaerobic conditions on N2. Surface-bound exo- and endoglucanases with some unusual regulatory features, detected in this study in a strain which is unable to metabolize cellulose or sugars, might assist Azoarcus sp. strain BH72 in infection of grass roots.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1996

Activity and thermostability of the small self-splicing group I intron in the pre-tRNA(lle) of the purple bacterium Azoarcus.

The 205-nt group I intron located in the pre-tRNA(lle) from the bacterium Azoarcus sp.BH72 is the smallest self-splicing group I intron identified to date. Comparative sequence analysis has placed this intron and the Anabaena pre-tRNA(Leu) intron into the same subgroup, IC3; we now compare their activity and stability. Unlike the Anabaena intron, the Azoarcus intron has two transitions in the kinetics of the first step of splicing. The faster transition occurs with a larger k(cat)/K(m) than that of the Anabaena or other group I introns, due to a rapid K(cat) (5 min(-1) at 32 degrees C) and a low K(m) for guanosine (17 microM). The excised intron circularizes by releasing a trinucleotide from the 5' end of the intron, another property unlike the Anabaena intron. Although it is smaller in size, the Azoarcus intron retains activity at higher temperatures, higher concentrations of urea, and higher pH than the Anabaena intron. Melting curves show that tertiary structure is disrupted at a lower temperature in the Anabaena intron. Some structural features that may explain the unusual stability of the Azoarcus intron include a G-C rich secondary structure and the presence of two 11-nt motifs, which are known to interact strongly with GAAA loops in group I and group II introns. The disruption of one of these interactions by substituting the Anabaena structural element in fact lowered the thermal stability of the Azoarcus intron. Thus, even superficially similar group I introns from the same structural subgroup can differ significantly in activity and stability.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of bacteria degrading aromatic compounds under denitrifying conditions, and description of Thauera phenylacetica sp. nov., Thauera aminoaromaticasp. nov., and Azoarcus buckelii sp. nov.

Six strains of denitrifying bacteria isolated from various oxic and anoxic habitats on different monocyclic aromatic substrates were characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA genes, determining physiological and morphological traits, and DNA-DNA hybridization. According to these criteria, strains S100, SP and LG356 were identified as members of Thauera aromatica. Strains B5-1 and B5-2 were tentatively affiliated to the species Azoarcus tolulyticus. Strains B4P and S2 were only distantly related to each other and to other described Thauera species. These two strains are proposed as the type strains of two new species, Thauera phenylacetica sp. nov. and Thauera aminoaromaticasp. nov., respectively. By 16S rRNA gene analysis, strain U120 was highly related to the type strains of Azoarcus evansii and Azoarcus anaerobius, whereas corresponding DNA-DNA reassociation values indicated only a low degree of genomic relatedness. Based upon a low DNA similarity value and the presence of distinguishing physiological properties, strain U120 is proposed as the type strain of a new species, Azoarcus buckelii sp. nov. Almost all of the new isolates were obtained with different substrates. The highly varied substrate spectra of the isolates indicates that an even higher diversity of denitrifying bacteria degrading aromatic compounds would be discovered in the different habitats by using a larger spectrum of aromatic substrates for enrichment and isolation.

Azoarcus↗

PubMed2002

Azoarcus grass endophytes contribute fixed nitrogen to the plant in an unculturable state.

The extent to which the N2-fixing bacterial endophyte Azoarcus sp. strain BH72 in the rhizosphere of Kallar grass can provide fixed nitrogen to the plant was assessed by evaluating inoculated plants grown in the greenhouse and uninoculated plants taken from the natural environment. The inoculum consisted of either wild-type bacteria or nifK- mutant strain BHNKD4. In N2-deficient conditions, plants inoculated with strain BH72 (N2-fixing test plants) grew better and accumulated more nitrogen with a lower delta15N signature after 8 months than did plants inoculated with the mutant strain (non-N2-fixing control plants). Polyadenylated or polymerase chain reaction-amplified BH72 nifH transcripts were retrieved from test but not from control plants. BH72 nifH transcripts were abundant. The inocula could not be reisolated. These results indicate that Azoarcus sp. BH72 can contribute combined N2 to the plant in an unculturable state. Abundant BH72 nifH transcripts were detected also in uninoculated plants taken from the natural environment, from which Azoarcus sp. BH72 also could not be isolated. Quantification of nitrogenase gene transcription indicated a high potential of strain BH72 for biological N2 fixation in association with roots. Phylogenetic analysis of nitrogenase sequences predicted that uncultured grass endophytes including Azoarcus spp. are ecologically dominant and play an important role in N2-fixation in natural grass ecosystems.

Azoarcus↗

PubMed2000

Reassessment of the taxonomic structure of the diazotrophic genus Azoarcus sensu lato and description of three new genera and new species, Azovibrio restrictus gen. nov., sp. nov., Azospira oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov. and Azonexus fungiphilus gen. nov., sp. nov.

The taxonomic structure of members of the genus Azoarcus sensu lato was reassessed in a polyphasic approach. Two species, Azoarcus communis and Azoarcus indigens, three unnamed species containing diazotrophs associated with Kallar grass roots (groups C, D) and a group of strains (E) isolated from fungi were analysed. They were compared by PAGE analyses of cellular proteins, genomic fingerprints, morphological and nutritional features to new isolates from rice roots. All strains within groups C, D and E containing 5-12 isolates showed group-specific cell and colony morphology and carbon source utilization patterns, with exception of the obligately microaerobic strain BS20-3, a member of group C. All strains, with this exception, also had almost indistinguishable electrophoretic protein patterns and genomic fingerprints generated with tDNA-directed primers, suggesting they belong to the same species. Phylogenetic analyses of almost complete 16S rDNA sequences carried out with three different algorithms (neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood, parsimony) revealed that Azoarcus sensu lato is not monophyletic. Groups C, D and E formed three distinct lineages located between the Azoarcus/Thauera and the Rhodocyclus clusters. Phylogenetic distances between groups C, D and E were as large as between other genera (93-94% sequence similarity). This suggested they have the rank of three different genera. Since it was possible to differentiate them from each other and other related bacteria by phenotypic features, three new genera with one type species each are proposed: Azovibrio restrictus gen. nov., sp. nov., Azospira oryzae gen. nov., sp. nov. and Azonexus fungiphilus gen. nov., sp. nov.

Azoarcus↗

PubMed1999

Initial reactions in anaerobic oxidation of m-xylene by the denitrifying bacterium Azoarcus sp. strain T.

The initial enzymatic steps in anaerobic m-xylene oxidation were studied in Azoarcus sp. strain T, a denitrifying bacterium capable of mineralizing m-xylene via 3-methylbenzoate. Permeabilized cells of m-xylene-grown Azoarcus sp. strain T catalyzed the addition of m-xylene to fumarate to form (3-methylbenzyl)succinate. In the presence of succinyl coenzyme A (CoA) and nitrate, (3-methylbenzyl)succinate was oxidized to E-(3-methylphenyl)itaconate (or a closely related isomer) and 3-methylbenzoate. Kinetic studies conducted with permeabilized cells and whole-cell suspensions of m-xylene-grown Azoarcus sp. strain T demonstrated that the specific rate of in vitro (3-methylbenzyl)succinate formation accounts for at least 15% of the specific rate of in vivo m-xylene consumption. Based on these findings, we propose that Azoarcus sp. strain T anaerobically oxidizes m-xylene to 3-methylbenzoate (or its CoA thioester) via (3-methylbenzyl)succinate and E-(3-methylphenyl)itaconate (or its CoA thioester) in a series of reactions that are analogous to those recently proposed for anaerobic toluene oxidation to benzoyl-CoA. A deuterium kinetic isotope effect was observed in the (3-methylbenzyl)succinate synthase reaction (and the benzylsuccinate synthase reaction), suggesting that a rate-determining step in this novel fumarate addition reaction involves breaking a C-H bond.

Anaerobiosis↗

PubMed1998

Azoarcus anaerobius sp. nov., a resorcinol-degrading, strictly anaerobic, denitrifying bacterium.

A strictly anaerobic, nitrate-reducing bacterium, strain LuFRes1, was isolated using resorcinol as sole source of carbon and energy. The strain reduced nitrate to dinitrogen gas and was not able to use oxygen as an alternative electron acceptor. Cells were catalase-negative but superoxide-dismutase-positive. Resorcinol was completely oxidized to CO2. 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed a high similarity with sequences of Azoarcus evansii and Azoarcus tolulyticus. Strain LuFRes1T (= DSM 12081T) is described as a new species of the genus Azoarcus, Azoarcus anaerobius.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Root colonization and systemic spreading of Azoarcus sp. strain BH72 in grasses.

The invasive properties of Azoarcus sp. strain BH72, an endorhizospheric isolate of Kallar grass, on gnotobiotically grown seedlings of Oryza sativa IR36 and Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth were studied. Additionally, Azoarcus spp. were localized in roots of field-grown Kallar grass. To facilitate localization and to assure identity of bacteria, genetically engineered microorganisms expressing beta-glucuronidase were also used as inocula. beta-Glucuronidase staining indicated that the apical region of the root behind the meristem was the most intensively colonized. Light and electron microscopy showed that strain BH72 penetrated the rhizoplane preferentially in the zones of elongation and differentiation and colonized the root interior inter- and intracellularly. In addition to the root cortex, stelar tissue was also colonized; bacteria were found in the xylem. No evidence was obtained that Azoarcus spp. could reside in living plant cells; rather, plant cells were apparently destroyed after bacteria had penetrated the cell wall. A common pathogenicity test on tobacco leaves provided no evidence that representative strains of Azoarcus spp. are phytopathogenic. Compared with the control, inoculation with strain BH72 significantly promoted growth of rice seedlings. This effect was reversed when the plant medium was supplemented with malate (0.2 g/liter). N2 fixation was apparently not involved, because the same response was obtained with a nifK mutant of strain BH72, which has a Nif- phenotype. Also, Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of protein extracts from rice seedlings gave no indication that nitrogenase was present. PCR and Western immunoblotting, using primers specific for eubacteria and antibodies recognizing type-specific antigens, respectively, indicated that strain BH72 could colonize rice plants systemically, probably mediated by longitudinal spreading through vessels.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗