This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sharma, S.
Right arrow Articles by Schloter, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sharma, S.
Right arrow Articles by Schloter, M.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Sharma, S.
Right arrow Articles by Schloter, M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2005, p. 2001-2007, Vol. 71, No. 4
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.4.2001-2007.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Diversity of Transcripts of Nitrite Reductase Genes (nirK and nirS) in Rhizospheres of Grain Legumes

Shilpi Sharma,1* Manish Kumar Aneja,1 Jochen Mayer,2,3 Jean Charles Munch,1 and Michael Schloter1

Institute of Soil Ecology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg,1 Department of Organic Farming and Cropping Systems, University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany,2 Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture, Zürich, Switzerland3

Received 31 August 2004/ Accepted 28 October 2004

Transcription of the nirK and nirS genes coding for dissimilatory bacterial nitrite reductases was analyzed by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) of mRNA isolated from rhizosphere samples of three economically important grain legumes at maturity: Vicia faba, Lupinus albus, and Pisum sativum. The nirK gene and transcripts could be detected in all the rhizosphere samples. In contrast, nirS could not be detected. Sampling variations were analyzed by comparing denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles derived from nirK RT-PCR products. High similarity was observed between the replicates, and so one representative product per legume was cloned. Clones with the correct insert size were screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism by using the restriction enzyme MspI. The clones could be distributed into 12 different patterns. Patterns 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 were common in clone libraries of the three rhizosphere types under study. Patterns 2, 9, 10, and 11 were absent from Pisum rhizospheres, while patterns 6, 8, and 12 were absent from the Vicia library. Pattern 1, which was the most dominant in the Vicia and Lupinus libraries, constituted about 25% of all clones. The Lupinus library had clones representing all 12 patterns, indicating it to be the most diverse among the three. Clones representative of each pattern were sequenced. All patterns grouped together forming a distinct cluster, which was divergent from previously described nirK sequences in the database. The study revealed a hitherto unknown diversity of denitrifiers in legume rhizospheres. A plant-dependent rhizosphere effect on the transcripts of a gene was evident.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Soil Ecology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, P.O. Box 1129, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. Phone: 49 89 3187 3054. Fax: 49 89 3187 3376. E-mail: shilpi.sharma{at}gsf.de.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2005, p. 2001-2007, Vol. 71, No. 4
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.4.2001-2007.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Flores-Mireles, A. L., Winans, S. C., Holguin, G. (2007). Molecular Characterization of Diazotrophic and Denitrifying Bacteria Associated with Mangrove Roots. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 7308-7321 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Bremer, C., Braker, G., Matthies, D., Reuter, A., Engels, C., Conrad, R. (2007). Impact of Plant Functional Group, Plant Species, and Sampling Time on the Composition of nirK-Type Denitrifier Communities in Soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 6876-6884 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Smith, C. J., Nedwell, D. B., Dong, L. F., Osborn, A. M. (2007). Diversity and Abundance of Nitrate Reductase Genes (narG and napA), Nitrite Reductase Genes (nirS and nrfA), and Their Transcripts in Estuarine Sediments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 3612-3622 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sharma, S., Szele, Z., Schilling, R., Munch, J. C., Schloter, M. (2006). Influence of freeze-thaw stress on the structure and function of microbial communities and denitrifying populations in soil.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 2148-2154 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»