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Identification of Bacillus azotofixans nitrogen fixation genes using heterologous nif probes

  • Chapter
Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 35))

Abstract

Twenty-two strains of Bacillus azotofixans, a new nitrogen-fixing species, were tested for the presence of DNA homology to the Klebsiella pneumoniae nif genes by the Southern hybridization technique. Total DNA from all B. azotofixans strains tested was shown to carry homologous sequences only to K. pneumoniae structural nif genes. When B. azotofixans DNA was digested with EcoRI, EcoRV, HindIII or SalI and hybridized with pSA30 containing nifHDK, more than one fragment was obtained in all strains tested with the different restriction enzymes. The hybridization pattern also varied among the strains. When probes containing each of the K. pneumoniae structural nif genes were used, the homology detected between plasmid pSA30 and B. azotofixans DNA was limited to nifD and nifH. The results now reported also suggest that the B. azotofixans nifDH genes are contiguous although nifH probably underwent a rearrangement during evolution.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, C.C.S., Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP: 21.944, Brasil

    L. Seldin, M. C. F. Bastos & E. G. C. Penido

Authors
  1. L. Seldin
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  2. M. C. F. Bastos
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  3. E. G. C. Penido
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK

    F. A. Skinner

  2. EMBRAPA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    R. M. Boddey

  3. University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    I. Fendrik

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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Seldin, L., Bastos, M.C.F., Penido, E.G.C. (1989). Identification of Bacillus azotofixans nitrogen fixation genes using heterologous nif probes. In: Skinner, F.A., Boddey, R.M., Fendrik, I. (eds) Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 35. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0889-5_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0889-5_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6888-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0889-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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