A new mutation in the pufL gene responsible for the terbutryn resistance phenotype in Rubrivivax gelatinosus

Abstract

Rubrivivax gelatinosus is a facultative phototrophic non-sulfur bacterium belonging to the β subclass of the purple bacteria. A terbutryn-resistant mutant of R. gelatinosus has been isolated and characterized. Increased resistance levels to terbutryn (300-fold), atrazine (6-fold) and o-phenanthroline (3-fold) were observed for the mutant compared with wild type. Sequence analysis of the mutant revealed a new mutation in the pufL gene coding for the L subunit of the reaction centre (RC) at codon 192 leading to an amino-acid substitution from Gly in the wild type to Asp in the mutant. This substitution is located in the D helix of the L subunit, suggesting an interaction between terbutryn and this part of the polypeptide in the RC of R. gelatinosus. This is the first report of a mutation leading to herbicide resistance and affecting the D helix in purple bacteria. Furthermore R. gelatinosus wild type is highly sensitive to o-phenanthroline compared with other purple bacteria ( Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter sphaeroides). Sequence comparison of the L subunit from six purple bacteria in which o-phenanthroline sensitivity was measured suggests that Ser L226 might be responsible for this phenotype.