Abstract
TheRhizobium meliloti C4-dicarboxylate transport (Dct) system is essential for an effective symbiosis with alfalfa plants. C4-dicarboxylates are the major carbon source taken up by bacteroids. Genetic analysis of Dct− mutant strains led to the isolation of thedct carrier genedctA and the regulatory genesdctB anddctD. The carrier genedctA is regulated in free-living cells by the alternative sigma factor RpoN and the two-component regulatory system DctB/D. In addition, DctA is involved in its own regulation, possibly by interacting with DctB. In bacteroids, besides the DctB/DctD system an additional symbiotic activator is thought to be involved indctA expression. Further regulation ofdctA in the free-living state is reflected by diauxic growth of rhizobia, with succinate being the preferred carbon source. The tight coupling of C4-dicarboxylate transport and nitrogen fixation is revealed by a reduced level of C4-dicarboxylate transport in nitrogenase negative bacteroids.
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