Oxygen Taxis and Proton Motive Force in Azospirillum Brasilense

Overview

Journal J Bacteriol

Publisher American Society for Microbiology

Specialty Microbiology

Date 1996 Sep 1

PMID 8752338

Citations 48

Authors

I B Zhulin

V A Bespalov

M S Johnson

B L Taylor

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The microaerophilic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum brasilense formed a sharply defined band in a spatial gradient of oxygen. As a result of aerotaxis, the bacteria were attracted to a specific low concentration of oxygen (3 to 5 microM). Bacteria swimming away from the aerotactic band were repelled by the higher or lower concentration of oxygen that they encountered and returned to the band. This behavior was confirmed by using temporal gradients of oxygen. The cellular energy level in A. brasilense, monitored by measuring the proton motive force, was maximal at 3 to 5 microM oxygen. The proton motive force was lower at oxygen concentrations that were higher or lower than the preferred oxygen concentration. Bacteria swimming toward the aerotactic band would experience an increase in the proton motive force, and bacteria swimming away from the band would experience a decrease in the proton motive force. It is proposed that the change in the proton motive force is the signal that regulates positive and negative aerotaxis. The preferred oxygen concentration for aerotaxis was similar to the preferred oxygen concentration for nitrogen fixation. Aerotaxis is an important adaptive behavioral response that can guide these free-living diazotrophs to the optimal niche for nitrogen fixation in the rhizosphere.

Citing Articles

An chemoreceptor that mediates nitrate chemotaxis has conditional roles in the colonization of plant roots.

Ganusova E, Russell M, Patel S, Seats T, Alexandre G Appl Environ Microbiol. 2024; 90(6):e0076024.

PMID: 38775579 PMC: 11218637. DOI: 10.1128/aem.00760-24.

An aerotaxis receptor influences invasion of into its host.

Huang Z, Zou J, Guo M, Zhang G, Gao J, Zhao H PeerJ. 2024; 12:e16898.

PMID: 38332807 PMC: 10851874. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16898.

Chromosomal gene of hybrid multisensor histidine kinase is involved in motility regulation in the rhizobacterium Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245 under mechanical and water stress.

Sheludko A, Volokhina I, Mokeev D, Telesheva E, Yevstigneeva S, Burov A World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2023; 39(12):336.

PMID: 37814195 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03785-z.

Polyhydroxybutyrate Metabolism in and Its Applications, a Review.

Martinez M, Urzua L, Carrillo Y, Ramirez M, Morales L Polymers (Basel). 2023; 15(14).

PMID: 37514417 PMC: 10383645. DOI: 10.3390/polym15143027.

Large-Scale Cultivation of Magnetotactic Bacteria and the Optimism for Sustainable and Cheap Approaches in Nanotechnology.

de Souza Cabral A, Verdan M, Presciliano R, Silveira F, Correa T, Abreu F Mar Drugs. 2023; 21(2).

PMID: 36827100 PMC: 9961000. DOI: 10.3390/md21020060.

References

Zhulin I, Lois A, Taylor B . Behavior of Rhizobium meliloti in oxygen gradients. FEBS Lett. 1995; 367(2):180-2. DOI: 10.1016/0014-5793(95)00561-m. View

Hurek T, Reinhold-Hurek B, Turner G, Bergersen F . Augmented rates of respiration and efficient nitrogen fixation at nanomolar concentrations of dissolved O2 in hyperinduced Azoarcus sp. strain BH72. J Bacteriol. 1994; 176(15):4726-33. PMC: 196295. DOI: 10.1128/jb.176.15.4726-4733.1994. View

Lindbeck J, Goulbourne Jr E, Johnson M, Taylor B . Aerotaxis in Halobacterium salinarium is methylation-dependent. Microbiology (Reading). 1995; 141 ( Pt 11):2945-53. DOI: 10.1099/13500872-141-11-2945. View

Adler J . Chemotaxis in bacteria. Science. 1966; 153(3737):708-16. DOI: 10.1126/science.153.3737.708. View

Armstrong J, Adler J . Complementation of nonchemotactic mutants of Escherichia coli. Genetics. 1969; 61(1):61-6. PMC: 1212151. DOI: 10.1093/genetics/61.1.61. View

Macnab R, Koshland Jr D . The gradient-sensing mechanism in bacterial chemotaxis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972; 69(9):2509-12. PMC: 426976. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.69.9.2509. View

Berg H, Brown D . Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli analysed by three-dimensional tracking. Nature. 1972; 239(5374):500-4. DOI: 10.1038/239500a0. View

Larsen S, Adler J, Gargus J, Hogg R . Chemomechanical coupling without ATP: the source of energy for motility and chemotaxis in bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974; 71(4):1239-43. PMC: 388200. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.71.4.1239. View

Szmelcman S, Adler J . Change in membrane potential during bacterial chemotaxis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976; 73(12):4387-91. PMC: 431468. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.73.12.4387. View

10.

Okon Y, Houchins J, Albrecht S, BURRIS R . Growth of Spirillum lipoferum at constant partial pressures of oxygen, and the properties of its nitrogenase in cell-free extracts. J Gen Microbiol. 1977; 98(1):87-93. DOI: 10.1099/00221287-98-1-87. View

11.

Greenberg E, Canale-Parola E . Chemotaxis in Spirochaeta aurantia. J Bacteriol. 1977; 130(1):485-94. PMC: 235227. DOI: 10.1128/jb.130.1.485-494.1977. View

12.

Manson M, Tedesco P, Berg H, Harold F, van der Drift C . A protonmotive force drives bacterial flagella. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977; 74(7):3060-4. PMC: 431412. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.74.7.3060. View

13.

Stock J, Rauch B, Roseman S . Periplasmic space in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem. 1977; 252(21):7850-61. View

14.

Glagolev A, Skulachev V . The proton pump is a molecular engine of motile bacteria. Nature. 1978; 272(5650):280-2. DOI: 10.1038/272280a0. View

15.

Kamo N, Muratsugu M, Hongoh R, Kobatake Y . Membrane potential of mitochondria measured with an electrode sensitive to tetraphenyl phosphonium and relationship between proton electrochemical potential and phosphorylation potential in steady state. J Membr Biol. 1979; 49(2):105-21. DOI: 10.1007/BF01868720. View

16.

Laszlo D, Taylor B . Aerotaxis in Salmonella typhimurium: role of electron transport. J Bacteriol. 1981; 145(2):990-1001. PMC: 217209. DOI: 10.1128/jb.145.2.990-1001.1981. View

17.

Barak R, Nur I, Okon Y, Henis Y . Aerotactic response of Azospirillum brasilense. J Bacteriol. 1982; 152(2):643-9. PMC: 221511. DOI: 10.1128/jb.152.2.643-649.1982. View

18.

Eisenbach M . Changes in membrane potential of Escherichia coli in response to temporal gradients of chemicals. Biochemistry. 1982; 21(26):6818-25. DOI: 10.1021/bi00269a030. View

19.

Taylor B . Role of proton motive force in sensory transduction in bacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1983; 37:551-73. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.mi.37.100183.003003. View

20.

Laszlo D, Fandrich B, Sivaram A, Chance B, Taylor B . Cytochrome o as a terminal oxidase and receptor for aerotaxis in Salmonella typhimurium. J Bacteriol. 1984; 159(2):663-7. PMC: 215695. DOI: 10.1128/jb.159.2.663-667.1984. View