Conjugation factor of Agrobacterium tumefaciens regulates Ti plasmid transfer by autoinduction

Article Abstract:

The conjugation factor (CF) regulating the transfer of Ti plasmid in Agrobacterium tumefaciens was investigated. Reporter gene fusions involving the tra gene showed that besides CF, tra gene expression is also regulated by a transcriptional activator TraR. Sequence comparisons showed that TraR is similar to the LuxR transcriptional regulator of Vibrio fischeri. Furthermore, the lux gene autoinducer (AI) is crossfunctional with CF. These results show that autoinduction via a gene activator protein and a coinducer is a conserved characteristic among diverse microorganisms.

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A mess of red pottage

Article Abstract:

The blanche fleur cultivar Vicia sativa (V. sativa), also called the red vetch, has long been grown in Australia as a stock feed and is now being touted as a new source of protein for humans that may prove marketable due to its resemblance to the red lentil, Lens culinaris. However, V. sativa may contain dangerous levels of beta-cyanoalanine and other toxins. Consumers should be informed of the differences between the red vetch and the edible red lentil. Moreover, breeders should develop toxin-free varieties of V. sativa while also washing of vetches to remove toxins.

Health aspects, Column, Legumes, Plant toxins

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Agrobacterium conjugation and gene regulation by N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones

Article Abstract:

Spectrometric analyses were conducted to deterimine the factor responsible for enhancing the conjugal transfer efficiency of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The analyses detected N-(Hexan-1-oyl)-L-homoserine as the conjugation factor in Agrobacterium. Previous investigations have also identified a closely related compound in Vibrio fischeri which regulates luminescence. These findings indicate that N-acyl homoserine lactones function as regulatory signals in a diverse range of organisms.

Genetic aspects, Lactones

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