Genetics and molecular biology of hydrogen metabolism in sulfate reducing bacteria

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6892389· OSTI ID:6892389

Wall, J D

The work proposed to be accomplished in the previous funding period was to develop a procedure for genetic exchange based on conjugation mediated by broad host-range plasmids. Such a system has recently been identified that employs IncQ group plasmids and a Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G100A derivative as recipient. During the search for conjugation, we also identified a defective bacteriophage capable of generalized transduction of fragments of chromosomal DNA between mutants of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Some of the factors influencing the production and transduction by this defective phage have been investigated. A curious observation was made concerning the response of colonies of these sulfate-reducing bacteria upon exposure to air. All the cells of a colony do not die. Some survive, most likely by producing sulfide at a rate sufficient to provide an anaerobic environment. Dramatic colony morphological changes occur and these have been documented by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Finally a small endogenous plasmid has been isolated from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G100A. It has been stably subcloned into a sequencing vector, and nested deletions of this plasmid are being prepared. This plasmid may be useful for the development of a shuttle cloning vector that could be used in more diverse Desulfovibrio. Many of the techniques now to be used in the mutant analysis of hydrogenase genes in the sulfate-reducing bacteria have been successfully applied in an analysis of hydrogenase functions of Rhodobacter capsulatus. 8 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Missouri Univ., Columbia, MO (USA). Dept. of Biochemistry
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-87ER13713
• OSTI ID: 6892389
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/13713-4; ON: DE90012692
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080106* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Biosynthesis & Photochemical Processes
550400 -- Genetics
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BACTERIA
BACTERIOPHAGES
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOLOGY
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CULTURE MEDIA
DESULFOVIBRIO
DNA
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
GENE MUTATIONS
GENETICS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGENASES
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
MUTATIONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PARASITES
PLASMIDS
PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMBINANT DNA
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
VIRUSES