Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signalling molecule which becomes very toxic due to its ability to react with multiple cellular targets in biological systems. Bacterial cells protect against NO through the expression of enzymes that detoxify this molecule by oxidizing it to nitrate or reducing it to nitrous oxide or ammonia. These enzymes are haemoglobins, c-type nitric oxide reductase, flavorubredoxins and the cytochrome c respiratory nitrite reductase. Expression of the genes encoding these enzymes is controlled by NO-sensitive regulatory proteins. The production of NO in rhizobia–legume symbiosis has been demonstrated recently. In functioning nodules, NO acts as a potent inhibitor of nitrogenase enzymes. These observations have led to the question of how rhizobia overcome the toxicity of NO. Several studies on the NO response have been undertaken in two non-dentrifying rhizobial species, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium etli, and in a denitrifying species, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In the present mini-review, current knowledge of the NO response in those legume-associated endosymbiotic bacteria is summarized.
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December 2011
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Conference Article|
November 21 2011
The nitric oxide response in plant-associated endosymbiotic bacteria
Juan J. Cabrera;
Juan J. Cabrera
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, P.O. Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
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Cristina Sánchez;
Cristina Sánchez
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, P.O. Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
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Andrew J. Gates;
Andrew J. Gates
†School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.
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Eulogio J. Bedmar;
Eulogio J. Bedmar
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, P.O. Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
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Socorro Mesa;
Socorro Mesa
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, P.O. Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
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David J. Richardson;
David J. Richardson
†School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.
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María J. Delgado
María J. Delgado
1
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, P.O. Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email mdelgado@eez.csic.es).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 01 2011
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Biochem Soc Trans (2011) 39 (6): 1880–1885.
Article history
Received:
September 01 2011
Citation
Juan J. Cabrera, Cristina Sánchez, Andrew J. Gates, Eulogio J. Bedmar, Socorro Mesa, David J. Richardson, María J. Delgado; The nitric oxide response in plant-associated endosymbiotic bacteria. Biochem Soc Trans 1 December 2011; 39 (6): 1880–1885. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20110732
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