Open AccessOccurrence of alginate gene sequences among members of the pseudomonad rRNA homology groups I–IV *
Author(s) -
Fett William F.,
Wijey Chandi,
Lifson Eric R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1992.tb05558.x
Subject(s) - homology (biology) , genetics , gene , biology , ribosomal rna , sequence homology , computational biology , base sequence
Total genomic DNA of 13 pseudomonads representing rRNA homology groups I–IV were screened for sequences homologous to four Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate ( alg ) genes by Southern hybridization. Biotinylated probes for three structural genes ( algA, algC and algD ) and one regulatory gene ( algR1 ) were prepared. Genomic DNA of strains representing group I ( P. syringae pv. glycinea, P. viridiflava and P. corrugata ) hybridized with all four gene probes. Hybridizing fragments were of differing sizes, indicating that evolutionary divergence among group I members has occured. P. corrugata has not been reported to synthesize alginate. Genomic DNA from representatives of groups II–IV gave no or very weak hybridization with the probes except for algC . This study indicates that the ability to produce alginic acid as an exopolysaccharide among the pseudomonads is restricted to members of rRNA homology group I in agreement with earlier physiological studies.