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A new mutation in the puf L gene responsible for the terbutryn resistance phenotype in Rubrivivax gelatinosus
Author(s) -
Ouchane S.,
Picaud M.,
Astier C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(95)01055-j
Subject(s) - phenotype , mutation , gene , genetics , chemistry , biology
Rubrivivax gelatinosus is a facultative phototrophic non‐sulfur bacterium belonging to the β subclass of the purple bacteria. A terbutryn‐resistant mutant of R. gelatinosus has been isolated and characterized. Increased resistance levels to terbutryn (300‐fold), atrazine (6‐fold) and o ‐phenanthroline (3‐fold) were observed for the mutant compared with wild type. Sequence analysis of the mutant revealed a new mutation in the puf L gene coding for the L subunit of the reaction centre (RC) at codon 192 leading to an amino‐acid substitution from Gly in the wild type to Asp in the mutant. This substitution is located in the D helix of the L subunit, suggesting an interaction between terbutryn and this part of the polypeptide in the RC of R. gelatinosus . This is the first report of a mutation leading to herbicide resistance and affecting the D helix in purple bacteria. Furthermore R. gelatinosus wild type is highly sensitive to o ‐phenanthroline compared with other purple bacteria ( Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter sphaeroides ). Sequence comparison of the L subunit from six purple bacteria in which o ‐phenanthroline sensitivity was measured suggests that Ser L226 might be responsible for this phenotype.