Masters Theses
Keywords and Phrases
Bradyrhizobium japonicum; Quorum sensing
Abstract
"Bacterium-bacterium signaling, termed quorum sensing is a relatively well described phenomenon in bacteria. The best characterized quorum-sensing mechanism is found in Gram-negative organisms and incorporates the use of acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signal molecules. Until this study, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, the soybean symbiont, was absent from the list of known autoinducer producing organisms.
The data presented here describe the discovery of autoinducer production in several strains of B. japonicum. Further characterization of the autoinducer(s) was needed to determine the extent of autoinducer production toward the goal of determining the role of autoinducer(s) in the symbiosis with soybeans. Through the characterization process three main aspects of the autoinducer(s) were analyzed: identification, time of production, and activity/function. From this study, it was determined that the extracted autoinducers share similar characteristics with other known AHLs and that multiple autoinducers are produced by B. japonicum. It was also determined that autoinducer production was greatest at mid-log phase growth of cell cultures. Lastly, it was determined that autoinducer presence showed no significant inhibitory function to growth in both autoinducer and non-autoinducer producing strains. Most importantly, the light shed on these three important aspects of the autoinducer(s) produced by B. japonicum, furthered our understanding of quorum sensing and its role in the symbiosis between B. japonicum and soybean."--Abstract, page iii.
Advisor(s)
David Westenberg
Committee Member(s)
Ron Frank
Yinfa Ma
Department(s)
Biological Sciences
Degree Name
M.S. in Applied and Environmental Biology
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Publication Date
Fall 2004
Pagination
ix, 51 pages
Note about bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 46-50)
Rights
© 2004 Jason Charles Elrod, All rights reserved.
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted Access
File Type
text
Language
English
Subject Headings
Rhizobium japonicum
Lactones
Thin layer chromatography
Soybean -- Microbiology
Thesis Number
T 8695
Print OCLC #
62330751
Recommended Citation
Elrod, Jason C., "Identification and characterization of acyl-homoserine lactone signaling molecules produced by varying strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum" (2004). Masters Theses. 3653.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/3653
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