Ebook: The Rhizobiaceae: Molecular Biology of Model Plant-Associated Bacteria

The Rhizobiaceae, Molecular Biology of Model Plant-Associated Bacteria. This book gives a comprehensive overview on our present molecular biological knowledge about the Rhizobiaceae, which currently can be called the best-studied family of soil bacteria. For many centuries they have attracted the attention of scientists because of their capacity to associate with plants and as a consequence also to specifically modify plant development. Some of these associations are beneficial for the plant, as is the case for the Rhizobiaceae subgroups collectively called rhizobia, which are able to fix nitrogen in a symbiosis with the plant hosts. This symbiosis results in the fonnation of root or stem nodules, as illustrated on the front cover. In contrast, several Rhizobiaceae subgroups can negatively affect plant development and evoke plant diseases. Examples are Agrobacterium tumefaciens andA. rhizogenes which induce the formation of crown galls or hairy roots on the stems of their host plants, respectively (bottom panels on front cover). In addition to the obvious importance of studies on the Rhizobiaceae for agronomy, this research field has resulted in the discovery of many fundamental scientific principles of general interest, which are highlighted in this book. To mention three examples: (i) the discovery of DNA transfer of A.

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This book gives a comprehensive overview of our present molecular biological knowledge about the Rhizobiaceae, which currently can be called the best studied family of soil bacteria. For many centuries they have attracted the attention of scientists because of their capacity to associate with plants and as a consequence also to specifically modify plant development. Some of these associations are beneficial for the plant, as is the case for the Rhizobiaceae subgroups collectively called rhizobia, which are able to fix nitrogen in a symbiosis with the plant hosts. This symbiosis results in the formation of root or stem nodules, as illustrated on the front cover. In contrast, several Rhizobiaceae subgroups can negatively affect plant development and evoke plant diseases. Examples are Agrobacteriumtumefaciens and A. rhizogenes which induce the formation of crown galls or hairy roots on the stems of their host plants, respectively (bottom panels on front cover). In addition to the obvious importance of studies on the Rhizobiaceae for agronomy, this research field has resulted in the discovery of many fundamental scientific principles of general interest which are highlighted in this book.

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This book gives a comprehensive overview of our present molecular biological knowledge about the Rhizobiaceae, which currently can be called the best studied family of soil bacteria. For many centuries they have attracted the attention of scientists because of their capacity to associate with plants and as a consequence also to specifically modify plant development. Some of these associations are beneficial for the plant, as is the case for the Rhizobiaceae subgroups collectively called rhizobia, which are able to fix nitrogen in a symbiosis with the plant hosts. This symbiosis results in the formation of root or stem nodules, as illustrated on the front cover. In contrast, several Rhizobiaceae subgroups can negatively affect plant development and evoke plant diseases. Examples are Agrobacteriumtumefaciens and A. rhizogenes which induce the formation of crown galls or hairy roots on the stems of their host plants, respectively (bottom panels on front cover). In addition to the obvious importance of studies on the Rhizobiaceae for agronomy, this research field has resulted in the discovery of many fundamental scientific principles of general interest which are highlighted in this book.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxiv
General Genetic Knowledge....Pages 1-24
Outer Membrane Proteins....Pages 25-43
Phospholipids and Alternative Membrane Lipids....Pages 45-53
Cell-Surface ?-Glucans....Pages 55-80
Production of Exopolysaccharides....Pages 81-96
Lipopolysaccharides and K-Antigens: Their Structures, Biosynthesis, and Functions....Pages 97-118
Opines and Opine-Like Molecules Involved in Plant-Rhizobiaceae Interactions....Pages 119-154
Conjugal Plasmids and Their Transfer....Pages 155-172
Attachment of Rhizobiaceae to Plant Cells....Pages 173-197
The Agrobacterium Oncogenes....Pages 199-233
Organization and Regulation of Expression of the Agrobacterium Virulence Genes....Pages 235-249
Function of the Ti-Plasmid Vir Proteins: T-Complex Formation and Transfer to the Plant Cell....Pages 251-266
Role of Virulence Proteins of Agrobacterium in the Plant....Pages 267-279
Determinants of Host Specificity of Agrobacterium and their Function....Pages 281-301
The Use of Agrobacterium for Plant Genetic Engineering....Pages 303-320
Diversity of Root Nodulation and Rhizobial Infection Processes....Pages 321-338
Genetic Organization and Transcriptional Regulation of Rhizobial Nodulation Genes....Pages 339-345
Functions of Rhizobial Nodulation Genes....Pages 347-360
Responses of the Plant to Nod Factors....Pages 361-386
Tissue and Cell Invasion by Rhizobium: The Structure and Development of Infection Threads and Symbiosomes....Pages 387-402
A Survey of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Rhizobia....Pages 403-416
Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism in Rhizobia....Pages 417-429
Evolutionary Aspects of Symbiotic Adaptations Rhizobium’s Contribution to Evolution by Association....Pages 431-460
Legume Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation: Agronomic Aspects....Pages 461-485
Back Matter....Pages 487-507
....Pages 509-530