Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Visualizing Bacteria in Nematodes using Fluorescent Microscopy
09:02

Visualizing Bacteria in Nematodes using Fluorescent Microscopy

Published on: October 19, 2012

The Sinorhizobium meliloti essential porin RopA1 is a target for numerous bacteriophages

Matthew B Crook1, Alicia L Draper, R Jordan Guillory

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.

Journal of Bacteriology
|June 11, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The outer membrane porin RopA1 in Sinorhizobium meliloti is essential for infection by multiple bacteriophages. This gene is vital for bacterial viability and phage interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Sinorhizobium meliloti is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium.
  • Outer membrane porins are conserved in symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria.
  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the gene SMc02396 (renamed ropA1) in Sinorhizobium meliloti.
  • To determine the requirement of ropA1 for bacteriophage infection.
  • To understand the evolutionary history of ropA1 homologs.

Main Methods:

  • Gene renaming and characterization of ropA1.
  • Mutation mapping in S. meliloti conferring phage resistance.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of ropA1 homologs.

Main Results:

  • The ropA1 gene is essential for infection by bacteriophages ΦM12 and N3.
  • Mutations within ropA1 confer resistance to these phages.
  • RopA1 and lipopolysaccharide are required for infection by various Sinorhizobium-specific phages.
  • ropA1 appears essential for bacterial viability.
  • Phylogenetic analysis suggests independent duplication events of ropA1 homologs.

Conclusions:

  • RopA1 is a crucial outer membrane protein for bacteriophage interactions in S. meliloti.
  • The gene is essential for bacterial survival.
  • Evolutionary analysis indicates gene duplication as a mechanism for ropA1 diversification.

More Related Videos

A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis06:30

A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis

Published on: January 27, 2021

Synthesis of Masarimycin, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of Gram-Positive Bacterial Growth09:10

Synthesis of Masarimycin, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of Gram-Positive Bacterial Growth

Published on: January 7, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Microbe-Plant Interactions01:09

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria01:26

Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria

Proteobacteria, one of the largest and most diverse bacterial phyla, encompasses a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria distinguished by their outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharides. These microorganisms exhibit various metabolic capabilities, including phototrophy, chemolithotrophy, and heterotrophy, and thrive in diverse environments from soil to aquatic systems and host-associated niches. The phylum is divided into six classes: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria,...