Quantitative assay for binding of Bradyrhizobium japonicum to cultured soybean cells

Incubation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum with the cultured soybean cell line SB-1 resulted in the adhesion of the bacteria to the plant cells. An antiserum was raised against B. japonicum, and the 125I-labeled immunoglobulin fraction was used to quantitate the number of bacteria bound to the soybean cells. The measurement of 125I-labeled antibody binding correlated well with parallel assays by microscopic observation. Using this quantitation, we have optimized the parameters of the assay in terms of time course, ratio of B. japonicum to SB-1 cells, and pH. We then explored the effects of saccharides, NaCl, EDTA, and culture age of the bacteria and SB-1 cells on B. japonicum binding under these optimal assay conditions. The results showed good correlation between conditions that govern B. japonicum binding to SB-1 cells in culture and those that regulate B. japonicum-induced nodulation in legume roots. Together, they suggest that this binding event may be important in controlling host specificity.