Investigations of the link between the bacterial cytoskeleton and N-cycling in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis

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Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and is a part of biogeochemical nitrogen cycling. Rhizobium bacteria are found in soil and can form a symbiosis with the roots of legume plants, where the bacteria fix nitrogen and provide a direct source of ammonia to the legume. The Rhizobium-legume symbiosis has significant impact on agricultural practices greatly reducing pollution generated by the use of nitrogen fertilisers. Although bacterial growth has been studied for many years, very little is known about the mechanism of growth during the entry of Rhizobium bacteria into their cognate pea-plant. We will study the poorly understood mechanism of polar growth and its link to N-cycling amongst Rhizobiales and monitor the diversity of polar protein assemblies by analysing soil samples from crop-fields at several UK locations. In collaboration with PGRO (Processors and Growers Research Organisation) the bacterial samples will be collected and analysed. Microbial molecular biology technologies including the generation of knockout mutations and fluorescent protein fusions will be used to study the polar protein assemblies. Finally, mutants will be tested for their ability to establish successful symbiosis with pea plants.