NtrBC‐dependent expression from the Rhizobium meliloti dctA promoter in Escherichia coli

Effects of the two‐component sensor‐regulator pairs DctBD and NtrBC upon the expression of a dctA::phoA fusion from Rhizobium meliloti were determined under excess and limiting nitrogen concentrations in Escherichia coli. Results indicated that NtrBC affected transcription from the dctA promoter on a number of regulatory levels and under different physiological conditions in the heterologous host. However, NtrBC‐dependent cross‐talk was not observed in free‐living R. meliloti under the conditions tested. Comparisons of the predicted amino acid sequences of DctD and NtrC from various sources indicated a specific region of the NtrC from rhizobia, which may have diverged from a consensus NtrC/DctD sequence to minimise interference between the two component systems, NtrBC and DctBD.