Production of cell-associated polysaccharides of Rhizobium fredii USDA205 is modulated by apigenin and host root extract.

Rhizobium fredii USDA205 cells were cultured in the presence of 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone (apigenin), a compound that has been shown to induce the nod genes and other symbiosis-related genes in R. fredii. The cell-associated polysaccharides were then extracted with hot phenol/water, separated by repetitive gel filtration chromatography, and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, and gas chromatography. These analyses showed that apigenin effects a modulation in the production of some cell-associated bacterial polysaccharides: 1) The production of a glucan is severely attenuated; 2) the lipopolysaccharide O antigen is modified in composition and M(r) distribution; and 3) the ratio of two extracted polysaccharides, which are structurally analogous to group II K antigens (capsular polysaccharides), is altered. Similar effects resulted from the inclusion of host plant root extract in the growth medium.