Identification of blue-green algal nitrogen fixation genes by using heterologous DNA hybridization probes

Abstract

In the filamentous blue-green alga Anabaena 7120, aerobic nitrogen fixation is linked to the differentiation of specialized cells called heterocysts. In order to study control of heterocyst development and nitrogen fixation in Anabaena, we have used cloned fragments of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogen fixation (nif) genes as probes in DNA·DNA hybridizations with restriction endonuclease fragments of Anabaena DNA. Using this technique, we were able to identify and clone Anabaena nif genes, demonstrating the feasibility of using heterologous probes to identify genes for which no traditional genetic selection exists. From the patterns of hybridization observed, we deduced that although DNA sequence homology has been retained between some of the nif genes of these divergent organisms, the nif gene order has been rearranged.