Differential accumulation of two glycine-rich proteins during cold-acclimation alfalfa

Two mRNAs, MsaCiA and MsaCiB, encoding for proteins harboring glycine-rich motifs, accumulate in alfalfa during cold acclimation. Fusion polypeptides containing the amino acid sequences deduced from these mRNAs were produced in Escherichia coli and used to raise antibodies. Each antibody cross-reacted specifically with soluble polypeptides, MSACIA-32 and MSACIB, respectively. These polypeptides were detectable only in crowns of cold-acclimated plants, even though MsaCiA mRNA accumulated in both crows and leaves during cold acclimation. The analysis of parietal proteins showed that several MSACIA-related proteins, with a molecular mass of 32, 41 and 68 kDa, did accumulate in leaf cell walls and one of 59 kDa crown cell walls. This diversity is most probably due to a tissue-specific maturation of MSACIA. A discrepancy was found between the time-course of accumulation of MSACIB and the one of the corresponding transcript. These results indicate that timing and localization of MSACIA and MSACIB expression are different, and suggest that this differential expression involves both transcriptional and post-transcriptional events. Comparisons made among six cultivars of contrasting freezing tolerance suggest that low tolerance could be explained by failure to accumulate proteins like MSACIA and MSACIB at a sufficient level.

Characterization and mutational analysis of nodHPQ genes of Rhizobium sp. strain N33

We have shown, by sequencing the nodulation gene region of Rhizobium sp. strain N33 previously isolated from the Canadian high arctic, that the nodHPQ genes are located in a 4.8-kb region downstream of nodBCIJ. The open reading frames of nodHPQ are 747, 906, and 1941 nucleotides long, respectively. The strain N33 genome contains one copy of nodH and two copies of nodPQ that are homologous to those genes in Rhizobium meliloti. Tn5 insertions in the nodHPQ genes of strain N33 did not affect the formation of nodules on the two homologous hosts, Astragalus cicer and Onobrychis viciifolia. Since strain N33 contains the nodBCIJHPQ genes and the recently sequenced nodAFEG genes, we looked for similar host range with R. meliloti. Strain N33 and R. meliloti strains A2 and RCR2011 were shown to induce the formation of root nodules on plants of O. viciifolia. However, strain N33, compared with R. meliloti strains, was able to elicit a few, white, empty, root nodules on Medicago sativa. R. meliloti strains, compared with strain N33, were shown to induce only few nodules containing bacteria on A. cicer. Induction of nod genes transcription in strain N33 was shown to be induced by a variety of flavonoid compounds that are different from those inducing nod genes from R. meliloti.

Depletion of CD8+ T cells enhances pulmonary inflammation but not airway responsiveness after antigen challenge in rats

BACKGROUND

CD8+ (OX-8+) T cells may suppress airway inflammation and airway responsiveness after allergen challenge.

OBJECTIVE

We studied the effects of depletion of OX-8+ T cells on allergen-induced lung eosinophilia and airway responsiveness in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were sensitized to ovalbumin and challenged by aerosol 14 days later. Test animals received either low-dose (2 mg, n = 9) or high-dose (3 mg, n = 7) OX-8 monoclonal antibody (mAb), whereas controls (n = 8) received BALB/c ascites fluid. A fourth group of animals (n = 10) was not sensitized to ovalbumin and also received ascites fluid. Twenty-four hours after ovalbumin challenge, responsiveness to methacholine was measured, and lung inflammation was assessed in the large airways and small airways and parenchyma.

RESULTS

Circulating and airway CD8+ T cells were decreased by OX-8 mAb administration with greatest changes in animals treated with high-dose OX-8 mAb compared with controls (blood: 1.0% +/- 3.6% vs 18.7% +/- 3.9%, p < 0.05); (large airways: 2.5% +/- 1.2% vs 13.8% +/- 1.2%, p < 0.05). Ovalbumin challenge resulted in increases in macrophages and neutrophils in the small airways and parenchyma of sensitized compared with unsensitized rats (p < 0.05). High-dose OX-8 mAb further increased total leukocytes, attributable to increases in neutrophils and eosinophils, retrieved from the large airways and small airways and parenchyma compared with other groups (p < 0.05). Airway responsiveness to methacholine was not significantly different between control and ovalbumin-challenged animals and was not augmented by OX-8 pretreatment.

CONCLUSION

CD8+ T cells modulate the extent of allergen-induced airway inflammation. However, the enhancement of inflammation was not sufficient to affect airway responsiveness.

Sequence and mutational analysis of the common nodBCIJ region of Rhizobium sp. (Oxytropis arctobia) strain N33, a nitrogen-fixing microsymbiont of both arctic and temperate legumes

By heterologous hybridization, we have identified the common nodulation genes nodBCIJ of Rhizobium sp. strain N33 within a 8.2-kb PstI fragment. The nodBCIJ genes are located within a 4,620-bp region which also included a consensus nod box promoter. The four open reading frames coding for the nodBCIJ genes contain 657, 1,353, 915, and 789 nucleotides, respectively. We found that the nodA gene was not adjacent to the nodB gene, unlike the situation in many rhizobia. The DNA of the nodBCIJ genes of Rhizobium sp. strain N33 were found to be homologous to the corresponding genes of other rhizobia except for the 3'-coding region of the nodC gene. The deduced NodC protein was the longest of the rhizobia except Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Tn5 mutagenesis of the common nod region of strain N33 revealed that the nodBC genes were essential for nodulation on their temperate hosts Onobrychis viciifolia and Astragalus cicer. By contrast, mutations in the nodI and nodJ genes produced a Nod+ phenotype with a reduced number of nodules on the temperate hosts. Nodules formed on Onobrychis viciifolia by either nodI or nodJ mutants were approximately 10 times smaller than nodules formed by the wild type strain: this reduction in nodule size was not observed on Astragalus cicer.

Secretion of IL-16 (lymphocyte chemoattractant factor) from serotonin-stimulated CD8+ T cells in vitro

At sites of inflammation, mononuclear cells are in close contact with aggregated platelets. Although the physiologic role of this association is not clear, this proximity suggests that platelet-derived mediators may play a role in chemoattraction of T lymphocytes. In the current study we investigated serotonin receptor-bearing lymphocyte modulation of T cell migration. Serotonin-stimulated human blood mononuclear cells secrete lymphocyte chemoattractant activity with selective activity for CD4+ T cells. This chemoattractant activity was observed within 2 h of exposure to serotonin and was blocked by serotonin type 2 receptor antagonists. Molecular sieve chromatography of supernatant from serotonin-stimulated PBMCs revealed a single peak of T cell chemoattractant activity with an apparent molecular mass of 56 kDa and a pl of 9.1. Neutralizing experiments with specific mAbs indicated that the serotonin-induced chemotactic factor was the previously characterized lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF), recently designated IL-16. Serotonin induced secretion of IL-16 from CD8+, not CD4+, T cells which did not require the de novo protein synthesis. These studies suggest that serotonin, via serotonin type 2 receptors, may promote the recruitment of CD4+ T lymphocytes into an inflammatory focus.

Secretion of IL-16 (lymphocyte chemoattractant factor) from serotonin-stimulated CD8+ T cells in vitro

At sites of inflammation, mononuclear cells are in close contact with aggregated platelets. Although the physiologic role of this association is not clear, this proximity suggests that platelet-derived mediators may play a role in chemoattraction of T lymphocytes. In the current study we investigated serotonin receptor-bearing lymphocyte modulation of T cell migration. Serotonin-stimulated human blood mononuclear cells secrete lymphocyte chemoattractant activity with selective activity for CD4+ T cells. This chemoattractant activity was observed within 2 h of exposure to serotonin and was blocked by serotonin type 2 receptor antagonists. Molecular sieve chromatography of supernatant from serotonin-stimulated PBMCs revealed a single peak of T cell chemoattractant activity with an apparent molecular mass of 56 kDa and a pl of 9.1. Neutralizing experiments with specific mAbs indicated that the serotonin-induced chemotactic factor was the previously characterized lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF), recently designated IL-16. Serotonin induced secretion of IL-16 from CD8+, not CD4+, T cells which did not require the de novo protein synthesis. These studies suggest that serotonin, via serotonin type 2 receptors, may promote the recruitment of CD4+ T lymphocytes into an inflammatory focus.

Immunogenic role of Kupffer cells in a rat model of acute liver allograft rejection

Kupffer cells (KCs) are of bone-marrow origin. After liver transplantation, recipient KCs are supposed to replace donor KCs. On the other hand, KCs are currently hypothesized to play a major immunogenic role in acute liver allograft rejection. In the present study, we investigated the immunogenic role of KCs in acute rat liver allograft rejection. For this purpose, we depleted the donor KCs using intravenous injection of liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate (DMDP) in the fully allogenic ACI-to-LEW rat liver transplantation model. Kupffer cell depletion was confirmed using monoclonal antibodies ED2. In a first set of experiments, graft survival was evaluated, as were body weight and serum bilirubin changes, after the transplantation. Graft survival time showed no difference between the groups (treated, 12.5 +/- 0.92 days; control, 11.9 +/- 0.80 days). Body weight and serum bilirubin changes were similarly affected in both groups. In a second set of experiments, recipients were killed on day 6 after the transplantation, and rejection was histologically graded from 0 to 4. All grafted livers were judged as grade 3 regardless of treatment. ED2 staining showed KCs repopulation in both untreated and the dichloromethylene diphosphonate treated livers. The results of the present study provide evidence that KCs do not play an important immunogenic role in acute liver allograft rejection of the rat.

Histamine-induced secretion of lymphocyte chemoattractant factor from CD8+ T cells is independent of transcription and translation. Evidence for constitutive protein synthesis and storage

We have reported previously that histamine induces the release of the CD4+ cell-specific lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF) into the culture supernatants of CD8+ cells between 1 and 4 h following stimulation. To determine the mechanism of histamine-induced secretion of LCF, we evaluated the effects of inhibitors of gene transcription and translation on LCF production, and determined the effects of histamine stimulation on LCF mRNA induction and stability. The histamine-induced secretion of LCF from CD8+ cells was not associated with de novo synthesis of protein, nor did histamine have an effect on the induction or stability of LCF mRNA. Biologically active LCF was found in cell lysates of unstimulated CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells; however, LCF mRNA was detected at similar levels in both cell types. The only detectable lymphocyte chemoattractant present in unstimulated cells was LCF, and histamine induced the secretion of LCF, but no other lymphocyte chemoattractant activities, within 4 h. These studies demonstrate that histamine can act as a secretagogue for the protein LCF, which is constitutively synthesized and present in a biologically active form in CD8+ T cells. The rapid appearance of LCF induced by histamine may represent a mechanism for recruitment and activation for CD4+ cells in diseases such as asthma.

Histamine-induced secretion of lymphocyte chemoattractant factor from CD8+ T cells is independent of transcription and translation. Evidence for constitutive protein synthesis and storage

We have reported previously that histamine induces the release of the CD4+ cell-specific lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF) into the culture supernatants of CD8+ cells between 1 and 4 h following stimulation. To determine the mechanism of histamine-induced secretion of LCF, we evaluated the effects of inhibitors of gene transcription and translation on LCF production, and determined the effects of histamine stimulation on LCF mRNA induction and stability. The histamine-induced secretion of LCF from CD8+ cells was not associated with de novo synthesis of protein, nor did histamine have an effect on the induction or stability of LCF mRNA. Biologically active LCF was found in cell lysates of unstimulated CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells; however, LCF mRNA was detected at similar levels in both cell types. The only detectable lymphocyte chemoattractant present in unstimulated cells was LCF, and histamine induced the secretion of LCF, but no other lymphocyte chemoattractant activities, within 4 h. These studies demonstrate that histamine can act as a secretagogue for the protein LCF, which is constitutively synthesized and present in a biologically active form in CD8+ T cells. The rapid appearance of LCF induced by histamine may represent a mechanism for recruitment and activation for CD4+ cells in diseases such as asthma.

Characterization, nucleotide sequence, and conserved genomic locations of insertion sequence ISRm5 in Rhizobium meliloti

A target for ISRm3 transposition in Rhizobium meliloti IZ450 is another insertion sequence element, named ISRm5. ISRm5 is 1,340 bp in length and possesses terminal inverted repeats of unequal lengths (27 and 28 bp) and contain five mismatches. An open reading frame that spans 89% of the length of one DNA strand encodes a putative transposase with significant similarity to the putative transposases of 11 insertion sequence elements from diverse bacterial species, including ISRm3 from R. meliloti. Multiple copies and variants of ISRm5 occur in the R. meliloti genome, often in close association with ISRm3. Five ISRm5 copies in two strains were studied, and each was found to be located between 8-bp direct repeats. At two of these loci, which were shown to be highly conserved in R. meliloti, the copies of ISRm5 were found to be associated with pairs of short inverted repeats resembling transcription terminators. This structural arrangement not only may provide a conserved niche for ISRm5 but also may be a preferred target for transposition.

Role of VLA-4 and LFA-1 in allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and lung inflammation in the rat

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of blocking the integrins VLA-4 and LFA-1 on allergen-induced airway eosinophilia and responsiveness in Brown-Norway rats. Ovalbumin-sensitized rats were exposed to either aerosols of ovalbumin or saline. Airway responsiveness to methacholine (MCh) was determined 8 and 32 h after challenge. Cellular populations in the lung lavage and lung tissues were determined 32 h after allergen challenge. Total numbers of eosinophils were increased in the lung lavage (25 ml) and the small airways/parenchyma in the ovalbumin (OA)-challenged rats (4.37 x 10(6) +/- 0.71 and 15.54 x 10(6) +/- 1.99, respectively) compared with the saline-challenged rats (0.99 x 10(6) +/- 0.81 and 4.84 x 10(6) +/- 2.27; p < 0.05). Animals treated with both anti-VLA-4 and anti-LFA-1 mAbs and with anti-LFA-1 mAb alone had reduced numbers of eosinophils in the lung lavage (0.76 x 10(6) +/- 0.80 and 0.40 x 10(6) +/- 1.14, respectively; p < 0.05) and in the small airways/parenchyma (8.64 x 10(6) +/- 2.07 and 4.44 x 10(6) +/- 3.20; p < 0.05). Anti-VLA-4 mAb treatment alone did not alter the eosinophils recovered from the lung. Airway responsiveness to methacholine increased from 8 to 32 h in all ovalbumin-challenged rats, but treatment with anti-VLA-4, anti-LFA-1, or both mAbs prevented the increase in responsiveness. In conclusion, allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness is inhibitable by blocking either VLA-4 or LFA-1 integrins and is associated with a lung eosinophilia that is LFA-1 dependent and VLA-4 independent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vitro allergic bronchoconstriction in the brown Norway rat

The ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized Brown Norway rat (BN) demonstrates early-response (ER) and late-response (LR) allergic bronchoconstriction. To determine whether these responses could be replicated in vitro, we studied lung explants from 8-wk-old male BN rats (wt: 239 +/- 28 g), of which 19 were sensitized to OA (test) and 16 served as controls. Two weeks after sensitization, the animals' lungs were removed, filled with a 1% (wt/vol) agarose-containing solution at 37 degrees C, and cooled to 4 degrees C. Transverse slices (0.5 to 1.0 mm thick) were cut and cultured overnight. Airways were visualized with an inverted microscope and baseline images were obtained with a video camera. To study the ER, 40 airways from 15 test rats and 29 airways from 10 control rats were challenged with 2 micrograms OA and imaged each minute for 10 min. To study the LR, 40 airways from 12 test rats and 44 airways from 12 control rats were challenged with 2 micrograms OA and imaged each hour for 8 h. The maximal response (MR) for each airway was defined as the percent of airway closure. The ER and LR were both defined as an MR > or = mean + 2 SD of the controls. An ER occurred in 38 of 40 test and 2 of 29 control airways (mean MR: 42 +/- 24% versus 4 +/- 3%, p < 0.001), and was completely blocked by methysergide pretreatment in 13 airways.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of inhaled terbutaline administered by either the Turbuhaler dry powder inhaler or a metered-dose inhaler with spacer in preschool children with asthma

We compared the bronchodilator response of terbutaline delivered either by a dry powder inhaler, the Turbuhaler, or by a metered-dose inhaler attached to a Nebuhaler inhaler in 10 children with stable asthma who were 3 to 6 years of age. The bronchodilator response did not differ between the two inhalational devices. The dry powder inhaler Turbuhaler is a suitable alternative to a metered-dose inhaler in the delivery of terbutaline to preschool children with stable asthma if adequate inhalational technique is used.

A cold-induced gene from Medicago sativa encodes a bimodular protein similar to developmentally regulated proteins

A new cold-regulated (COR) gene, msa CIC, was isolated by differential screening of a cDNA library from cold-acclimated crowns of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Apica). Transcripts of msa CIC were not detectable in unacclimated alfalfa and accumulated to higher levels in cold-acclimated plants of the cold-tolerant cv. Apica than in those of the cold-sensitive cv. CUF-101. The DNA sequence analysis of a full-length cDNA clone revealed that msa CIC encodes for a putative protein (MSACIC) of 166 amino acids with distinct proline-rich and hydrophobic domains. Protein sequence comparisons indicated that MSACIC is similar to a group of bimodular proteins that are developmentally regulated in other plant species.

Depletion of OX-8 lymphocytes from the blood and airways using monoclonal antibodies enhances the late airway response in rats

Recent evidence supports a role for T lymphocytes in allergic airway responses. We hypothesized that reducing blood T suppressor cells (Ts) might increase the late airway response (LR). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were sensitized with ovalbumin (OA). On days 8, 10, and 12, post-sensitization test SD (n = 14) received monoclonal antibody intravenously (OX-8; 1 mg) specific to rat Ts. Controls received saline (n = 7) or mouse ascites IgG (n = 7). On day 14, animals were challenged with OA aerosol (5% wt/vol) for 5 min, lung resistance was recorded for 8 h (n = 18) and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. The LR was determined from the area under the lung resistance vs time curve from 75 to 480 min after challenge. In the remaining 10 rats, airway lymphocyte subsets were measured 8 h after OA aerosol challenge in minced and digested lungs. A decrease in percentage of blood and airway Ts, respectively, in test animals was observed vs controls (blood: 6.27 +/- 0.84 vs 32.95 +/- 1.94, P < 0.001); (airway: 5.05 +/- 0.66 vs 24.5 +/- 3.05, P < 0.02). Blood and airway helper T lymphocytes did not differ between test and control animals. The LR was significantly increased in test (22.89 +/- 3.92) vs controls (4.22 +/- 2.18, P < 0.001). Bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes, and serum OA-specific IgE were also significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in test animals. We conclude that Ts play an important role in attenuating the LR in SD rats.

A new cold-induced alfalfa gene is associated with enhanced hardening at subzero temperature

When alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv Apica) plants grown at room temperature are transferred to 2 degrees C, the temperature at which 50% of the plants fail to survive (LT50) decreases from -6 to -14 degrees C during the first 2 weeks but then increases to -9 degrees C during the subsequent 2 weeks. However, when plants are kept for 2 weeks at 2 degrees C and then transferred to -2 degrees C for another two weeks, the LT50 declines to -16 degrees C. These changes in freezing tolerance are paralleled by changes in transcript levels of cas15 (cold acclimation-specific gene encoding a 14.5-kD protein), a cold-induced gene. Cold-activation of cas15 occurs even when protein synthesis is inhibited by more than 90%, suggesting that cold-initiated events up to and including the accumulation of cas15 transcripts depend on preexisting gene products. cas15 shows little homology to any known gene at the nucleotide or amino acid level. The deduced polypeptide (CAS15) of 14.5 kD contains four repeats of a decapeptide motif and possesses a bipartite sequence domain at the carboxy terminus with homology to the reported nuclear-targeting signal sequences. Although the relative amount of cas15 DNA as a fraction of the total genomic DNA is similar in cultivars with different degrees of freezing tolerance, its organization in the genome is different. The possible role of cas15 in the development of cold-induced freezing tolerance is discussed.

Frequency of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a pediatric intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in pediatric ICUs.

DESIGN

Prospective, descriptive study.

SETTING

Pediatric ICU in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

All children admitted to a pediatric ICU over a 55-wk period.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Upper GI bleeding was considered to be present if there was an episode of hematemesis or if any amount of blood was seen in drainage from a nasogastric tube. Sixty-three (6.4%) upper GI bleeds were detected among 984 patients: 5.2% in 698 patients who did not receive upper GI bleeding prophylaxis, and 9.4% in 286 patients who did receive some prophylaxis. Density was defined as the number of events/1000 days.patient. The mean density was 10.8 GI bleeding episodes/1000 days.patient in a pediatric ICU. A multivariate analysis detected four independent risk factors or risk markers for upper GI bleeding: high Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, coagulopathy, pneumonia, and multitrauma. Age, sex, hepatic and respiratory failures were identified as confounding variables. An upper GI bleeding episode was defined as being clinically important if hypotension, death, or transfusion occurred within 24 hrs after the bleeding. There were four clinically important GI bleeding episodes. All were caused, at least in part, by a coagulopathy. The GI bleeding was associated with a need for transfusion in four children, and with hypotension in two.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of upper GI bleeding is substantial, but the rate of occurrence of clinically important upper GI bleeding is low, even in a pediatric ICU where most patients do not receive any prophylaxis.

Identification and nucleotide sequence of Rhizobium meliloti insertion sequence ISRm3: similarity between the putative transposase encoded by ISRm3 and those encoded by Staphylococcus aureus IS256 and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans IST2

The insertion sequence ISRm3 was discovered simultaneously in different Rhizobium meliloti strains by probing Southern blots of total cellular DNA with 32P-labeled pTA2. This plasmid is indigenous to strain IZ450 and fortuitously contained four copies of ISRm3. By using an internal EcoRI fragment as a specific probe (pRWRm31), homology to ISRm3 was subsequently detected in over 90% of R. meliloti strains tested from different geographical locations around the world. The frequency of stable nonlethal ISRm3 transpositions was estimated to be 4 x 10(-5) per generation per cell in strain SU47 when grown in liquid culture. The entire nucleotide sequence of ISRm3 in R. meliloti 102F70 is 1,298 bp and has 30-bp terminal inverted repeats which are perfectly matched. Analysis of six copies of ISRm3 in two strains showed that a variable number of base pairs (usually eight or nine) were duplicated and formed direct repeats adjacent to the site of insertion. On one DNA strand, ISRm3 contains an open reading frame spanning 93% of its length. Comparison of the putative protein encoded with sequences derived from the EMBL and GenBank databases showed significant similarity between the putative transposases of ISRm3 from R. meliloti, IS256 from Staphylococcus aureus, and IST2 from Thiobacillus ferroxidans. These insertion sequences appear to be distantly related members of a distinct class.

Purification and partial amino acid sequence of a glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Rhizobium meliloti

A glutamyl-tRNA synthetase has been purified to homogeneity from Rhizobium meliloti, using reversed-phase chromatography as the last step. Amino acid sequencing of the amino-terminal region of the enzyme indicates that it contains a single polypeptide, whose molecular weight is about 54,000, as judged by SDS-gel electrophoresis. The primary structures of the amino-terminus region and of an internal peptide obtained by cleavage of the enzyme with CNBr have similarities of 58 and 48% with regions of the glutamyl-tRNA synthase of Escherichia coli; these are thought to be involved in the binding of ATP and tRNA, respectively. The small amount of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase present in R. meliloti is consistent with the metabolic regulation of the biosynthesis of many aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Cloning and sequencing of the gltX gene, encoding the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase of Rhizobium meliloti A2

The gltX gene, coding for the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase of Rhizobium meliloti A2, was cloned by using as probe a synthetic oligonucleotide corresponding to the amino acid sequence of a segment of the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase. The codons chosen for this 42-mer were those most frequently used in a set of R. meliloti genes. DNA sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 484 codons, encoding a polypeptide of Mr 54,166 containing the amino acid sequences of an NH2-terminal and various internal fragments of the enzyme. Compared with the amino acid sequence of the glutamyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli, the N-terminal third of the R. meliloti enzyme was strongly conserved (52% identity); the second third was moderately conserved (38% identity) and included a few highly conserved segments, whereas no significant similarity was found in the C-terminal third. These results suggest that the C-terminal part of the protein is probably not involved in the recognition of substrates, a feature shared with other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.