Characterization of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum ftsH gene and its product

The Bradyrhizobium japonicum ftsH gene was cloned by using a set of widely applicable degenerated oligonucleotides. Western blot experiments indicated that the FtsH protein was produced under standard growth conditions and th at it was not heat inducible. Attempts to delete the ftsH gene in B. japoni cum failed, suggesting a pivotal cellular function of this gene. The expres sion of B. japonicum ftsH in an ftsH-negative Escherichia coli strain signi ficantly enhanced the fitness of this mutant and reduced the steady-state l evel of sigma(32).