NC_017249:2572000 Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 6, complete genome
Host Lineage: Bradyrhizobium japonicum; Bradyrhizobium; Bradyrhizobiaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This nitrogen-fixing bacterium develops a symbiotic relationship with the soybean plant Glycine max and is related to other N2-fixing Rhizobia which are symbiotic with legumes. The bacterium establishes itself in a root nodule which provides a protective environment for the organism to live while the bacterium provides the plant cell with nitrogen. This is an agriculturally important symbiotic relationship as it obviates the need for expensive and environmentally damaging fertilizer.Genes that code for proteins involved in root nodulation are carried on the chromosome. The production of the nodulation signal, lipochitin, is directed by genes which are turned on in the presence of plant flavonoid compounds. The bacteria are endocytosed into a cortical cell, and are enclosed within a membrane bound organelle termed the symbiosome.