<i>Rhizobium leguminosarum</i> bv. <i>viciae</i> 3841 Adapts to 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid with “Auxin-Like” Morphological Changes, Cell Envelope Remodeling and Upregulation of Central Metabolic Pathways Supriya V. Bhat Sean C. Booth Seamus G. K. McGrath Tanya E. S. Dahms 10.1371/journal.pone.0123813 https://plos.figshare.com/articles/dataset/_Rhizobium_leguminosarum_bv_viciae_3841_Adapts_to_2_4_Dichlorophenoxyacetic_Acid_with_Auxin_Like_Morphological_Changes_Cell_Envelope_Remodeling_and_Upregulation_of_Central_Metabolic_Pathways/1396937 <div><p>There is a growing need to characterize the effects of environmental stressors at the molecular level on model organisms with the ever increasing number and variety of anthropogenic chemical pollutants. The herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), as one of the most widely applied pesticides in the world, is one such example. This herbicide is known to have non-targeted undesirable effects on humans, animals and soil microbes, but specific molecular targets at sublethal levels are unknown. In this study, we have used <i>Rhizobium leguminosarum</i> bv. <i>viciae</i> 3841 (<i>Rlv</i>) as a nitrogen fixing, beneficial model soil organism to characterize the effects of 2,4-D. Using metabolomics and advanced microscopy we determined specific target pathways in the <i>Rlv</i> metabolic network and consequent changes to its phenotype, surface ultrastructure, and physical properties during sublethal 2,4-D exposure. Auxin and 2,4-D, its structural analogue, showed common morphological changes <i>in vitro </i>which were similar to bacteroids isolated from plant nodules, implying that these changes are related to bacteroid differentiation required for nitrogen fixation. <i>Rlv</i> showed remarkable adaptation capabilities in response to the herbicide, with changes to integral pathways of cellular metabolism and the potential to assimilate 2,4-D with consequent changes to its physical and structural properties. This study identifies biomarkers of 2,4-D in <i>Rlv</i> and offers valuable insights into the mode-of-action of 2,4-D in soil bacteria.</p></div> 2015-04-28 03:03:16 sublethal levels herbicide nitrogen fixation bacteroid differentiation Model organisms target pathways viciae 3841 plant nodules Rlv Rhizobium leguminosarum bv soil microbes Central Metabolic Pathways viciae 3841 Adapts soil bacteria integral pathways model soil organism adaptation capabilities surface ultrastructure anthropogenic chemical pollutants Cell Envelope Remodeling