Role of fungal trehalose and bacterial thiamine in the improved survival and growth of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor S238N and the helper bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens BBc6R8.

The mycorrhiza helper bacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens BBc6R8 enhances the establishment of Laccaria bicolor S238N ectomycorrhizae by improving the pre-symbiotic growth and survival of the fungus. Nothing is known about the effect of the ectomycorrhizal fungus on the helper bacteria or the molecules that are involved in the interaction. In this study, we have monitored the population density of the helper strain P. fluorescens BBc6R8 in soils inoculated with L. bicolor and in control soils and found that the ectomycorhizal fungus improves the survival of the helper bacteria. We investigated the identity of the fungal and bacterial metabolites involved in this reciprocal growth-promoting effect using a combination of growth measurements, chemoattractant assays, HPLC and in silico genome analyses. We showed that trehalose, a disaccharide that accumulates to high levels in the fungal hyphae, chemoattracted and promoted the growth of the helper bacteria. Meanwhile, P. fluorescens BBc6R8 produced thiamine at concentrations that enhanced the fungal growth in vitro. Altogether our data indicate that the interaction between the two microorganisms is beneficial for both species and relies, at least in part, on trophic mutualism.

Interactions of aluminium(III) with glycerolphosphates and glycerophosphorylcholine.

The complexation of aluminium(III) with glycerol-1-phosphate (G1P) and glycerol-2-phosphate (G2P) in aqueous solutions has been studied as a function of pH, by pH-potentiometry, 31P NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry. Various mononuclear complexes (MLH(2)(3+), MLH(2+), ML(+), ML(2)H, ML(2)(-)) and polynuclear species (M(3)L(3)H(-1)(2+), M(3)L(2)H(-n)((n-5)-) with n=5, 6, 7, M(2)L(2)H(-1)(+) ) are formed in the system where the full protonated ligands are noted LH(2). NMR experiments clearly show that G1P and G2P already interact with Al(III) at pH 1. The potentiometric results are confirmed by ESI measurements and 31P NMR studies. No metal ion-induced deprotonation and coordination of the alcoholic-OH functions seem to occur during the complexation. The situation is very different for the glycerophosphorylcholine ligand (GPC identical with LH). Only the complex ML(3+) is formed in aqueous solution with a relatively low formation constant (K=5 at 37 degrees C). This species is clearly identified in 31P and 27Al NMR spectra. The complexation study as a function of the temperature allowed us to determine the thermodynamic parameters of the complex formation. The complexation is not governed by the reaction enthalpy that is found to be positive but by the entropy that is largely positive.

Complexes of aluminium(III) with glucose-6-phosphate in aqueous solutions.

The interaction of aluminium(III) with glucose-6-phosphate (GP: LH2) in aqueous solutions has been studied from pH 1 to pH 8, by pH-potentiometry and multinuclear (31P, 27Al, 13C) NMR spectroscopy. Various mononuclear species (MLH2, MLH, ML, ML2H, ML2 and MLH(-3)) and dinuclear complexes M2L2H-n (n=1-4) are formed in the system. NMR clearly indicates that GP is already bound to Al(III) at pH 1. The potentiometric speciation results are confirmed and completed by spectroscopic experiments. Many peaks are observed in the 31P NMR spectra suggesting the formation of isomeric species. An attempt to assign the signals to the corresponding complexes is made, allowing a discussion about their structure. Interestingly enough no metal ion-induced deprotonation and coordination of the alcoholic-OH functions have been observed.

Determination of the (17)O Quadrupolar Coupling Constant and of the (13)C Chemical Shielding Tensor Anisotropy of the CO Groups of Pentane-2,4-dione and beta-Diketonate Complexes in Solution. NMR Relaxation Study.

13C NMR relaxation times T(1) of the carbonyl groups of pentane-2,4-dione and beta-diketonate complexes Al(acac)(3) and Zr(acac)(4) (acac: pentanedionate anion) were measured for various magnetic field strengths, allowing a determination of the contribution of the chemical shift anisotropy mechanism to the total relaxation. NOE and T(1) measurements for the (13)C nucleus of the central methine carbon furnished the correlation time tau(c) for the reorientation of theses species. The chemical shift tensor anisotropy Deltasigma could be deduced and compared to the values obtained in the solid state. The quadrupolar coupling constant (QCC) of the (17)O nucleus could also be determined by measuring the line width of the (17)O NMR signal and using the tau(c) value. QCC values for the complexes are in the same range as for the pentane-2,4-dione molecule, indicating similar electronic distribution and symmetry around the oxygen atom of these different species. Deltasigma for the complexes are close together, and the values obtained in solution are approximately those obtained in the solid state. They are close to the value reported in the literature for tetraacetylethane, which can be considered as a dimer of a beta-diketone, but slight differences are observed for the individual components of the chemical shielding tensor.