Culture-independent characterization of a gene responsible for nitrogen fixation in the symbiotic microbial community in the gut of the termite Neotermes koshunensis.

Expression of the nitrogen fixation gene, nifH, in the gut of the termite Neotermes koshunensis was characterized without cultivation. nifH cDNA was directly amplified from mRNA of the mixed microbial population in the gut by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Analyses of the RT-PCR products revealed t... View More