scholarly journals The landscape of cytokinin binding by a plant nodulin

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 2365-2380 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ruszkowski ◽  
K. Szpotkowski ◽  
M. Sikorski ◽  
M. Jaskolski
Keyword(s):  
Root Nodules ◽  
Outer Cortex ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Symbiotic Interaction ◽  
Model Legume ◽  
Hydrophobic Cavity ◽  
Density Maps ◽  
Loop Element ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Related Proteins

Nodulation is an extraordinary symbiotic interaction between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) that assimilate atmospheric nitrogen (in root nodules) and convert it into compounds suitable for the plant host. A class of plant hormones called cytokinins are involved in the nodulation process. In the model legumeMedicago truncatula, nodulin 13 (MtN13), which belongs to the pathogenesis-related proteins of class 10 (PR-10), is expressed in the outer cortex of the nodules. In general, PR-10 proteins are small and monomeric and have a characteristic fold with an internal hydrophobic cavity formed between a seven-stranded antiparallel β-sheet and a C-terminal α-helix. Previously, some PR-10 proteins not related to nodulation were found to bind cytokinins such astrans-zeatin. Here, four crystal structures of the MtN13 protein are reported in complexes with several cytokinins, namelytrans-zeatin,N6-isopentenyladenine, kinetin andN6-benzyladenine. All four phytohormones are bound in the hydrophobic cavity in the same manner and have excellent definition in the electron-density maps. The binding of the cytokinins appears to be strong and specific and is reinforced by several hydrogen bonds. Although the binding stoichiometry is 1:1, the complex is actually dimeric, with a cytokinin molecule bound in each subunit. The ligand-binding site in each cavity is formed with the participation of a loop element from the other subunit, which plugs the only entrance to the cavity. Interestingly, a homodimer of MtN13 is also formed in solution, as confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).

scholarly journals Glutathione and Homoglutathione Play a Critical Role in the Nodulation Process of Medicago truncatula

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Frendo ◽  
Judith Harrison ◽  
Christel Norman ◽  
María Jesús Hernández Jiménez ◽  
Ghislaine Van de Sype ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Buthionine Sulfoximine ◽  
Infection Process ◽  
Symbiotic Interaction ◽  
Transgenic Roots ◽  
Model Legume ◽  
Early Nodulin

Legumes form a symbiotic interaction with bacteria of the Rhizobiaceae family toproduce nitrogen-fixing root nodules under nitrogen-limiting conditions. This process involves the recognition of the bacterial Nod factors by the plant which mediates the entry of the bacteria into the root and nodule organogenesis. We have examined the importance of the low molecular weight thiols, glutathione (GSH) and homoglutathione (hGSH), during the nodulation process in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Using both buthionine sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of GSH and hGSH synthesis, and transgenic roots expressing GSH synthetase and hGSH synthetase in an antisense orientation, we showed that deficiency in GSH and hGSH synthesis inhibited the formation of the root nodules. This inhibition was not correlated to a modification in the number of infection events or to a change in the expression of the Rhizobium sp.-induced peroxidase rip1, indicating that the low level of GSH or hGSH did not alter the first steps of the infection process. In contrast, a strong diminution in the number of nascent nodules and in the expression of the early nodulin genes, Mtenod12 and Mtenod40, were observed in GSHand hGSH-depleted plants. In conclusion, GSH and hGSH appear to be essential for proper development of the root nodules during the symbiotic interaction.

scholarly journals Paraburkholderia phymatum Homocitrate Synthase NifV Plays a Key Role for Nitrogenase Activity during Symbiosis with Papilionoids and in Free-Living Growth Conditions

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 952
Author(s):  
Paula Bellés-Sancho ◽  
Martina Lardi ◽  
Yilei Liu ◽  
Sebastian Hug ◽  
Marta Adriana Pinto-Carbó ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Lysine Biosynthesis ◽  
Metabolome Analysis ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Bacterial Enzyme ◽  
Homocitrate Synthase ◽  
Iron Molybdenum Cofactor

Homocitrate is an essential component of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase, the bacterial enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia. In nitrogen-fixing and nodulating alpha-rhizobia, homocitrate is usually provided to bacteroids in root nodules by their plant host. In contrast, non-nodulating free-living diazotrophs encode the homocitrate synthase (NifV) and reduce N2 in nitrogen-limiting free-living conditions. Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815 is a beta-rhizobial strain, which can enter symbiosis with a broad range of legumes, including papilionoids and mimosoids. In contrast to most alpha-rhizobia, which lack nifV, P. phymatum harbors a copy of nifV on its symbiotic plasmid. We show here that P. phymatum nifV is essential for nitrogenase activity both in root nodules of papilionoid plants and in free-living growth conditions. Notably, nifV was dispensable in nodules of Mimosa pudica despite the fact that the gene was highly expressed during symbiosis with all tested papilionoid and mimosoid plants. A metabolome analysis of papilionoid and mimosoid root nodules infected with the P. phymatum wild-type strain revealed that among the approximately 400 measured metabolites, homocitrate and other metabolites involved in lysine biosynthesis and degradation have accumulated in all plant nodules compared to uninfected roots, suggesting an important role of these metabolites during symbiosis.

scholarly journals Characterization and Expression Analysis of Genes Encoding Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase and Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Kinase of Lotus japonicus, a Model Legume

2003 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Nakagawa ◽  
Tomoko Izumi ◽  
Mari Banba ◽  
Yosuke Umehara ◽  
Hiroshi Kouchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Lotus Japonicus ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Model Legume ◽  
Putative Phosphorylation Site

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases (PEPCs), one form of which in each legume species plays a central role in the carbon metabolism in symbiotic root nodules, are activated through phosphorylation of a conserved residue by a specific protein kinase (PEPC-PK). We characterized the cDNAs for two PEPC isoforms of Lotus japonicus, an amide-translocating legume that forms determinate nodules. One gene encodes a nodule-enhanced form, which is more closely related to the PEPCs in amide-type indeterminate nodules than those in ureide-type determinate nodules. The other gene is expressed in shoots and roots at a low level. Both forms have the putative phosphorylation site, Ser11. We also isolated a cDNA and the corresponding genomic DNA for PEPC-PK of L. japonicus. The recombinant PEPC-PK protein expressed in Escherichia coli phosphorylated recombinant maize C4-form PEPC efficiently in vitro. The level of mRNA for PEPC-PK was high in root nodules, and those in shoots and roots were also significant. In situ hybridization revealed that the expression patterns of the transcripts for PEPC and PEPC-PK were similar in mature root nodules, but were different in emerging nodules. When L. japonicus seedlings were subjected to prolonged darkness and subsequent illumination, the activity of PEPC-PK and the mRNA levels of both PEPC and PEPC-PK in nodules decreased and then recovered, suggesting that they are regulated according to the amounts of photosynthates transported from shoots.

scholarly journals Comparison of nodule endophyte composition, diversity, and gene content between Medicago truncatula genotypes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mannix Burns ◽  
Brendan Epstein ◽  
Liana Burghardt
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Bacterial Endophytes ◽  
Host Genotype ◽  
Model Legume ◽  
Symbiotic Relationships ◽  
Functional Assays ◽  
Altered Gene ◽  
Significant Direct Effect

Leguminous plants form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in specialized root organs called nodules. While rhizobia form the most notable host relationship within root nodules, other bacterial endophytes also inhabit these root nodules and can influence host-rhizobia interactions as well as exert effects of their own, whether beneficial or detrimental. In this study, we investigate differences in nodule communities between genotypes (A17 and R108) of a single plant species, the model legume Medicago truncatula. While diversity of endophytes in nodules was similar across hosts, both nodule endophyte composition and gene functional groups differed. In contrast to the significant direct effect of host genotype, neither the presence nor identity of a host in the previous generation (either A17 or R108) had a significant effect on the nodule endophyte diversity or composition. However, whether or not a host was present altered gene functional groups. We conclude that genetic variation within a legume host species can play an important role in the establishment of nodule microbiomes. Further studies, including GWAS and functional assays, can open the door for engineering and optimizing nodule endophyte communities that promote growth or have other beneficial qualities.

scholarly journals Heterologous Expression of Rhizobial CelC2 Cellulase Impairs Symbiotic Signaling and Nodulation in Medicago truncatula

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 568-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Robledo ◽  
Esther Menéndez ◽  
Jose Ignacio Jiménez-Zurdo ◽  
Raúl Rivas ◽  
Encarna Velázquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Rhizobium Leguminosarum ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Root Hairs ◽  
Nod Factors ◽  
Model Legume ◽  
Ensifer Meliloti ◽  
Early Nodulin ◽  
The Impact

The infection of legume plants by rhizobia is tightly regulated to ensure accurate bacterial penetration, infection, and development of functionally efficient nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Rhizobial Nod factors (NF) have key roles in the elicitation of nodulation signaling. Infection of white clover roots also involves the tightly regulated specific breakdown of the noncrystalline apex of cell walls in growing root hairs, which is mediated by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii cellulase CelC2. Here, we have analyzed the impact of this endoglucanase on symbiotic signaling in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Ensifer meliloti constitutively expressing celC gene exhibited delayed nodulation and elicited aberrant ineffective nodules, hampering plant growth in the absence of nitrogen. Cotreatment of roots with NF and CelC2 altered Ca2+ spiking in root hairs and induction of the early nodulin gene ENOD11. Our data suggest that CelC2 alters early signaling between partners in the rhizobia-legume interaction.

scholarly journals Structures of GapR reveal a central channel which could accommodate B-DNA

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Tarry ◽  
Christoph Harmel ◽  
James A. Taylor ◽  
Gregory T. Marczynski ◽  
T. Martin Schmeing
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Central Channel ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Dna Mutation ◽  
Density Maps ◽  
Lysine Residues ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Positively Charged

Abstract GapR is a nucleoid-associated protein required for the cell cycle of Caulobacter cresentus. We have determined new crystal structures of GapR to high resolution. As in a recently published structure, a GapR monomer folds into one long N-terminal α helix and two shorter α helices, and assembles into a tetrameric ring with a closed, positively charged, central channel. In contrast to the conclusions drawn from the published structures, we observe that the central channel of the tetramer presented here could freely accommodate B-DNA. Mutation of six conserved lysine residues lining the cavity and electrophoretic mobility gel shift experiments confirmed their role in DNA binding and the channel as the site of DNA binding. Although present in our crystals, DNA could not be observed in the electron density maps, suggesting that DNA binding is non-specific, which could be important for tetramer-ring translocation along the chromosome. In conjunction with previous GapR structures we propose a model for DNA binding and translocation that explains key published observations on GapR and its biological functions.

scholarly journals The Biology of Frankia sp. Strains in the Post-Genome Era

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 1310-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Benson ◽  
James M. Brooks ◽  
Ying Huang ◽  
Derek M. Bickhart ◽  
Juliana E. Mastronunzio
Keyword(s):  
Root Nodule ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Ammonium Assimilation ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Plant Defense Responses ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Microbiological Techniques ◽  
Bacterial Genes

Progress in understanding symbiotic determinants involved in the N2-fixing actinorhizal plant symbioses has been slow but steady. Problems persist with studying the bacterial contributions to the symbiosis using traditional microbiological techniques. However, recent years have seen the emergence of several genomes from Frankia sp. strains and the development of techniques for manipulating plant gene expression. Approaches to understanding the bacterial side of the symbiosis have employed a range of techniques that reveal the proteomes and transcriptomes from both cultured and symbiotic frankiae. The picture beginning to emerge provides some perspective on the heterogeneity of frankial populations in both conditions. In general, frankial populations in root nodules seem to maintain a rather robust metabolism that includes nitrogen fixation and substantial biosynthesis and energy-generating pathways, along with a modified ammonium assimilation program. To date, particular bacterial genes have not been implicated in root nodule formation but some hypotheses are emerging with regard to how the plant and microorganism manage to coexist. In particular, frankiae seem to present a nonpathogenic presence to the plant that may have the effect of minimizing some plant defense responses. Future studies using high-throughput approaches will likely clarify the range of bacterial responses to symbiosis that will need to be understood in light of the more rapidly advancing work on the plant host.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Sensitivity Analysis of the MicrosymbiontSinorhizobium melilotito Symbiotically Important, Defensin-Like Host Peptides

mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus F. F. Arnold ◽  
Mohammed Shabab ◽  
Jon Penterman ◽  
Kevin L. Boehme ◽  
Joel S. Griffitts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Outer Membrane Proteins ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Symbiotic Interaction ◽  
Model Legume

ABSTRACTThe model legume speciesMedicago truncatulaexpresses more than 700 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) signaling peptides that mediate the differentiation ofSinorhizobium melilotibacteria into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. NCR peptides are essential for a successful symbiosis in legume plants of the inverted-repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) and show similarity to mammalian defensins. In addition to signaling functions, many NCR peptides exhibit antimicrobial activityin vitroandin vivo. Bacterial resistance to these antimicrobial activities is likely to be important for symbiosis. However, the mechanisms used byS. melilotito resist antimicrobial activity of plant peptides are poorly understood. To address this, we applied a global genetic approach using transposon mutagenesis followed by high-throughput sequencing (Tn-seq) to identifyS. melilotigenes and pathways that increase or decrease bacterial competitiveness during exposure to the well-studied cationic NCR247 peptide and also to the unrelated model antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B. We identified 78 genes and several diverse pathways whose interruption altersS. melilotiresistance to NCR247. These genes encode the following: (i) cell envelope polysaccharide biosynthesis and modification proteins, (ii) inner and outer membrane proteins, (iii) peptidoglycan (PG) effector proteins, and (iv) non-membrane-associated factors such as transcriptional regulators and ribosome-associated factors. We describe a previously uncharacterized yet highly conserved peptidase, which protectsS. melilotifrom NCR247 and increases competitiveness during symbiosis. Additionally, we highlight a considerable number of uncharacterized genes that provide the basis for future studies to investigate the molecular basis of symbiotic development as well as chronic pathogenic interactions.IMPORTANCESoil rhizobial bacteria enter into an ecologically and economically important symbiotic interaction with legumes, in which they differentiate into physiologically distinct bacteroids that provide essential ammonia to the plant in return for carbon sources. Plant signal peptides are essential and specific to achieve these physiological changes. These peptides show similarity to mammalian defensin peptides which are part of the first line of defense to control invading bacterial populations. A number of these legume peptides are indeed known to possess antimicrobial activity, and so far, only the bacterial BacA protein is known to protect rhizobial bacteria against their antimicrobial action. This study identified numerous additional bacterial factors that mediate protection and belong to diverse biological pathways. Our results significantly contribute to our understanding of the molecular roles of bacterial factors during legume symbioses and, second, provide insights into the mechanisms that pathogenic bacteria may use to resist the antimicrobial effects of defensins during infections.

scholarly journals Sinorhizobium meliloti Controls Nitric Oxide–Mediated Post-Translational Modification of a Medicago truncatula Nodule Protein

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 1353-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Blanquet ◽  
Liliana Silva ◽  
Olivier Catrice ◽  
Claude Bruand ◽  
Helena Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Plant Protein ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Model Legume ◽  
Bacterial Mutants

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in various plant-microbe interactions. In the symbiosis between soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and model legume Medicago truncatula, NO is required for an optimal establishment of the interaction but is also a signal for nodule senescence. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for NO effects in the legume-rhizobium interaction. Here, we investigate the contribution of the bacterial NO response to the modulation of a plant protein post-translational modification in nitrogen-fixing nodules. We made use of different bacterial mutants to finely modulate NO levels inside M. truncatula root nodules and to examine the consequence on tyrosine nitration of the plant glutamine synthetase, a protein responsible for assimilation of the ammonia released by nitrogen fixation. Our results reveal that S. meliloti possesses several proteins that limit inactivation of plant enzyme activity via NO-mediated post-translational modifications. This is the first demonstration that rhizobia can impact the course of nitrogen fixation by modulating the activity of a plant protein.

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