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Ren J, Cui Z, Wang Y, Ning Q, Gao Y. Transcriptomic insights into the potential impacts of flavonoids and nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides on nitrogen fixation in Vicia villosa and Vicia sativa. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 214:108936. [PMID: 39018775 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Vicia villosa (VV) and Vicia sativa (VS) are legume forages highly valued for their excellent nitrogen fixation. However, no research has addressed the mechanisms underlying their differences in nitrogen fixation. This study employed physiological, cytological, and comparative transcriptomic approaches to elucidate the disparities in nitrogen fixation between them. Our results showed that the total amount of nitrogen fixed was 60.45% greater in VV than in VS, and the comprehensive nitrogen response performance was 94.19% greater, while the nitrogen fixation efficiency was the same. The infection zone and differentiated bacteroid proportion in mature VV root nodules were 33.76% and 19.35% greater, respectively, than those in VS. The size of the VV genome was 15.16% larger than that of the VS genome, consistent with its greater biomass. A significant enrichment of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway was found only for VV-specific genes, among which chalcone-flavonone isomerase, caffeoyl-CoA-O-methyltransferase and stilbene synthase were extremely highly expressed. The VV-specific genes also exhibited significant enrichment in symbiotic nodulation; genes related to nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) comprised 61.11% of the highly expressed genes. qRT‒PCR demonstrated that greater enrichment and expression of the dominant NCR (Unigene0004451) were associated with greater nodule bacteroid differentiation and greater nitrogen fixation in VV. Our findings suggest that the greater total nitrogen fixation of VV was attributed to its larger biomass, leading to a greater nitrogen demand and enhanced fixation physiology. This process is likely achieved by the synergistic effects of high bacteroid differentiation along with high expression of flavonoid and NCR genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ren
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Xinjiang Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Western Arid Desert Area of the Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Urumqi, 830052, China
| | - Zhengguo Cui
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - Yueqiang Wang
- Soybean Research Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Research Center for Soybean, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - Qiushi Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Yingzhi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China; Xinjiang Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Western Arid Desert Area of the Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Urumqi, 830052, China.
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2
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Rowson M, Jolly M, Dickson S, Gifford ML, Carré I. Timely symbiosis: circadian control of legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1419-1430. [PMID: 38779952 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Legumes house nitrogen-fixing endosymbiotic rhizobia in specialised polyploid cells within root nodules. This results in a mutualistic relationship whereby the plant host receives fixed nitrogen from the bacteria in exchange for dicarboxylic acids. This plant-microbe interaction requires the regulation of multiple metabolic and physiological processes in both the host and symbiont in order to achieve highly efficient symbiosis. Recent studies have showed that the success of symbiosis is influenced by the circadian clock of the plant host. Medicago and soybean plants with altered clock mechanisms showed compromised nodulation and reduced plant growth. Furthermore, transcriptomic analyses revealed that multiple genes with key roles in recruitment of rhizobia to plant roots, infection and nodule development were under circadian control, suggesting that appropriate timing of expression of these genes may be important for nodulation. There is also evidence for rhythmic gene expression of key nitrogen fixation genes in the rhizobium symbiont, and temporal coordination between nitrogen fixation in the bacterial symbiont and nitrogen assimilation in the plant host may be important for successful symbiosis. Understanding of how circadian regulation impacts on nodule establishment and function will identify key plant-rhizobial connections and regulators that could be targeted to increase the efficiency of this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Rowson
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Matthew Jolly
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Suzanna Dickson
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Miriam L Gifford
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
- The Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Isabelle Carré
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
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3
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Saifi F, Biró JB, Horváth B, Vizler C, Laczi K, Rákhely G, Kovács S, Kang M, Li D, Chen Y, Chen R, Domonkos Á, Kaló P. Two members of a Nodule-specific Cysteine-Rich (NCR) peptide gene cluster are required for differentiation of rhizobia in Medicago truncatula nodules. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38923649 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Legumes have evolved a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction with rhizobia, and this association helps them to cope with the limited nitrogen conditions in soil. The compatible interaction between the host plant and rhizobia leads to the formation of root nodules, wherein internalization and transition of rhizobia into their symbiotic form, termed bacteroids, occur. Rhizobia in the nodules of the Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade legumes, including Medicago truncatula, undergo terminal differentiation, resulting in elongated and endoreduplicated bacteroids. This transition of endocytosed rhizobia is mediated by a large gene family of host-produced nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides in M. truncatula. Few NCRs have been recently found to be essential for complete differentiation and persistence of bacteroids. Here, we show that a M. truncatula symbiotic mutant FN9285, defective in the complete transition of rhizobia, is deficient in a cluster of NCR genes. More specifically, we show that the loss of the duplicated genes NCR086 and NCR314 in the A17 genotype, found in a single copy in Medicago littoralis R108, is responsible for the ineffective symbiotic phenotype of FN9285. The NCR086 and NCR314 gene pair encodes the same mature peptide but their transcriptional activity varies considerably. Nevertheless, both genes can restore the effective symbiosis in FN9285 indicating that their complementation ability does not depend on the strength of their expression activity. The identification of the NCR086/NCR314 peptide, essential for complete bacteroid differentiation, has extended the list of peptides, from a gene family of several hundred members, that are essential for effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in M. truncatula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farheen Saifi
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - János Barnabás Biró
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Beatrix Horváth
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Csaba Vizler
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biochemistry, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Laczi
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Rákhely
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Szilárd Kovács
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mingming Kang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Dengyao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yuhui Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Rujin Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Ágota Domonkos
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Péter Kaló
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, Szeged, Hungary
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4
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Semenova MG, Petina AN, Fedorova EE. Autophagy and Symbiosis: Membranes, ER, and Speculations. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2918. [PMID: 38474164 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The interaction of plants and soil bacteria rhizobia leads to the formation of root nodule symbiosis. The intracellular form of rhizobia, the symbiosomes, are able to perform the nitrogen fixation by converting atmospheric dinitrogen into ammonia, which is available for plants. The symbiosis involves the resource sharing between two partners, but this exchange does not include equivalence, which can lead to resource scarcity and stress responses of one of the partners. In this review, we analyze the possible involvement of the autophagy pathway in the process of the maintenance of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria intracellular colony and the changes in the endomembrane system of the host cell. According to in silico expression analysis, ATG genes of all groups were expressed in the root nodule, and the expression was developmental zone dependent. The analysis of expression of genes involved in the response to carbon or nitrogen deficiency has shown a suboptimal access to sugars and nitrogen in the nodule tissue. The upregulation of several ER stress genes was also detected. Hence, the root nodule cells are under heavy bacterial infection, carbon deprivation, and insufficient nitrogen supply, making nodule cells prone to autophagy. We speculate that the membrane formation around the intracellular rhizobia may be quite similar to the phagophore formation, and the induction of autophagy and ER stress are essential to the success of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Semenova
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Science, 127276 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alekandra N Petina
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Science, 127276 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena E Fedorova
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Science, 127276 Moscow, Russia
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5
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Shumilina J, Soboleva A, Abakumov E, Shtark OY, Zhukov VA, Frolov A. Signaling in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17397. [PMID: 38139226 PMCID: PMC10743482 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Legumes represent an important source of food protein for human nutrition and animal feed. Therefore, sustainable production of legume crops is an issue of global importance. It is well-known that legume-rhizobia symbiosis allows an increase in the productivity and resilience of legume crops. The efficiency of this mutualistic association strongly depends on precise regulation of the complex interactions between plant and rhizobia. Their molecular dialogue represents a complex multi-staged process, each step of which is critically important for the overall success of the symbiosis. In particular, understanding the details of the molecular mechanisms behind the nodule formation and functioning might give access to new legume cultivars with improved crop productivity. Therefore, here we provide a comprehensive literature overview on the dynamics of the signaling network underlying the development of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Thereby, we pay special attention to the new findings in the field, as well as the principal directions of the current and prospective research. For this, here we comprehensively address the principal signaling events involved in the nodule inception, development, functioning, and senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Shumilina
- Laboratory of Analytical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (J.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Alena Soboleva
- Laboratory of Analytical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (J.S.); (A.S.)
- Biological Faculty, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Evgeny Abakumov
- Biological Faculty, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Oksana Y. Shtark
- Laboratory of Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (O.Y.S.); (V.A.Z.)
| | - Vladimir A. Zhukov
- Laboratory of Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (O.Y.S.); (V.A.Z.)
| | - Andrej Frolov
- Laboratory of Analytical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; (J.S.); (A.S.)
- Biological Faculty, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia;
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6
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Zhang R, Shen Y, He J, Zhang C, Ma Y, Sun C, Song X, Li L, Zhang S, Biró JB, Saifi F, Kaló P, Chen R. Nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide 343 is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 193:1897-1912. [PMID: 37555448 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic interactions between legumes and rhizobia lead to the development of root nodules and nitrogen fixation by differentiated bacteroids within nodules. Differentiation of the endosymbionts is reversible or terminal, determined by plant effectors. In inverted repeat lacking clade legumes, nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides control the terminal differentiation of bacteroids. Medicago truncatula contains ∼700 NCR-coding genes. However, the role of few NCR peptides has been demonstrated. Here, we report characterization of fast neutron 2106 (FN2106), a symbiotic nitrogen fixation defective (fix-) mutant of M. truncatula. Using a transcript-based approach, together with linkage and complementation tests, we showed that loss-of-function of NCR343 results in impaired bacteroid differentiation and/or maintenance and premature nodule senescence of the FN2106 mutant. NCR343 was specifically expressed in nodules. Subcellular localization studies showed that the functional NCR343-YFP fusion protein colocalizes with bacteroids in symbiosomes in infected nodule cells. Transcriptomic analyses identified senescence-, but not defense-related genes, as being significantly upregulated in ncr343 (FN2106) nodules. Taken together, results from our phenotypic and transcriptomic analyses of a loss-of-function ncr343 mutant demonstrate an essential role of NCR343 in bacteroid differentiation and/or maintenance required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Yitong Shen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Juanxia He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Chenyan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Yelin Ma
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Chenghui Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Xiaopan Song
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Li Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Sisi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - János Barnabás Biró
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Lóránd Research Network, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Farheen Saifi
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Péter Kaló
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Lóránd Research Network, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Rujin Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
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Ma H, Feng Y, Cao Q, Jia J, Ali M, Shah D, Meyers BC, He H, Zhang Y. Evolution of antimicrobial cysteine-rich peptides in plants. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 42:1517-1527. [PMID: 37378705 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03044-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE We analyzed the evolutionary pattern of cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) to infer the relationship between CRP copy number and plant ecotype, and the origin of bi-domains CRPs. Plants produce cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) that have long-lasting broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity to protect themselves from various groups of pathogens. We analyzed 240 plant genomes, ranging from algae to eudicots, and discovered that CRPs are widely distributed in plants. Our comparative genomics results revealed that CRP genes have been amplified through both whole genome and local tandem duplication. The copy number of these genes varied significantly across lineages and was associated with the plant ecotype. This may be due to their resistance to changing pathogenic environments. The conserved and lineage-specific CRP families contribute to diverse antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, we investigated the unique bi-domain CRPs that result from unequal crossover events. Our findings provide a unique evolutionary perspective on CRPs and insights into their antimicrobial and symbiosis characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhen Ma
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518124, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Henan University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Yong Feng
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518124, China
| | - Qianqian Cao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518124, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Henan University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Jing Jia
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518124, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Henan University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Muhammad Ali
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Dilip Shah
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MI, 63132, USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MI, 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Hai He
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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8
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Villa SM, Chen JZ, Kwong Z, Acosta A, Vega NM, Gerardo NM. Specialized acquisition behaviors maintain reliable environmental transmission in an insect-microbial mutualism. Curr Biol 2023:S0960-9822(23)00724-8. [PMID: 37385254 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how horizontally transmitted mutualisms are maintained is a major focus of symbiosis research.1,2,3,4 Unlike vertical transmission, hosts that rely on horizontal transmission produce symbiont-free offspring that must find and acquire their beneficial microbes from the environment. This transmission strategy is inherently risky since hosts may not obtain the right symbiont every generation. Despite these potential costs, horizontal transmission underlies stable mutualisms involving a large diversity of both plants and animals.5,6,7,8,9 One largely unexplored way horizontal transmission is maintained is for hosts to evolve sophisticated mechanisms to consistently find and acquire specific symbionts from the environment. Here, we examine this possibility in the squash bug Anasa tristis, an insect pest that requires bacterial symbionts in the genus Caballeronia10 for survival and development.11 We conduct a series of behavioral and transmission experiments that track strain-level transmission in vivo among individuals in real-time. We demonstrate that nymphs can accurately find feces from adult bugs in both the presence and absence of those adults. Once nymphs locate the feces, they deploy feeding behavior that results in nearly perfect symbiont acquisition success. We further demonstrate that nymphs can locate and feed on isolated, cultured symbionts in the absence of feces. Finally, we show this acquisition behavior is highly host specific. Taken together, our data describe not only the evolution of a reliable horizontal transmission strategy, but also a potential mechanism that drives patterns of species-specific microbial communities among closely related, sympatric host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Villa
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biology, Davidson College, 209 Ridge Rd., Davidson, NC 28035, USA.
| | - Jason Z Chen
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Zeeyong Kwong
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Alice Acosta
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Nicole M Vega
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Nicole M Gerardo
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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9
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Non-Ionic Osmotic Stress Induces the Biosynthesis of Nodulation Factors and Affects Other Symbiotic Traits in Sinorhizobium fredii HH103. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020148. [PMID: 36829427 PMCID: PMC9952627 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Some rhizobia, such as Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899, activate nodulation genes when grown under osmotic stress. This work aims to determine whether this phenomenon also takes place in Sinorhizobium fredii HH103. (2) Methods: HH103 was grown with and without 400 mM mannitol. β-galactosidase assays, nodulation factor extraction, purification and identification by mass spectrometry, transcriptomics by RNA sequencing, motility assays, analysis of acyl-homoserine lactones, and indole acetic acid quantification were performed. (3) Results: Non-ionic osmotic stress induced the production of nodulation factors. Forty-two different factors were detected, compared to 14 found in the absence of mannitol. Transcriptomics indicated that hundreds of genes were either activated or repressed upon non-ionic osmotic stress. The presence of 400 mM mannitol induced the production of indole acetic acid and acyl homoserine lactones, abolished swimming, and promoted surface motility. (4) Conclusions: In this work, we show that non-ionic stress in S. fredii HH103, caused by growth in the presence of 400 mM mannitol, provokes notable changes not only in gene expression but also in various bacterial traits, including the production of nodulation factors and other symbiotic signals.
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10
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Dinkins RD, Hancock JA, Bickhart DM, Sullivan ML, Zhu H. Expression and Variation of the Genes Involved in Rhizobium Nodulation in Red Clover. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2888. [PMID: 36365339 PMCID: PMC9655500 DOI: 10.3390/plants11212888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important forage crop and serves as a major contributor of nitrogen input in pasture settings because of its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. During the legume-rhizobial symbiosis, the host plant undergoes a large number of gene expression changes, leading to development of root nodules that house the rhizobium bacteria as they are converted into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Many of the genes involved in symbiosis are conserved across legume species, while others are species-specific with little or no homology across species and likely regulate the specific plant genotype/symbiont strain interactions. Red clover has not been widely used for studying symbiotic nitrogen fixation, primarily due to its outcrossing nature, making genetic analysis rather complicated. With the addition of recent annotated genomic resources and use of RNA-seq tools, we annotated and characterized a number of genes that are expressed only in nodule forming roots. These genes include those encoding nodule-specific cysteine rich peptides (NCRs) and nodule-specific Polycystin-1, Lipoxygenase, Alpha toxic (PLAT) domain proteins (NPDs). Our results show that red clover encodes one of the highest number of NCRs and ATS3-like/NPDs, which are postulated to increase nitrogen fixation efficiency, in the Inverted-Repeat Lacking Clade (IRLC) of legumes. Knowledge of the variation and expression of these genes in red clover will provide more insights into the function of these genes in regulating legume-rhizobial symbiosis and aid in breeding of red clover genotypes with increased nitrogen fixation efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy D. Dinkins
- Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Julie A. Hancock
- College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | | | | | - Hongyan Zhu
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
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11
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Wei F, Liu Y, Zhou D, Zhao W, Chen Z, Chen D, Li Y, Zhang XX. Transcriptomic Identification of a Unique Set of Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides Expressed in the Nitrogen-Fixing Root Nodule of Astragalus sinicus. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2022; 35:893-905. [PMID: 35762679 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-03-22-0054-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Legumes in the inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) each produce a unique set of nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, which act in concert to determine the terminal differentiation of nitrogen-fixing bacteroid. IRLC legumes differ greatly in their numbers of NCR and sequence diversity. This raises the significant question how bacteroid differentiation is collectively controlled by the specific NCR repertoire of an IRLC legume. Astragalus sinicus is an IRLC legume that forms indeterminate nodules with its microsymbiont Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R. Here, we performed transcriptome analysis of root and nodule samples at 3, 7, 14, 28 days postinoculation with M. huakuii 7653R and its isogenic ∆bacA mutant. BacA is a broad-specificity peptide transporter required for the host-derived NCRs to target rhizobial cells. A total of 167 NCRs were identified in the RNA transcripts. Comparative sequence and electrochemical analysis revealed that A. sinicus NCRs (AsNCRs) are dominated by a unique cationic group (termed subgroup C), whose mature portion is relatively long (>60 amino acids) and phylogenetically distinct and possessing six highly conserved cysteine residues. Subsequent functional characterization showed that a 7653R variant harboring AsNCR083 (a representative of subgroup C AsNCR) displayed significant growth inhibition in laboratory media and formed ineffective white nodules on A. sinicus with irregular symbiosomes. Finally, bacterial two-hybrid analysis led to the identification of GroEL1 and GroEL3 as the molecular targets of AsNCR067 and AsNCR076. Together, our data contribute to a systematic understanding of the NCR repertoire associated with the A. sinicus and M. huakuii symbiosis. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Donglai Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wenlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhennan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dason Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Youguo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xue-Xian Zhang
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University at Albany, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
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12
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Zorin EA, Kliukova MS, Afonin AM, Gribchenko ES, Gordon ML, Sulima AS, Zhernakov AI, Kulaeva OA, Romanyuk DA, Kusakin PG, Tsyganova AV, Tsyganov VE, Tikhonovich IA, Zhukov VA. A variable gene family encoding nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides in pea ( Pisum sativum L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:884726. [PMID: 36186063 PMCID: PMC9515463 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.884726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Various legume plants form root nodules in which symbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) fix atmospheric nitrogen after differentiation into a symbiotic form named bacteroids. In some legume species, bacteroid differentiation is promoted by defensin-like nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides. NCR peptides have best been studied in the model legume Medicago truncatula Gaertn., while in many other legumes relevant information is still fragmentary. Here, we characterize the NCR gene family in pea (Pisum sativum L.) using genomic and transcriptomic data. We found 360 genes encoding NCR peptides that are expressed in nodules. The sequences of pea NCR genes and putative peptides are highly variable and differ significantly from NCR sequences of M. truncatula. Indeed, only one pair of orthologs (PsNCR47-MtNCR312) has been identified. The NCR genes in the pea genome are located in clusters, and the expression patterns of NCR genes from one cluster tend to be similar. These data support the idea of independent evolution of NCR genes by duplication and diversification in related legume species. We also described spatiotemporal expression profiles of NCRs and identified specific transcription factor (TF) binding sites in promoters of "early" and "late" NCR genes. Further, we studied the expression of NCR genes in nodules of Fix- mutants and predicted potential regulators of NCR gene expression, one among them being the TF ERN1 involved in the early steps of nodule organogenesis. In general, this study contributes to understanding the functions of NCRs in legume nodules and contributes to understanding the diversity and potential antibiotic properties of pea nodule-specific antimicrobial molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny A. Zorin
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina S. Kliukova
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexey M. Afonin
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Emma S. Gribchenko
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail L. Gordon
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anton S. Sulima
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Olga A. Kulaeva
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Daria A. Romanyuk
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Pyotr G. Kusakin
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna V. Tsyganova
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Viktor E. Tsyganov
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Igor A. Tikhonovich
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir A. Zhukov
- All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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13
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Lima RM, Rathod BB, Tiricz H, Howan DHO, Al Bouni MA, Jenei S, Tímár E, Endre G, Tóth GK, Kondorosi É. Legume Plant Peptides as Sources of Novel Antimicrobial Molecules Against Human Pathogens. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:870460. [PMID: 35755814 PMCID: PMC9218685 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.870460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are prominent components of the plant immune system acting against a wide variety of pathogens. Legume plants from the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC) have evolved a unique gene family encoding nodule-specific cysteine-rich NCR peptides acting in the symbiotic cells of root nodules, where they convert their bacterial endosymbionts into non-cultivable, polyploid nitrogen-fixing cells. NCRs are usually 30–50 amino acids long peptides having a characteristic pattern of 4 or 6 cysteines and highly divergent amino acid composition. While the function of NCRs is largely unknown, antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated for a few cationic Medicago truncatula NCR peptides against bacterial and fungal pathogens. The advantages of these plant peptides are their broad antimicrobial spectrum, fast killing modes of actions, multiple bacterial targets, and low propensity to develop resistance to them and no or low cytotoxicity to human cells. In the IRLC legumes, the number of NCR genes varies from a few to several hundred and it is possible that altogether hundreds of thousands of different NCR peptides exist. Due to the need for new antimicrobial agents, we investigated the antimicrobial potential of 104 synthetic NCR peptides from M. truncatula, M. sativa, Pisum sativum, Galega orientalis and Cicer arietinum against eight human pathogens, including ESKAPE bacteria. 50 NCRs showed antimicrobial activity with differences in the antimicrobial spectrum and effectivity. The most active peptides eliminated bacteria at concentrations from 0.8 to 3.1 μM. High isoelectric point and positive net charge were important but not the only determinants of their antimicrobial activity. Testing the activity of shorter peptide derivatives against Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans led to identification of regions responsible for the antimicrobial activity and provided insight into their potential modes of action. This work provides highly potent lead molecules without hemolytic activity on human blood cells for novel antimicrobial drugs to fight against pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui M Lima
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, ELKH, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Hilda Tiricz
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, ELKH, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dian H O Howan
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Sándor Jenei
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, ELKH, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Edit Tímár
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, ELKH, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Endre
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, ELKH, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor K Tóth
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Kondorosi
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, ELKH, Szeged, Hungary
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14
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Váradi G, Galgóczy L, Tóth GK. Rationally Designed Antimicrobial Peptides Are Potential Tools to Combat Devastating Bacteria and Fungi. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116244. [PMID: 35682921 PMCID: PMC9181708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Györgyi Váradi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, 6720 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - László Galgóczy
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary;
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor K. Tóth
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, 6720 Szeged, Hungary;
- MTA-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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15
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Pacoud M, Mandon K, Cazareth J, Pierre O, Frendo P, Alloing G. Redox-sensitive fluorescent biosensors detect Sinorhizobium meliloti intracellular redox changes under free-living and symbiotic lifestyles. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 184:185-195. [PMID: 35390454 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are key signaling molecules that control the setup and functioning of Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. This interaction results in the formation of a new organ, the root nodule, in which bacteria enter the host cells and differentiate into nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteroids. The interaction between Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago truncatula is a genetic model to study N2-fixing symbiosis. In previous work, S. meliloti mutants impaired in the antioxidant defense, showed altered symbiotic properties, emphasizing the importance of redox-based regulation in the bacterial partner. However, direct measurements of S. meliloti intracellular redox state have never been performed. Here, we measured dynamic changes of intracellular H2O2 and glutathione redox potential by expressing roGFP2-Orp1 and Grx1-roGFP2 biosensors in S. meliloti. Kinetic analyses of redox changes under free-living conditions showed that these biosensors are suitable to monitor the bacterial redox state in real-time, after H2O2 challenge and in different genetic backgrounds. In planta, flow cytometry and confocal imaging experiments allowed the determination of sensor oxidation state in nodule bacteria. These cellular studies establish the existence of an oxidative shift in the redox status of S. meliloti during bacteroid differentiation. Our findings open up new possibilities for in vivo studies of redox dynamics during N2-fixing symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Pacoud
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Karine Mandon
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Julie Cazareth
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 7275, Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | - Olivier Pierre
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia-Antipolis, France
| | - Pierre Frendo
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia-Antipolis, France
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16
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Achom M, Roy P, Lagunas B, Picot E, Richards L, Bonyadi-Pour R, Pardal AJ, Baxter L, Richmond BL, Aschauer N, Fletcher EM, Rowson M, Blackwell J, Rich-Griffin C, Mysore KS, Wen J, Ott S, Carré IA, Gifford ML. Plant circadian clock control of Medicago truncatula nodulation via regulation of nodule cysteine-rich peptides. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2142-2156. [PMID: 34850882 PMCID: PMC8982390 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Legumes house nitrogen-fixing endosymbiotic rhizobia in specialized polyploid cells within root nodules, which undergo tightly regulated metabolic activity. By carrying out expression analysis of transcripts over time in Medicago truncatula nodules, we found that the circadian clock enables coordinated control of metabolic and regulatory processes linked to nitrogen fixation. This involves the circadian clock-associated transcription factor LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY), with lhy mutants being affected in nodulation. Rhythmic transcripts in root nodules include a subset of nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) that have the LHY-bound conserved evening element in their promoters. Until now, studies have suggested that NCRs act to regulate bacteroid differentiation and keep the rhizobial population in check. However, these conclusions came from the study of a few members of this very large gene family that has complex diversified spatio-temporal expression. We suggest that rhythmic expression of NCRs may be important for temporal coordination of bacterial activity with the rhythms of the plant host, in order to ensure optimal symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingkee Achom
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Proyash Roy
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Department of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Beatriz Lagunas
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Emma Picot
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Luke Richards
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Roxanna Bonyadi-Pour
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Alonso J Pardal
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Laura Baxter
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Bethany L Richmond
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Nadine Aschauer
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Eleanor M Fletcher
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Monique Rowson
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Joseph Blackwell
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Charlotte Rich-Griffin
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Kirankumar S Mysore
- Institute for Agricultural Biosciences, Oklahoma State University, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA
| | - Jiangqi Wen
- Institute for Agricultural Biosciences, Oklahoma State University, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA
| | - Sascha Ott
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Isabelle A Carré
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Miriam L Gifford
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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17
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Li A, Liu A, Wu S, Qu K, Hu H, Yang J, Shrestha N, Liu J, Ren G. Comparison of structural variants in the whole genome sequences of two Medicago truncatula ecotypes: Jemalong A17 and R108. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:77. [PMID: 35193491 PMCID: PMC8862580 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03469-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural variants (SVs) constitute a large proportion of the genomic variation that results in phenotypic variation in plants. However, they are still a largely unexplored feature in most plant genomes. Here, we present the whole-genome landscape of SVs between two model legume Medicago truncatula ecotypes-Jemalong A17 and R108- that have been extensively used in various legume biology studies. RESULTS To catalogue SVs, we first resolved the previously published R108 genome assembly (R108 v1.0) to chromosome-scale using 124 × Hi-C data, resulting in a high-quality genome assembly. The inter-chromosomal reciprocal translocations between chromosomes 4 and 8 were confirmed by performing syntenic analysis between the two genomes. Combined with the Hi-C data, it appears that these translocation events had a significant effect on chromatin organization. Using both whole-genome and short-read alignments, we identified the genomic landscape of SVs between the two genomes, some of which may account for several phenotypic differences, including their differential responses to aluminum toxicity and iron deficiency, and the development of different anthocyanin leaf markings. We also found extensive SVs within the nodule-specific cysteine-rich gene family which encodes antimicrobial peptides essential for terminal bacteroid differentiation during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide a near-complete R108 genome assembly and the first genomic landscape of SVs obtained by comparing two M. truncatula ecotypes. This may provide valuable genomic resources for the functional and molecular research of legume biology in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shuang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kunjing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongyin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinli Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Nawal Shrestha
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education & State Key Lab of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangpeng Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
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18
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Plant-Microbe Interaction in Sustainable Agriculture: The Factors That May Influence the Efficacy of PGPM Application. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14042253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has caused considerable environmental damage over the years. However, the growing demand for food in the coming years and decades requires the use of increasingly productive and efficient agriculture. Several studies carried out in recent years have shown how the application of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) can be a valid substitute for chemical industry products and represent a valid eco-friendly alternative. However, because of the complexity of interactions created with the numerous biotic and abiotic factors (i.e., environment, soil, interactions between microorganisms, etc.), the different formulates often show variable effects. In this review, we analyze the main factors that influence the effectiveness of PGPM applications and some of the applications that make them a useful tool for agroecological transition.
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Abstract
This article comments on: Tian L, Liu L, Xu S, Deng R, Wu P, Jiang H, Wu G, Chen Y. 2022. A d-pinitol transporter, LjPLT11, regulates plant growth and nodule development in Lotus japonicus. Journal of Experimental Botany 73, 351–365.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip S Poole
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Raphael Ledermann
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
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20
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Sinorhizobium meliloti Functions Required for Resistance to Antimicrobial NCR Peptides and Bacteroid Differentiation. mBio 2021; 12:e0089521. [PMID: 34311575 PMCID: PMC8406287 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00895-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Legumes of the Medicago genus have a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and develop root nodules housing large numbers of intracellular symbionts. Members of the nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide (NCR) family induce the endosymbionts into a terminal differentiated state. Individual cationic NCRs are antimicrobial peptides that have the capacity to kill the symbiont, but the nodule cell environment prevents killing. Moreover, the bacterial broad-specificity peptide uptake transporter BacA and exopolysaccharides contribute to protect the endosymbionts against the toxic activity of NCRs. Here, we show that other S. meliloti functions participate in the protection of the endosymbionts; these include an additional broad-specificity peptide uptake transporter encoded by the yejABEF genes and lipopolysaccharide modifications mediated by lpsB and lpxXL, as well as rpoH1, encoding a stress sigma factor. Strains with mutations in these genes show a strain-specific increased sensitivity profile against a panel of NCRs and form nodules in which bacteroid differentiation is affected. The lpsB mutant nodule bacteria do not differentiate, the lpxXL and rpoH1 mutants form some seemingly fully differentiated bacteroids, although most of the nodule bacteria are undifferentiated, while the yejABEF mutants form hypertrophied but nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. The nodule bacteria of all the mutants have a strongly enhanced membrane permeability, which is dependent on the transport of NCRs to the endosymbionts. Our results suggest that S. meliloti relies on a suite of functions, including peptide transporters, the bacterial envelope structures, and stress response regulators, to resist the aggressive assault of NCR peptides in the nodule cells. IMPORTANCE The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of legumes with rhizobium bacteria has a predominant ecological role in the nitrogen cycle and has the potential to provide the nitrogen required for plant growth in agriculture. The host plants allow the rhizobia to colonize specific symbiotic organs, the nodules, in large numbers in order to produce sufficient reduced nitrogen for the plants' needs. Some legumes, including Medicago spp., produce massively antimicrobial peptides to keep this large bacterial population in check. These peptides, known as NCRs, have the potential to kill the rhizobia, but in nodules, they rather inhibit the division of the bacteria, which maintain a high nitrogen-fixing activity. In this study, we show that the tempering of the antimicrobial activity of the NCR peptides in the Medicago symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti is multifactorial and requires the YejABEF peptide transporter, the lipopolysaccharide outer membrane, and the stress response regulator RpoH1.
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21
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Walker L, Lagunas B, Gifford ML. Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:585749. [PMID: 33329456 PMCID: PMC7728800 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.585749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Leguminous plants possess the almost unique ability to enter symbiosis with soil-resident, nitrogen fixing bacteria called rhizobia. During this symbiosis, the bacteria physically colonize specialized organs on the roots of the host plant called nodules, where they reduce atmospheric nitrogen into forms that can be assimilated by the host plant and receive photosynthates in return. In order for nodule development to occur, there is extensive chemical cross-talk between both parties during the formative stages of the symbiosis. The vast majority of the legume family are capable of forming root nodules and typically rhizobia are only able to fix nitrogen within the context of this symbiotic association. However, many legume species only enter productive symbiosis with a few, or even single rhizobial species or strains, and vice-versa. Permitting symbiosis with only rhizobial strains that will be able to fix nitrogen with high efficiency is a crucial strategy for the host plant to prevent cheating by rhizobia. This selectivity is enforced at all stages of the symbiosis, with partner choice beginning during the initial communication between the plant and rhizobia. However, it can also be influenced even once nitrogen-fixing nodules have developed on the root. This review sets out current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms employed by both parties to influence host range during legume-rhizobia symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Walker
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz Lagunas
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Miriam L Gifford
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.,Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Lima RM, Kylarová S, Mergaert P, Kondorosi É. Unexplored Arsenals of Legume Peptides With Potential for Their Applications in Medicine and Agriculture. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1307. [PMID: 32625188 PMCID: PMC7314904 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During endosymbiosis, bacteria live intracellularly in the symbiotic organ of their host. The host controls the proliferation of endosymbionts and prevents their spread to other tissues and organs. In Rhizobium-legume symbiosis the major host effectors are secreted nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, produced exclusively in the symbiotic cells. NCRs have evolved in the Inverted Repeat Lacking Clade (IRLC) of the Leguminosae family. They are secreted peptides that mediate terminal differentiation of the endosymbionts, forming polyploid, non-cultivable cells with increased membrane permeability. NCRs form an extremely large family of peptides, which have four or six conserved cysteines but otherwise highly diverse amino acid sequences, resulting in a wide variety of anionic, neutral and cationic peptides. In vitro, many synthetic NCRs have strong antimicrobial activities against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including the ESKAPE strains and pathogenic fungi. The spectra and minimal bactericidal and anti-fungal concentrations of NCRs differ, indicating that, in addition to their charge, the amino acid composition and sequence also play important roles in their antimicrobial activity. NCRs attack the bacteria and fungi at the cell envelope and membrane as well as intracellularly, forming interactions with multiple essential cellular machineries. NCR-like peptides with similar symbiotic functions as the NCRs also exist in other branches of the Leguminosae family. Thus, legumes provide countless and so far unexplored sources of symbiotic peptides representing an enormous resource of pharmacologically interesting molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui M Lima
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Salome Kylarová
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Peter Mergaert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Éva Kondorosi
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
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