A cytokinin perception mutant colonized by Rhizobium in the absence of nodule organogenesis

Science. 2007 Jan 5;315(5808):101-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1132514. Epub 2006 Nov 16.

Abstract

In legumes, Nod-factor signaling by rhizobia initiates the development of the nitrogen-fixing nodule symbiosis, but the direct cell division stimulus that brings about nodule primordia inception in the root cortex remains obscure. We showed that Lotus japonicus plants homozygous for a mutation in the HYPERINFECTED 1 (HIT1) locus exhibit abundant infection-thread formation but fail to initiate timely cortical cell divisions in response to rhizobial signaling. We demonstrated that the corresponding gene encodes a cytokinin receptor that is required for the activation of the nodule inception regulator Nin and nodule organogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Alphaproteobacteria / growth & development
  • Alphaproteobacteria / physiology*
  • Cell Division
  • Cytokinins / metabolism*
  • Cytokinins / pharmacology
  • Genes, Plant
  • Histidine Kinase
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Lotus / genetics
  • Lotus / microbiology*
  • Lotus / physiology*
  • Mutation
  • Nitrogen Fixation
  • Plant Epidermis / cytology
  • Plant Epidermis / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / cytology
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Protein Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Root Nodules, Plant / cytology
  • Root Nodules, Plant / growth & development*
  • Root Nodules, Plant / microbiology
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Symbiosis

Substances

  • Cytokinins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NIN protein, Lotus japonicus
  • Plant Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Protein Kinases
  • Histidine Kinase