Auxin carriers localization drives auxin accumulation in plant cells infected by Frankia in Casuarina glauca actinorhizal nodules

Plant Physiol. 2010 Nov;154(3):1372-80. doi: 10.1104/pp.110.163394. Epub 2010 Sep 8.

Abstract

Actinorhizal symbioses are mutualistic interactions between plants and the soil bacteria Frankia that lead to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Little is known about the signaling mechanisms controlling the different steps of the establishment of the symbiosis. The plant hormone auxin has been suggested to play a role. Here we report that auxin accumulates within Frankia-infected cells in actinorhizal nodules of Casuarina glauca. Using a combination of computational modeling and experimental approaches, we establish that this localized auxin accumulation is driven by the cell-specific expression of auxin transporters and by Frankia auxin biosynthesis in planta. Our results indicate that the plant actively restricts auxin accumulation to Frankia-infected cells during the symbiotic interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Computational Biology
  • Frankia*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Indoleacetic Acids / metabolism*
  • Magnoliopsida / genetics
  • Magnoliopsida / metabolism*
  • Magnoliopsida / microbiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Root Nodules, Plant / metabolism*
  • Symbiosis*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Plant Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/FQ375841
  • RefSeq/NC_007777