A Krüppel-like zinc finger protein is involved in nitrogen-fixing root nodule organogenesis.
Mechanisms regulating plant host differentiation of the nitrogen-fixing root nodules remain mostly unknown. Sinorhizobium meliloti induces this process in Medicago sativa in which the Mszpt2-1 gene is expressed in vascular bundles of roots and nodules. This gene codes for a Krüppel-like zinc finger protein, a class of transcription factors involved in many animal developmental processes. Expression of Mszpt2-1 in yeast cells conferred osmotic tolerance. Antisense plants grew normally but developed nonfunctional nodules, in which differentiation of the nitrogen-fixing zone and bacterial invasion were arrested. Hence, a vascular bundle-associated Krüppel-like gene is required for the formation of the central nitrogen-fixing zone of the root nodule.
Frugier
F
F
Institut des Sciences Végétales, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Poirier
S
S
Satiat-Jeunemaître
B
B
Kondorosi
A
A
Crespi
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D016373:DNA, Antisense; D018744:DNA, Plant; C405706:Mszpt2-1 protein, Medicago sativa; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors