Cytokinin: secret agent of symbiosis.
The symbiotic interaction between Rhizobium bacteria and legumes leads to the induction of a new root organ: the nitrogen-fixing nodule. Recent findings have uncovered that cytokinin is instrumental in this developmental process, but they also suggest a broader role for cytokinin in mediating rhizobial infection. In this opinion article, we propose that cytokinin is the key differentiation signal for nodule organogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss a model in which cytokinin might also influence bacterial infection by controlling the expression of NIN (Nodule Inception) and other transcriptional regulators through mechanisms operating both locally and systemically.
Frugier
Florian
F
Institut des Sciences du Végétal, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91198 Gif sur Yvette cedex, France.
Kosuta
Sonja
S
Murray
Jeremy D
JD
Crespi
Martin
M
Szczyglowski
Krzysztof
K
D003583:Cytokinins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000254:growth & development; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*
D003583:Cytokinins