title: MtZR1, a PRAF protein, is involved in the development of roots and symbiotic root nodules in Medicago truncatula.
abstract: PRAF proteins are present in all plants, but their functions remain unclear. We investigated the role of one member of the PRAF family, MtZR1, on the development of roots and nitrogen-fixing nodules in Medicago truncatula. We found that MtZR1 was expressed in all M. truncatula organs. Spatiotemporal analysis showed that MtZR1 expression in M. truncatula roots was mostly limited to the root meristem and the vascular bundles of mature nodules. MtZR1 expression in root nodules was down-regulated in response to various abiotic stresses known to affect nitrogen fixation efficiency. The down-regulation of MtZR1 expression by RNA interference in transgenic roots decreased root growth and impaired nodule development and function. MtZR1 overexpression resulted in longer roots and significant changes to nodule development. Our data thus indicate that MtZR1 is involved in the development of roots and nodules. To our knowledge, this work provides the first in vivo experimental evidence of a biological role for a typical PRAF protein in plants.
authors: INRA 1355, UMR 'Institut Sophia Agrobiotech', Sophia-Antipolis Cedex, F-06903, France; CNRS 7254, UMR 'Institut Sophia Agrobiotech', Sophia-Antipolis Cedex, F-06903, France; UMR 'Institut Sophia Agrobiotech' Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis (UNS), Cedex, F-06903, France.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Hopkins
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Pierre
authors: Théophile
authors: T
authors: Kazmierczak
authors: Véronique
authors: V
authors: Gruber
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Frugier
authors: Mathilde
authors: M
authors: Clement
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Frendo
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Herouart
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Boncompagni
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D046913:Medicago truncatula / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018519:Meristem / Q000235:genetics; D005810:Multigene Family; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058526:Plant Vascular Bundle / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D021381:Protein Transport; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053204:Root Nodules, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: Sinorhizobium meliloti; nitrogen-fixing symbiosis; plant microbe interaction