title: The GmFWL1 (FW2-2-like) nodulation gene encodes a plasma membrane microdomain-associated protein.
abstract: The soybean gene GmFWL1 (FW2-2-like1) belongs to a plant-specific family that includes the tomato FW2-2 and the maize CNR1 genes, two regulators of plant development. In soybean, GmFWL1 is specifically expressed in root hair cells in response to rhizobia and in nodules. Silencing of GmFWL1 expression significantly reduced nodule numbers supporting its role during soybean nodulation. While the biological role of GmFWL1 has been described, its molecular function and, more generally, the molecular function of plant FW2-2-like proteins is unknown. In this study, we characterized the role of GmFWL1 as a membrane microdomain-associated protein. Specifically, using biochemical, molecular and cellular methods, our data show that GmFWL1 interacts with various proteins associated with membrane microdomains such as remorin, prohibitins and flotillins. Additionally, comparative genomics revealed that GmFWL1 interacts with GmFLOT2/4 (FLOTILLIN2/4), the soybean ortholog to Medicago truncatula FLOTILLIN4, a major regulator of the M. truncatula nodulation process. We also observed that, similarly to MtFLOT4 and GmFLOT2/4, GmFWL1 was localized at the tip of the soybean root hair cells in response to rhizobial inoculation supporting the early function of GmFWL1 in the rhizobium infection process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Zhenzhen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4102-5015
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry and Plant Sciences, C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brechenmacher
authors.affiliation: Samuel Roberts Noble Microscopy Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Samuel Roberts Noble Microscopy Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Strout
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mangin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.|Samuel Roberts Noble Microscopy Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry and Plant Sciences, C.S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stacey
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libault
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D020369:Bradyrhizobium / Q000502:physiology; D017343:Genes, Plant; D023281:Genomics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D046913:Medicago truncatula / Q000235:genetics; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055170:Plant Root Nodulation / Q000235:genetics*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D011485:Protein Binding; D011523:Protoplasts / Q000378:metabolism; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: FW2-2-like; flotillin; microdomain-associated proteins; nodulation; prohibitin; remorin