The Nitrate Transporter Family Protein LjNPF8.6 Controls the N-Fixing Nodule Activity. Issue 3 (20th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valkov, Vladimir Totev; Rogato, Alessandra; Alves, Ludovico Martins; Sol, Stefano; Noguero, Mélanie; Léran, Sophie; Lacombe, Benoit; Chiurazzi, Maurizio
• Is Part Of: Plant physiology. Volume 175:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 1269
• Page End: 1282
• Publication Date: 2017-09-20
• Subjects: Plant physiology -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 571.2
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.17.01187
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-0889

Abstract

Abstract : Nitrate Transporter 1/Peptide Transporter Family protein NPF8.6 plays a key role in nodule functioning in Lotus japonicus. Abstract: N-fixing nodules are new organs formed on legume roots as a result of the beneficial interaction with soil bacteria, rhizobia. The nodule functioning is still a poorly characterized step of the symbiotic interaction, as only a few of the genes induced in N-fixing nodules have been functionally characterized. We present here the characterization of a member of the Lotus japonicus nitrate transporter1/peptide transporter family, LjNPF8.6 . The phenotypic characterization carried out in independent L. japonicus LORE1 insertion lines indicates a positive role of LjNPF8.6 on nodule functioning, as knockout mutants display N-fixation deficiency (25%) and increased nodular superoxide content. The partially compromised nodule functioning induces two striking phenotypes: anthocyanin accumulation already displayed 4 weeks after inoculation and shoot biomass deficiency, which is detected by long-term phenotyping. LjNPF8.6 achieves nitrate uptake in Xenopus laevis oocytes at both 0.5 and 30 mm external concentrations, and a possible role as a nitrate transporter in the control of N-fixing nodule activity is discussed