Lenz, A.-K. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2026

Global integrators of light signalling and nutrient homeostasis safeguard symbiosis under light stress

Their large, protein-rich seeds render many legume plants like beans, peas or soy attractive food or fodder crops. This is thanks to nitrogen-fixing root nodulation symbiosis (RNS) with rhizobial bacteria, a mutualistic association enabling legumes to not only form storage seeds, but also thrive in nitrogen poor habitats. These benefits come at a cost: accommodating millions of bacteria that actively fix N2 requires substantial nutrient and energy input. Evolutionarily successful hosts employ a multi-layered regulatory system balancing endogenous nutrient status and interorganismal nutrient exchange with symbiosis establishment and progression. Root infection as well as nodule organogenesis and -lifespan are tightly regulated, ensuring a mutualistic status. Under adverse conditions, established nodules can be deactivated by induction of nodule senescence in a process involving the transcription factor genes NAM ATAF CUC (NAC) 094 (Wang et al., 2023) and FIXATION UNDER NITRATE (FUN) (Lin et al., 2024). The molecular basis and role of senescence induction in RNS regulation is still far from understood. Here, we demonstrate that in Lotus japonicus, the two photomorphogenesis genes ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) and the B-Box-containing zinc finger transcription factor gene BBX21 are required and sufficient for maintaining nodule function under high light intensities. Loss of either HY5 or BBX21 results in a light-dependent increase of NAC094 transcript levels, nodule necrosis and early senescence, and enhanced nodule proliferation. Moreover, expression of dominant negative HY5 or BBX21 is sufficient to induce nodule necrosis and hypernodulation. Our data establish LjHY5 and LjBBX21 as a novel gene pair safeguarding nodule function and nitrogen fixation by preventing light induced senescence. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=114 SRC="FIGDIR/small/741514v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (22K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b16552org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@72f82eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@3cfbcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@3b542a_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG Graphical abstract C_FIG

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2017

On the relationship between indenation hardness and modulus, and the damage resistance of biological materials.

The remarkable mechanical performance of biological materials is based on intricate structure-function relationships. Nanoindentation has become the primary tool for characterising biological materials, as it allows to relate structural changes to variations in mechanical properties on small scales. However, the respective theoretical background and associated interpretation of the parameters measured via indentation derives largely from research on traditional engineering materials such as metals or ceramics. Here, we discuss the functional relevance of indentation hardness in biological materials by presenting a meta-analysis of its relationship with indentation modulus. Across seven orders of magnitude, indentation hardness was directly proportional to indentation modulus, illustrating that hardness is not an independent material property. Using a lumped parameter model to deconvolute indentation hardness into components arising from reversible and irreversible deformation, we establish criteria which allow to interpret differences in indentation hardness across or within biological materials. The ratio between hardness and modulus arises as a key parameter, which is a proxy for the ratio between irreversible and reversible deformation during indentation, and the materials yield strength. Indentation hardness generally increases upon material dehydration, however to a larger extend than expected from accompanying changes in indentation modulus, indicating that water acts as a plasticiser. A detailed discussion of the role of indentation hardness, modulus and toughness in damage control during sharp or blunt indentation yields comprehensive guidelines for a performance-based ranking of biological materials, and suggests that quasi-plastic deformation is a frequent yet poorly understood damage mode, highlighting an important area of future research.

bioengineering↗