Biology subjects

Molla, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Molla, F..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Distinct Proline residues in hinge-regions of SYMRK generates a phosphocode for releasing Malectin-like-Domain to allow progress of rhizobia-legume symbiosis at epidermal-cortical barrier.

Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SYMRK), a malectin-like-domain/leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like-kinase (MLD-LRR-RLK), is the upstream most component in Common-Symbiosis-Signalling-Pathway. We highlight two Proline residues that were distinctly acquired by SYMRK orthologues in its hinge-regions to evolve a signalling module for allowing progress of symbionts across transcellular barriers during rhizobia-legume symbiosis. Within the Ectodomain hinge (EctoD-hinge) all MLD-LRR-RLKs have a conserved W1xnGDPCxnW2x4C motif, where SYMRK orthologues within legumes have a distinct signature with a Proline preceding W2 enabling cleavage of SYMRK-EctoD for releasing MLD. Within the kinase hinge (KD-hinge) at gatekeeper+1 position, a conserved Glutamate in MLD-LRR-RLKs is replaced by Proline in all SYMRK orthologues that enabled its dual-specific kinase activity for ensuring EctoD-cleavage. Substitution of either Proline restricted symbionts at the transcellular epidermal-cortical barrier forming infection patches in the nodule apex without affecting epidermal invasion and nodule organogenesis. This halt was entirely overcome by ectopic expression of free MLD demonstrating the released MLD to have an active role in progress of symbionts. Overall, we show that adaptations of distinct Prolines in hinge-regions of SYMRK orthologues in legumes have evolved a signalling module involving dimerization and optimal phosphorylation of SYMRK for releasing MLD as an active transducer of symbiosis signalling.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Nodulin 16 of Lotus japonicus (Nlj16) regulates the recruitment of Leghemoglobin (LegH) to the infected nodule cell membrane during symbiotic nitrogen fixation

Nitrogenase that catalyses anaerobic symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legumes is synthesized by rhizobium. Legume root cells express nodulin proteins after infection with rhizobia. Nodulins have been classified as early and late, reflecting the time points of their expression. Leghemoglobin (LegH), which is a classic example of a late nodulin, sequesters oxygen inside the nodule to protect the nitrogenase from oxygen toxicity to sustain SNF. Previous data from our laboratory demonstrated that phosphorylated LegH at S45 showed compromised oxygen sequestration in vitro due to structural disruption of the porphyrin binding pocket responsible for its oxygen binding. Moreover, we have demonstrated by using co-immunoprecipitation that LegH interacts both in vitro with Nodulin 16 of Lotus japonicus (Nlj16), another late nodulin. Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry (IHC) data shows that both LegH and Nlj16 are localized in the membrane and cytosol of infected cells. Notably, serine phosphorylation of LegH and interaction of Nlj16 with LegH respectively reduces and increases its in vitro oxygen sequestration ability. In this report, to further elucidate the spatio-temporal regulation of this interaction, we generated hairy root transgenic Lotus japonicus plants where Nlj16 has been knocked down by using siRNA. Most interestingly, our data shows that the membrane localization of LegH is obliterated in the Nlj16 knocked-down root cells infected with the cognate Rhizobia suggesting a distinct role of Nlj16 in its recruitment to the membrane of nodule cells.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Turanose mediated WOX5 expression rescues symbiosis in cytokinin perception mutant cre1

Rhizobia-legume interaction recruits cytokinin-signaling that causes local auxin accumulation for the induction of nodule primordia in the cortex. Since sugar signaling can trigger auxin responses and regulate developmental processes, we explored whether sugar treatments could rescue cre1. Here we demonstrate that turanose, a non-metabolizable sucrose analogue can recover functional symbiosis in cytokinin perception mutant cre1. Additionally, turanose significantly upregulated the expression of WUSCHEL-related homeobox 5 (MtWOX5) which prompted us to check if ectopic expression of WOX5 could rescue cre1. Overexpression of WOX5 from Arachis hypogaea (AhWOX5), but not the intrinsic MtWOX5 could completely restore functional symbiosis in cre1 though both WOX5 (Mt and Ah) were functionally equivalent in inducing the expression of cytokinin inducible transcription factor Nodule Inception (NIN). Among the tested markers for cytokinin and auxin responses, significant differences were noted in the expression of IAA-Ala Resistant3 (MtIAR33), an auxin conjugate hydrolase. Turanose and AhWOX5 overexpression resulted in upregulation of MtIAR33 that further increased significantly in presence of rhizobia. On the other hand, MtIAR33 expression was unaffected in MtWOX5 overexpressed roots suggesting deconjugation driven auxin pool to be critical for rescuing symbiosis in cre1. We hypothesize a working model for sugar and WOX5 mediated rescue of symbiosis in cre1. One sentence summaryActivation of sugar-WOX5 signaling axis restores root nodule symbiosis in cytokinin perception mutant cre1

plant biology↗