SymRK defines a common genetic basis for plant root endosymbioses with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, rhizobia, and Frankiabacteria

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Mar 25;105(12):4928-32. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0710618105. Epub 2008 Mar 3.

Abstract

Root endosymbioses vitally contribute to plant nutrition and fitness worldwide. Nitrogen-fixing root nodulation, confined to four plant orders, encompasses two distinct types of associations, the interaction of legumes (Fabales) with rhizobia bacteria and actinorhizal symbioses, where the bacterial symbionts are actinomycetes of the genus Frankia. Although several genetic components of the host-symbiont interaction have been identified in legumes, the genetic basis of actinorhiza formation is unknown. Here, we show that the receptor-like kinase gene SymRK, which is required for nodulation in legumes, is also necessary for actinorhiza formation in the tree Casuarina glauca. This indicates that both types of nodulation symbiosis share genetic components. Like several other legume genes involved in the interaction with rhizobia, SymRK is also required for the interaction with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi. We show that SymRK is involved in AM formation in C. glauca as well and can restore both nodulation and AM symbioses in a Lotus japonicus symrk mutant. Taken together, our results demonstrate that SymRK functions as a vital component of the genetic basis for both plant-fungal and plant-bacterial endosymbioses and is conserved between legumes and actinorhiza-forming Fagales.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Frankia / physiology*
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Lotus / cytology
  • Lotus / enzymology
  • Lotus / genetics
  • Lotus / microbiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Mycorrhizae / physiology*
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Plant Roots / cytology
  • Plant Roots / enzymology*
  • Plant Roots / microbiology*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Kinases / isolation & purification
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Rhizobium / physiology*
  • Root Nodules, Plant / cytology
  • Root Nodules, Plant / enzymology
  • Root Nodules, Plant / microbiology
  • Symbiosis*
  • Trees / cytology
  • Trees / enzymology
  • Trees / microbiology

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Protein Kinases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EU273286
  • GENBANK/EU294188