Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine Synthetase

Two photorespiratory mutants of Lotus japonicus deficient in plastid glutamine synthetase (GS2) were examined for their capacity to establish symbiotic association with Mesorhizobium loti bacteria. Biosynthetic glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was reduced by around 40% in crude nodule extracts fro...

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Main Authors: Margarita García-Calderón, Maurizio Chiurazzi, M. Rosario Espuny, Antonio J. Márquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The American Phytopathological Society 2012-02-01
Series:Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Online Access:https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/MPMI-07-11-0200
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author Margarita García-Calderón
Maurizio Chiurazzi
M. Rosario Espuny
Antonio J. Márquez
author_facet Margarita García-Calderón
Maurizio Chiurazzi
M. Rosario Espuny
Antonio J. Márquez
author_sort Margarita García-Calderón
collection DOAJ
description Two photorespiratory mutants of Lotus japonicus deficient in plastid glutamine synthetase (GS2) were examined for their capacity to establish symbiotic association with Mesorhizobium loti bacteria. Biosynthetic glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was reduced by around 40% in crude nodule extracts from mutant plants as compared with the wild type (WT). Western blot analysis further confirmed the lack of GS2 polypeptide in mutant nodules. The decrease in GS activity affected the nodular carbon metabolism under high CO2 (suppressed photorespiration) conditions, although mutant plants were able to form nodules and fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, when WT and mutant plants were transferred to an ordinary air atmosphere (photorespiratory active conditions) the nodulation process and nitrogen fixation were substantially affected, particularly in mutant plants. The number and fresh weight of mutant nodules as well as acetylene reduction activity showed a strong inhibition compared with WT plants. Optical microscopy studies from mutant plant nodules revealed the anticipated senescence phenotype linked to an important reduction in starch and sucrose levels. These results show that, in Lotus japonicus, photorespiration and, particularly, GS2 deficiency result in profound limitations in carbon metabolism that affect the nodulation process and nitrogen fixation.
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spelling doaj.art-029178bfebf0467bb10d70e135e57d072022-12-21T21:18:27ZengThe American Phytopathological SocietyMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions0894-02821943-77062012-02-0125221121910.1094/MPMI-07-11-0200Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine SynthetaseMargarita García-CalderónMaurizio ChiurazziM. Rosario EspunyAntonio J. MárquezTwo photorespiratory mutants of Lotus japonicus deficient in plastid glutamine synthetase (GS2) were examined for their capacity to establish symbiotic association with Mesorhizobium loti bacteria. Biosynthetic glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was reduced by around 40% in crude nodule extracts from mutant plants as compared with the wild type (WT). Western blot analysis further confirmed the lack of GS2 polypeptide in mutant nodules. The decrease in GS activity affected the nodular carbon metabolism under high CO2 (suppressed photorespiration) conditions, although mutant plants were able to form nodules and fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, when WT and mutant plants were transferred to an ordinary air atmosphere (photorespiratory active conditions) the nodulation process and nitrogen fixation were substantially affected, particularly in mutant plants. The number and fresh weight of mutant nodules as well as acetylene reduction activity showed a strong inhibition compared with WT plants. Optical microscopy studies from mutant plant nodules revealed the anticipated senescence phenotype linked to an important reduction in starch and sucrose levels. These results show that, in Lotus japonicus, photorespiration and, particularly, GS2 deficiency result in profound limitations in carbon metabolism that affect the nodulation process and nitrogen fixation.https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/MPMI-07-11-0200
spellingShingle Margarita García-Calderón
Maurizio Chiurazzi
M. Rosario Espuny
Antonio J. Márquez
Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine Synthetase
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
title Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine Synthetase
title_full Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine Synthetase
title_fullStr Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine Synthetase
title_full_unstemmed Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine Synthetase
title_short Photorespiratory Metabolism and Nodule Function: Behavior of Lotus japonicus Mutants Deficient in Plastid Glutamine Synthetase
title_sort photorespiratory metabolism and nodule function behavior of lotus japonicus mutants deficient in plastid glutamine synthetase
url https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/MPMI-07-11-0200
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