Open AccessExpression of Genes Encoding Late Nodulins Characterized by a Putative Signal Peptide and Conserved Cysteine Residues Is Reduced in Ineffective Pea Nodules
Author(s) -
Takashi Kato,
Kazuya Kawashima,
Masaichi Miwa,
Yoshifumi Mimura,
Masanori Tamaoki,
Hiroshi Kouchi,
Norio Suganuma
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular plant-microbe interactions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.565
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1943-7706
pISSN - 0894-0282
DOI - 10.1094/mpmi.2002.15.2.129
Subject(s) - leghemoglobin , biology , pisum , gene , mutant , sativum , homology (biology) , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , signal peptide , genetics , nitrogen fixation , root nodule , biochemistry , botany , peptide sequence , bacteria
Five nodulin genes, PsN1, PsN6, PsN314, PsN335, and PsN466, with reduced expression in ineffective nodules on the pea (Pisum sativum) mutant E135 (sym13) were characterized. They encode small polypeptides containing a putative signal peptide and conserved cysteine residues and show homology to the nodulins PsENOD3/14 and PsNOD6. For each gene, multiple bands were detected by genomic Southern analysis. Northern analysis showed that all five genes were expressed exclusively in nodules and that their temporal expression patterns were similar to that of the leghemoglobin (Lb) gene during nodule development. Their transcripts were localized predominantly from the interzone II–III to the distal part of nitrogen-fixing zone III in effective nodules, resembling the Lb gene. However, transcripts in ineffective E135 nodules were localized in narrower regions than those in the effective nodules. These results indicate that these nodulins are abundant in pea nodules and that their successive expression during nodule development is associated with nitrogen-fixing activity.