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. 1985 Apr;4(4):861–867. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1985.tb03711.x

Expression of plant genes during the development of pea root nodules

Francine Govers 1, Ton Gloudemans 1, Marja Moerman 1, Albert van Kammen 1, Ton Bisseling 1
PMCID: PMC554272  PMID: 15938045

Abstract

The expression of plant genes involved in the pea-Rhizobium symbiosis was studied by analysing mRNA from root nodules. The RNA was translated in vitro and the translation products were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The results show differential expression of nodulin genes during root nodule development. One gene encoding N-40' is expressed at a significant level 5 days before the leghemoglobin genes. Most other nodulin genes are expressed more or less concomitantly with the leghemoglobin genes whereas the N-21 mRNA is only present late during the development. In the development of ineffective root nodules induced by infection with different nod+fix− mutants of R. leguminosarum all nodulin genes are expressed except for the N-21 gene. The results suggest that neither bacteroid development, heme excretion nor nitrogen fixation are essential for the induction of nodulin gene expression in the host plant. Further, it appears that the amount of leghemoglobin in ineffective nodules is regulated at a post-transcriptional level.

Keywords: ineffective root nodules, leghemoglobin, nodulin gene expression, pea-Rhizobium symbiosis, Rhizobium, root nodule development

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Selected References

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