Cell- and Tissue-Specific Transcriptome Analyses of Medicago truncatula Root Nodules

authored by: Erik Limpens, Sjef Moling, Guido Hooiveld, Patrícia A. Pereira, Ton Bisseling, Jörg D. Becker, Helge Küster
Abstract: Legumes have the unique ability to host nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria as symbiosomes inside root nodule cells. To get insight into this key process, which forms the heart of the endosymbiosis, we isolated specific cells/tissues at different stages of symbiosome formation from nodules of the model legume Medicago truncatula using laser-capture microdissection. Next, we determined their associated expression profiles using Affymetrix Medicago GeneChips. Cells were collected from the nodule infection zone divided into a distal (where symbiosome formation and division occur) and proximal region (where symbiosomes are mainly differentiating), as well as infected cells from the fixation zone containing mature nitrogen fixing symbiosomes. As non-infected cells/tissue we included nodule meristem cells and uninfected cells from the fixation zone. Here, we present a comprehensive gene expression map of an indeterminate Medicago nodule and selected genes that show specific enriched expression in the different cells or tissues. Validation of the obtained expression profiles, by comparison to published gene expression profiles and experimental verification, indicates that the data can be used as digital "in situ". This digital "in situ" offers a genome-wide insight into genes specifically associated with subsequent stages of symbiosome and nodule cell development, and can serve to guide future functional studies.
Organisation(s): Institute of Plant Genetics
External Organisation(s): Wageningen University and Research
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia
Type: Article
Journal: PLOS ONE
Volume: 8
ISSN: 1932-6203
Publication date: 29.05.2013
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all), Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all), General
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064377 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1371/annotation/d8bce646-4127-410a-b4dd-d2d2779a4745 (Access: Open)