Symbiotic rhizobia bacteria trigger a change in localization and dynamics of the Medicago truncatula receptor kinase LYK3

Plant Cell. 2011 Jul;23(7):2774-87. doi: 10.1105/tpc.111.086389. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

Abstract

To form nitrogen-fixing symbioses, legume plants recognize a bacterial signal, Nod Factor (NF). The legume Medicago truncatula has two predicted NF receptors that direct separate downstream responses to its symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. NOD FACTOR PERCEPTION encodes a putative low-stringency receptor that is responsible for calcium spiking and transcriptional responses. LYSIN MOTIF RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE3 (LYK3) encodes a putative high-stringency receptor that mediates bacterial infection. We localized green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged LYK3 in M. truncatula and found that it has a punctate distribution at the cell periphery consistent with a plasma membrane or membrane-tethered vesicle localization. In buffer-treated control roots, LYK3:GFP puncta are dynamic. After inoculation with compatible S. meliloti, LYK3:GFP puncta are relatively stable. We show that increased LYK3:GFP stability depends on bacterial NF and NF structure but that NF is not sufficient for the change in LYK3:GFP dynamics. In uninoculated root hairs, LYK3:GFP has little codistribution with mCherry-tagged FLOTILLIN4 (FLOT4), another punctate plasma membrane-associated protein required for infection. In inoculated root hairs, we observed an increase in FLOT4:mCherry and LYK3:GFP colocalization; both proteins localize to positionally stable puncta. We also demonstrate that the localization of tagged FLOT4 is altered in plants carrying a mutation that inactivates the kinase domain of LYK3. Our work indicates that LYK3 protein localization and dynamics are altered in response to symbiotic bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Medicago truncatula / cytology
  • Medicago truncatula / enzymology*
  • Medicago truncatula / microbiology*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Nitrogen Fixation / physiology
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Plant Roots / ultrastructure
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sinorhizobium meliloti / pathogenicity
  • Sinorhizobium meliloti / physiology*
  • Symbiosis / physiology*

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • flotillins
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases