The receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase AeRLCK2 mediates Nod-independent rhizobial symbiosis in <i>Aeschynomene</i> legumes
Many plants interact symbiotically with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance inorganic phosphorus uptake, and legumes also develop a nodule symbiosis with rhizobia for nitrogen acquisition. The establishment and functioning of both symbioses rely on a common plant signaling pathway activated by structurally related Myc and Nod factors. Recently, a SPARK receptor-like kinase (RLK)/receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK) complex was shown to be essential for arbuscular mycorrhiza formation in both monocot and dicot plants. Here, we show that in Aeschynomene legumes, the RLCK component of this receptor complex has undergone a gene duplication event and mediates a unique nodule symbiosis that is independent of rhizobial Nod factors. In Aeschynomene evenia, AeRLCK2 is crucial for nodule initiation but not for arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis. Additionally, AeRLCK2 physically interacts with and is phosphorylated by the cysteine-rich RLK, AeCRK, which is also required for nodulation. This finding uncovers an important molecular mechanism that controls the establishment of nodulation and is associated with Nod-independent symbiosis.
Authors
- Éric Giraud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4190-1732)
- Clare Gough (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5844-7217)
- Marjorie Pervent (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2429-1389)
- Benoît Lefebvre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3810-605X)
- Frédéric Gressent (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7029-8709)
- Julie V. Cullimore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8804-4849)
- Carole Pichereaux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7559-5358)
- Nico Nouwen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7132-9378)
- Jean‐François Arrighi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6184-2066)
- Laurent Brottier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8584-2199)
- Virginie Gasciolli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3240-1813)
- Christophe Klopp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7126-5477)
- Maëlle Rios (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6341-9495)
- Djamel Gully (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1695-5744)
- David Landry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6147-8580)
- Natasha Horta Araújo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2400-6573)
- Martin Racoupeau
- Clémence Chaintreuil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4439-3454)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (FR)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (FR)
- Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes Microbes Environnement (FR)
- Institut Agro Montpelier (FR)
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (FR)
- Services déconcentrés d'appui à la recherche Occitanie-Montpellier (FR)
- Génétique Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage (FR)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- French Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Plant Cell
- Published
- 2025-08-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koaf201
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.50
Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche