Single-cell analysis identifies genes facilitating rhizobium infection in Lotus japonicus

Manuel Frank, Lavinia Ioana Fechete, Francesca Tedeschi, Marcin Nadzieja, Malita Malou Malekzadeh Nørgaard, Jesus Montiel, Kasper Røjkjær Andersen, Mikkel H. Schierup, Dugald Reid () and Stig Uggerhøj Andersen ()
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Manuel Frank: Aarhus University
Lavinia Ioana Fechete: Aarhus University
Francesca Tedeschi: Aarhus University
Marcin Nadzieja: Aarhus University
Malita Malou Malekzadeh Nørgaard: Aarhus University
Jesus Montiel: Aarhus University
Kasper Røjkjær Andersen: Aarhus University
Mikkel H. Schierup: Aarhus University
Dugald Reid: Aarhus University
Stig Uggerhøj Andersen: Aarhus University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Legume-rhizobium signaling during establishment of symbiotic nitrogen fixation restricts rhizobium colonization to specific cells. A limited number of root hair cells allow infection threads to form, and only a fraction of the epidermal infection threads progress to cortical layers to establish functional nodules. Here we use single-cell analysis to define the epidermal and cortical cell populations that respond to and facilitate rhizobium infection. We then identify high-confidence nodulation gene candidates based on their specific expression in these populations, pinpointing genes stably associated with infection across genotypes and time points. We show that one of these, which we name SYMRKL1, encodes a protein with an ectodomain predicted to be nearly identical to that of SYMRK and is required for normal infection thread formation. Our work disentangles cellular processes and transcriptional modules that were previously confounded due to lack of cellular resolution, providing a more detailed understanding of symbiotic interactions.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42911-1

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