A conserved rhizobial peptidase that interacts with host-derived symbiotic peptides.

ABSTRACT: In the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis, chemical signaling initiates rhizobial infection of root nodule tissue, where a large portion of the bacteria are endocytosed into root nodule cells to function in nitrogen-fixing organelles. These intracellular bacteria are subjected to an arsenal of plant-derived nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, which induce the physiological changes that accompany nitrogen fixation. NCR peptides drive these intracellular bacteria toward terminal differentiation. The bacterial peptidase HrrP was previously shown to degrade host-derived NCR peptides and give the bacterial symbionts greater fitness at the expense of host fitness. The hrrP gene is found in roughly 10% of Sinorhizobium isolates, as it is carried on an accessory plasmid

SUBMITTER: Benedict AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8175422 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature