Annexin- and calcium-regulated priming of legume root cells for endosymbiotic infection
Résumé
Abstract Legumes establish endosymbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or rhizobia bacteria to improve mineral nutrition. Symbionts are hosted in privileged habitats, root cortex (for AM fungi) or nodules (for rhizobia) for efficient nutrient exchange. To reach these habitats, plants form cytoplasmic bridges, which are key to predicting and guiding the cellular route of entry of fungal hyphae or rhizobia-filled infection threads (ITs). However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly studied. Here we show that unique ultrastructural changes and Ca 2+ spiking signatures, closely linked to MtAnn1 annexin accumulation, accompany rhizobia-associated bridge formation. Loss of MtAnn1 function in M. truncatula affects Ca 2+ spike amplitude, cytoplasmic configuration and rhizobia infection efficiency, consistent with a role of MtAnn1 in regulating infection priming. MtAnn1, which evolved in species establishing intracellular symbioses, is also AM-symbiosis-induced and required for proper arbuscule formation. Together, we propose that MtAnn1 is part of an ancient Ca 2+ -regulatory module for transcellular endosymbiotic infection.