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Title: Metabolite shift in Medicago truncatula occurs in phosphorus deprivation
Abstract

Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation entails successful interaction between legume hosts and rhizobia that occur in specialized organs called nodules. N-fixing legumes have a higher demand for phosphorus (P) than legumes grown on mineral N. Medicago truncatula is an important model plant for characterization of effects of P deficiency at the molecular level. Hence, a study was carried out to address the alteration in metabolite levels of M. truncatula grown aeroponically and subjected to 4 weeks of P stress. First, GC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics initially revealed changes in the metabolic profile of nodules, with increased levels of amino acids and sugars and a decline in amounts of organic acids. Subsequently, LC-MS/MS was used to quantify these compounds including phosphorylated metabolites in the whole plant. Our results showed a drastic reduction in levels of organic acids and phosphorylated compounds in –P leaves, with a moderate reduction in –P roots and nodules. Additionally, sugars and amino acids were elevated in the whole plant under P deprivation. These findings provide evidence that N fixation in M. truncatula is mediated through a N feedback mechanism that in parallel is related to carbon and P metabolism.

 
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Award ID(s):
2139351
NSF-PAR ID:
10365545
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Oxford University Press
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Experimental Botany
Volume:
73
Issue:
7
ISSN:
0022-0957
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 2093-2111
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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