Quantitative assessment of hormogonia induction in Nostoc punctiforme by a fluorescent reporter strain

While symbiotic plant-cyanobacteria interactions hold significant potential for revolutionizing agricultural practices by reducing the application of artificial nitrogen fertilizers, the genetic underpinnings of the symbiotic interaction between the plant host and the cyanobiont remain poorly unders...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Neubauer, Anna, Iniesta-Pallarés, Macarena, Álvarez, Consolación, Bailly, Aurélien, Szövényi, Péter, Mariscal, Vicente
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/407713
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/407713
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105017166133
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Anthoceros agrestis
Nostoc punctiforme
Biological nitrogen fixation
Cyanobiont
Hormogonia
Plant-cyanobacteria symbiosis
Descripción
Sumario:While symbiotic plant-cyanobacteria interactions hold significant potential for revolutionizing agricultural practices by reducing the application of artificial nitrogen fertilizers, the genetic underpinnings of the symbiotic interaction between the plant host and the cyanobiont remain poorly understood. In particular, the molecular mechanisms through which host plants induce the formation of motile cyanobacterial filaments (hormogonia), essential for colonization and initiation of symbiosis, are not well characterized. In this study, we present a novel yet objective method for quantifying hormogonia induction, addressing limitations of traditional qualitative approaches. We have developed a reporter strain of Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73102 capable of quantifying hormogonia induction in response to diverse biotic and abiotic stimuli. This reporter strain, generated via triparental mating conjugation transformation, contains the promoter sequence of prepilin pilA fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and enables quantitative and high-throughput monitoring of hormogonia induction using a microplate reader. Our innovative approach, employing a cyanobacterial hormogonia reporter strain, allows high-throughput screening of the hormogonia-inducing effect of a wide array of environmental and plant signals. This method is expected to greatly advance our understanding of the genetic determinants underpinning plant-cyanobacteria symbioses.