Group VII Ethylene Response Factors, MtERF74 and MtERF75, sustain
nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula microoxic nodules
Abstract
Group VII Ethylene Response Factors (ERF-VII) are plant-specific
transcription factors (TFs) known for their role in the activation of
hypoxia-responsive genes under low oxygen stress but also in plant
endogenous hypoxic niches. However, their function in the
microaerophilic nitrogen-fixing nodules of legumes has not yet been
investigated. We investigated regulation and the function of the two
Medicago truncatula ERF-VII TFs ( MtERF74 and
MtERF75) in roots and nodules, MtERF74 and MtERF75
in response to hypoxia stress and during the nodulation process using an
RNA interference strategy and targeted proteolysis of MtERF75. Knockdown
of MtERF74 and MtERF75 partially blocked the induction of
hypoxia-responsive genes in roots exposed to hypoxia stress. In
addition, a significant reduction in nodulation capacity and nitrogen
fixation activity was observed in mature nodules of double knockdown
transgenic roots. Overall, the results indicate that MtERF74 and MtERF75
are involved in the induction of MtNR1 and Pgb1.1
expression for efficient Phytogb-NO respiration in the nodule.