NO (nitric oxide) is a signal molecule involved in diverse physiological processes in cells which can become very toxic under certain conditions determined by its rate of production and diffusion. Several studies have clearly shown the production of NO in early stages of rhizobia–legume symbiosis and in mature nodules. In functioning nodules, it has been demonstrated that NO, which has been reported as a potent inhibitor of nitrogenase activity, can bind Lb (leghaemoglobin) to form LbNOs (nitrosyl–leghaemoglobin complexes). These observations have led to the question of how nodules overcome the toxicity of NO. On the bacterial side, one candidate for NO detoxification in nodules is the respiratory Nor (NO reductase) that catalyses the reduction of NO to nitrous oxide. In addition, rhizobial fHbs (flavohaemoglobins) and single-domain Hbs which dioxygenate NO to form nitrate are candidates to detoxify NO under free-living and symbiotic conditions. On the plant side, sHbs (symbiotic Hbs) (Lb) and nsHbs (non-symbiotic Hbs) have been proposed to play important roles as modulators of NO levels in the rhizobia–legume symbiosis. In the present review, current knowledge of NO detoxification by legume-associated endosymbiotic bacteria is summarized.
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February 2011
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Conference Article|
January 19 2011
Nitric oxide detoxification in the rhizobia–legume symbiosis
Cristina Sánchez;
Cristina Sánchez
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, PO Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
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Juan J. Cabrera;
Juan J. Cabrera
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, PO Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
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Andrew J. Gates;
Andrew J. Gates
†School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.
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Eulogio J. Bedmar;
Eulogio J. Bedmar
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, PO Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
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David J. Richardson;
David J. Richardson
†School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.
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María J. Delgado
María J. Delgado
1
*Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, PO Box 419, 18080 Granada, Spain
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email mdelgado@eez.csic.es).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 27 2010
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Biochem Soc Trans (2011) 39 (1): 184–188.
Article history
Received:
September 27 2010
Citation
Cristina Sánchez, Juan J. Cabrera, Andrew J. Gates, Eulogio J. Bedmar, David J. Richardson, María J. Delgado; Nitric oxide detoxification in the rhizobia–legume symbiosis. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 2011; 39 (1): 184–188. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0390184
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