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First published online December 19, 2008; 10.1104/pp.108.129601

Plant Physiology 149:1166-1178 (2009)
© 2009 American Society of Plant Biologists

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PLANTS INTERACTING WITH OTHER ORGANISMS

Overexpression of Flavodoxin in Bacteroids Induces Changes in Antioxidant Metabolism Leading to Delayed Senescence and Starch Accumulation in Alfalfa Root Nodules1

Francisco J. Redondo2, Teodoro Coba de la Peña2, César N. Morcillo, M. Mercedes Lucas3 and José J. Pueyo3,*

Department of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Instituto de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, E–28006 Madrid, Spain

Sinorhizobium meliloti cells were engineered to overexpress Anabaena variabilis flavodoxin, a protein that is involved in the response to oxidative stress. Nodule natural senescence was characterized in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plants nodulated by the flavodoxin-overexpressing rhizobia or the corresponding control bacteria. The decline of nitrogenase activity and the nodule structural and ultrastructural alterations that are associated with nodule senescence were significantly delayed in flavodoxin-expressing nodules. Substantial changes in nodule antioxidant metabolism, involving antioxidant enzymes and ascorbate-glutathione cycle enzymes and metabolites, were detected in flavodoxin-containing nodules. Lipid peroxidation was also significantly lower in flavodoxin-expressing nodules than in control nodules. The observed amelioration of the oxidative balance suggests that the delay in nodule senescence was most likely due to a role of the protein in reactive oxygen species detoxification. Flavodoxin overexpression also led to high starch accumulation in nodules, without reduction of the nitrogen-fixing activity.

1 This work was supported by the Comunidad de Madrid (fellowship to T.C.d.l.P. and grant to J.J.P.), the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and the European Social Fund (fellowship to F.J.R. and postdoctoral contract to T.C.d.l.P.), and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (grant to J.J.P.).

2 These authors contributed equally to the article.

3 These authors contributed equally to the article.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: José J. Pueyo (pueyo{at}ccma.csic.es).

www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.108.129601

* Corresponding author; e-mail pueyo{at}ccma.csic.es.

Received September 8, 2008; accepted December 12, 2008; published December 19, 2008.

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