Researchers create first of its kind map of a multi-kingdom symbiotic interaction
The Science: Plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have a symbiotic relationship. Plants provide AM fungi with carbon in exchange for nutrients and water. These interactions occur in a small subset of root cells, which prevents scientists from using conventional genomic techniques to study them at a molecular level. Many of the genes involved in this symbiotic relationship have yet to be characterized. Researchers used multiple sequencing approaches to dive deeper into the symbiosis between plants and AM fungi. Understanding symbiosis at a fundamental level would enable optimization of these interactions to promote plant growth, more efficient nutrient cycling, and enhance soil carbon sequestration.
The Impact: Researchers explored a symbiotic relationship that has implications for agriculture and the environment. They created a two-dimensional map of plant and AM fungi transcriptomes — all the RNA transcripts produced by cells of the two organisms — during symbiosis. This provided insight into gene expression happening between the two organisms. The map is the first of its kind of a multi-kingdom symbiotic interaction. It serves as a new resource for researchers studying AM fungi. This research also shows how multi-omics approaches can help answer biological questions.
Summary: Researchers used single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing to explore the transcriptomes of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis — a model species for AM symbiosis — and the plant Medicago truncatula, a relative of alfalfa. The two RNA sequencing methods allowed them to investigate transcriptomes from all cell types. The methods they used provided advantages including higher resolution and throughput and the ability to compare gene expression and tissue features side-by-side. Their research revealed transcripts and thousands of R. irregularis genes that can serve as targets for future studies to improve soil carbon sequestration and ecosystem resilience.
Publication: Serrano, K., Bezrutczyk, M., Goudeau, D., et al. Spatial co-transcriptomics reveals discrete stages of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Nature Plants (2024). [DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01666-3]
Written by Emily Nelson