A symbiotic MLO gene regulates root development via RALF34-triggered Ca2+ signalling in Lotus japonicus
Clicks: 5
ID: 320345
2026
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This
article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score —
reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
Reader Engagement
Steady Performance
1.2
/100
5 views
2 readers
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
SteadyRanked #214 of 513 articles by views in Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
Most read
Least read
Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 513 in total.
Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet mintedCreate a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.
5
SUSD
one-off · no wallet required
Abstract
Abstract Mildew Locus O (MLO) genes, initially identified as powdery mildew susceptibility factors, are increasingly recognized as multifunctional regulators implicated in diverse processes, including plant reproduction, root thigmotropism, and interactions with beneficial microbes. Recent evidence shows that MLO proteins can act as Ca2+-permeable channels in response to Rapid Alkalinization Factors (RALF) peptides in reproductive cells, pointing to broader roles in Ca2+-mediated signalling. In this study, we investigate the symbiotic clade IV member LjMLO4 in the model legume Lotus japonicus, focusing on its role in root development and responsiveness to LjRALF34 peptides. We show that LjMLO4 expression is strongly induced in root cells colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, yet loss-of-function mutants exhibit only subtle AM-associated phenotypes. Instead, we uncover a previously uncharacterized function of LjMLO4 as a regulator of primary root growth and lateral root formation, acting even in the absence of AM fungal colonization and in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Heterologous expression in E. coli confirms that LjMLO4 facilitates Ca2+ transport, while genetic and physiological assays demonstrate its contribution to LjRALF34-triggered root growth responses and Ca2+ signalling. Together, these findings identify LjMLO4 as a molecular hub between peptide signalling, Ca2+ transport and root system architecture, highlighting how MLO proteins integrate developmental, nutritional and symbiotic cues.
| Reference Key |
openalex_W7167798635
Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using
SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
|
|---|---|
| Authors | Filippo Binci, Giacomo Guarneri, Sofía C. Somoza, Filippo Vascon, Arianna Capparotto, Edoardo Di Nuzzo, Giacomo Rago, Barbara Baldan, Laura Cendron, Lorella Navazio, Marco Giovannetti |
| Journal | Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB |
| Year | 2026 |
| DOI |
10.1093/plphys/kiag485
|
| URL | |
| Keywords | Keywords not found |
Citations
No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.