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Folate Biosynthesis is Boosted in Legume Nodules.

Sara M Garza-Aguilar1, Perla A Ramos-Parra1, Rafael Urrea-López1,2

  • 1Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

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Summary

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation significantly increases folate levels in plant nodules, supporting essential metabolic processes like purine and methionine synthesis. This highlights nodules as a key sink for one-carbon units during nitrogen fixation.

Keywords:
folateslegumesone‐carbon metabolismpurine biosynthesissubcellular folatessymbiotic nitrogen fixation

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Area of Science:

  • Plant biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) significantly impacts plant metabolism.
  • The specific roles of folates and one-carbon (1C) metabolism in SNF remain largely unexplored.
  • Understanding these pathways is crucial for optimizing legume crop productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of SNF on folate and 1C metabolism in *Phaseolus vulgaris*.
  • To quantify folate accumulation and distribution within nodules.
  • To correlate folate levels with nitrogen fixation rates.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of SNF in *Phaseolus vulgaris* using *Rhizobium etli*.
  • Quantification of folate concentrations in nodules, roots, and xylem sap.
  • Subcellular fractionation to determine folate localization (cytosol, plastids, bacteroids).
  • Differential transcriptome analysis of nodule gene expression.

Main Results:

  • Nodules exhibited the highest reported folate concentration (60 nmol/g FW), with elevated levels also observed in *Medicago truncatula* and *sativa*.
  • Folate levels positively correlated with nitrogen (N2) fixation rates.
  • Key 1C metabolism amino acids accumulated in nodules.
  • Subcellular analysis revealed specific folate forms in cytosol (5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate) and plastids (10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate); bacteroids had low folate levels.
  • Folate was detected in xylem sap, increasing during SNF.
  • Upregulation of 1C reaction genes, but limited changes in folate biosynthesis genes, was observed.

Conclusions:

  • SNF dramatically enhances folate accumulation in legume nodules.
  • Folates are essential for sustaining purine, thymidylate, and methionine synthesis during nitrogen fixation and nodule development.
  • Legume nodules function as significant sinks for 1C units, driven by SNF.