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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Plant Promoter Analysis: Identification and Characterization of Root Nodule Specific Promoter in the Common Bean
Published on: December 23, 2017
Structural basis of NSP1-NSP2 heterodimerization and its regulatory mechanism in legume nodulation
Lihao Wan1, Chunmei He2,3,4, Chongyu Xue1
1National Key Lab of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China.
Abstract:
Legumes establish symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, leading to the development of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Two GRAS transcription factors, nodulation signaling pathway (NSP) 1 and NSP2, are essential for Nod factor-induced transcription and subsequent nodulation in legumes. However, the structural basis of their interaction and functional mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we report the crystal structure of the Medicago truncatula NSP1-NSP2 complex at 2.4 Å resolution. The structure reveals that NSP1 and NSP2 assemble into a heterodimer with a small, triangular interface exclusively composed of their leucine heptad repeat I motifs. This direct interaction is essential for nodulation, as NSP2 facilitates NSP1-DNA binding. Furthermore, we identified an HCCC-type zinc finger in NSP1 that modulates nodulation by influencing its DNA-binding activity. Together, our findings provide structural insights into NSP1-NSP2 heterodimerization and elucidate the regulatory mechanism underlying legume nodulation, offering a theoretical foundation for rationally engineering NSP1 and NSP2 to optimize plant-microbe relationships for agricultural applications.
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