Study of the role of a new signalling protein in nitrogen metabolism in the model legume Medicago truncatula

Nitrogen (N) is a key element for plant growth and development and also a metabolic signal that is sensed and transduced by plants. The identification of the molecular players of the N-mediated signaling events in plants is absolutely necessary to fully understand the N-regulatory networks, and ultimately to provide the knowledge necessary to improve N-use efficiency (NUE). In spite of many efforts to identify the molecular players involved in N signaling, only a few have been identified. We have recently identified novel molecular players (GSI-like proteins) and obtained strong evidence pointing to an involvement of these molecules in nitrogen-signaling pathways known to influence developmental processes such as lateral root and root nodule formation. This project is intended to fully characterize these novel molecular players and to unravel their function within the N-signaling network in the context of the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.