Abstract
BackgroundThe arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is characterized by the presence of different symbiotic structures and stages within a root system. Therefore tools allowing the analysis of molecular changes at a cellular level are required to reveal insight into arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis development and functioning.ResultsHere we describe the analysis of metabolite pools in arbuscule-containing cells, which are the site of nutrient transfer between AM fungus and host plant. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-EI/TOF-MS) enabled the analysis of primary metabolite levels,which might be of plant or fungal origin, within these cells.ConclusionsHigh levels of the amino acids, aspartate, asparagine, glutamate, and glutamine, were observed in arbuscule-containing cells. Elevated amounts of sucrose and the steady-state of hexose levels indicated a direct assimilation of monosaccharides by the fungal partner.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-015-0601-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is characterized by the presence of different symbiotic structures and stages within a root system
We address the adaptation of the plant host cells and the fungal organism to the symbiotic interaction with a specific focus on the differential accumulation of primary metabolites
Metabolite profiling of distinct cell types of mycorrhizal roots In a fully developed arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, different symbiotic structures are present in a root system
Summary
The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is characterized by the presence of different symbiotic structures and stages within a root system. Tools allowing the analysis of molecular changes at a cellular level are required to reveal insight into arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis development and functioning. AM symbiosis involves a mutually beneficial nutrient exchange at symbiotic interfaces, in particular, phosphate and nitrogen translocation to the plant. It is known that extraradical fungal hyphae take up different forms of nitrogen from the soil and transfer it to the host plant [5,6,7,8]. Root carbohydrate pools are substantially altered in mycorrhizal plants [9, 10]
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