C. Libourel

Conservation of symbiotic signalling across 450 million years of plant evolution

This study shows that the common symbiotic pathway genes are essential for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in bryophytes, indicating conservation of this pathway for 450 million years.

The Marchantia pangenome reveals ancient mechanisms of plant adaptation to the environment

This study analyzes the pangenome of Marchantia polymorpha to identify genetic features involved in plant adaptation to terrestrial environments, finding shared and lineage-specific genes with flowering plants.

Comparative phylotranscriptomics reveals a 110 million years-old symbiotic program

This study reconstructs the ancestral transcriptomic program for root-nodule nitrogen-fixing symbiosis by comparing transcriptomic responses across nine host plants, revealing most RNS novelties originated in a 110 million-year-old ancestor.

Remorin proteins serve as membrane topology scaffolds in plants

The paper shows remorin proteins stabilize membrane tubules and curvature during symbiotic infections in plants.

Phylogenomics reveals the evolutionary origin of lichenization in chlorophyte algae

The paper investigates the evolutionary origin of lichenization in chlorophyte algae by analyzing genomes and transcriptomes of lichen algal symbionts and non-symbiotic algae, identifying convergent evolution and horizontal gene transfer as key factors.

An ancestral function of strigolactones as symbiotic rhizosphere signals

This study identifies BSB, an ancestral strigolactone in bryophytes, which functions as a rhizosphere signal for AM symbiosis and was later co-opted as a plant hormone.

Genetics of nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia uncovers new mechanisms of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis

This study identifies key genes involved in nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia, revealing new mechanisms of rhizobium-legume symbiosis through genetic and transcriptomic analyses.

A formin-mediated cell wall- plasma membrane- cytoskeleton continuum is required for symbiotic infections in Medicago truncatula

This study identifies SYFO1, a formin protein in Medicago truncatula, which connects the cell wall and cytoskeleton to facilitate rhizobial infection by enabling plasma membrane remodeling and cell polarization.

An ancestral signalling pathway is conserved in plant lineages forming intracellular symbioses

The paper shows that an ancestral signaling pathway is conserved in plant lineages with intracellular symbioses but lost in those with extracellular symbioses.