A Receptor Like Cytoplasmic Kinase evolved in Aeschynomene legumes to mediate Nod-independent rhizobial symbiosis

Natasha Horta Araújo; David Landry; Johan Quilbé; Marjorie Pervent; Nico P. Nouwen; Christophe Klopp; Julie V. Cullimore; Djamel Gully; Céline Vicedo; Virginie Gasciolli; Laurent Brottier; Carole Pichereaux; Martin Racoupeau; Maëlle Rios; Frédéric Gressent; Clémence Chaintreuil; Clare L. Gough; Éric Giraud; Benoît Lefebvre; Jean‐François Arrighi

doi:10.1093/plcell/koaf201

Plant BiologyThe Plant CellAug 1, 2025

Peer-reviewed journal article

A Receptor Like Cytoplasmic Kinase evolved in Aeschynomene legumes to mediate Nod-independent rhizobial symbiosis

Natasha Horta Araújo iD, David Landry iD, Johan Quilbé, Marjorie Pervent iD, Nico P. Nouwen iD, Christophe Klopp iD, Julie V. Cullimore iD, Djamel Gully iD, Céline Vicedo iD, Virginie Gasciolli iD, Laurent Brottier iD, Carole Pichereaux iD, Martin Racoupeau iD, Maëlle Rios iD, Frédéric Gressent iD, Clémence Chaintreuil iD, Clare L. Gough iD, Éric Giraud iD, Benoît Lefebvre iD, Jean‐François Arrighi iD

Abstract

Many plants interact symbiotically with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to enhance inorganic phosphorus uptake, and legumes also develop a nodule symbiosis with rhizobia for nitrogen acquisition. Establishment and functioning of both symbioses rely on a common plant signaling pathway activated by structurally related Myc- and Nod-factors. Recently, a SPARK Receptor-like-Kinase (RLK)/Receptor-like Cytoplasmic Kinase (RLCK) complex was shown to be essential for AM in both monocot and dicot plants. Here, we show that in Aeschynomene legumes the RLCK component of this receptor complex has evolved following a gene duplication event and mediates a unique nodule symbiosis that is independent of rhizobial Nod factors. In Aeschynomene evenia, AeRLCK2 is crucial for nodule initiation but not for AM. Additionally, AeRLCK2 physically interacts with and is phosphorylated by the Cysteine-rich RLK, AeCRK, also required for nodulation. This work reveals a novel evolutionary origin of this Nod-independent symbiosis from AM.

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