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Nature 420, 369-370 (28 November 2002) | doi:10.1038/420369a

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Plant biology: Fixation with regulation

J. Allan Downie1 & Martin Parniske1

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A gene has been isolated that controls the number of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules in legumes. Its similarity to a well-characterized regulatory gene in Arabidopsis provides clues about its action.

Leguminous plants produce root nodules, within which symbiotic bacteria capture atmospheric N2 and convert it into nitrogen that can be used by the plant. But this process is energetically expensive and so legumes strictly control the numbers of nodules they form.

  1. J. Allan Downie is in the Department of Molecular Microbiology, and Martin Parniske is in the Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
    e-mail: Email: allan.downie@bbsrc.ac.uk
    e-mail: Email: martin.parniske@sainsbury-laboratory.ac.uk