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Nitrogen fixation

Endocrine disrupters and flavonoid signalling

Nature volume 413, pages 128–129 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Nitrogen fixation is a symbiotic process initiated by chemical signals from legumes that are recognized by soil bacteria. Here we show that some endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)1,2,3, so called because of their effect on hormone-signalling pathways in animal cells, also interfere with the symbiotic signalling that leads to nitrogen fixation. Our results raise the possibility that these phytochemically activated pathways may have features in common with hormonal signalling in vertebrates, thereby extending the biological and ecological impact of EDCs.

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Figure 1: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) alter symbiotic signalling in vitro and in vivo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Endocrinology Laboratory, Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities, New Orleans, 70112, Louisiana, USA

    Jennifer E. Fox, Marta Starcevic, Kelvin Y. Kow, Matthew E. Burow & John A. McLachlan

  2. Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, 70112, Louisiana, USA

    Jennifer E. Fox

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, 70112, Louisiana, USA

    Matthew E. Burow & John A. McLachlan

Authors
  1. Jennifer E. Fox
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  2. Marta Starcevic
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  3. Kelvin Y. Kow
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  4. Matthew E. Burow
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  5. John A. McLachlan
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Correspondence to John A. McLachlan.

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Fox, J., Starcevic, M., Kow, K. et al. Endocrine disrupters and flavonoid signalling. Nature 413, 128–129 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35093163

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