In vivo super(31)P NMR spectroscopic studies of soybean Bradyrhizobium symbiosis: Compartmentation and distribution of P metabolites

• Published in: FEBS letters Vol. 254; no. 1-2; pp. 203 - 206
• Main Authors: Rolin, D B, Pfeffer, P E, Boswell, R T, Schmidt, J H, Tu, SI
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1989
• Subjects: Bradyrhizobium japonicum; Glycine max; N.M.R; nodules; phosphorus
• ISSN: 0014-5793

In vivo super(31)P NMR spectroscopy was used to study the distribution of P metabolites and compartmentation in soybean nodules. By careful separation of the cortex, central matrix and bacteroids, we were able to obtain in vivo super(31)P spectra of the metabolites associated with each specialized section of the nodule tissue. These results indicated that in the earlier stages of growth ( less than or equal to 4 weeks) the majority of P sub(i) was actively metabolized in the cytoplasm. Furthermore super(31)P spectra revealed that the cortical cells contained negligible amounts of phosphorus-containing metabolites in their cytoplasm. However, the vacuoles of the cortical cells appeared to preferentially accumulate P sub(i) during growth. In contrast, the P sub(i) levels of the vacuoles of uninfected cells in the central matrix, after 7 weeks, remained relatively constant.