Role of acetosyringone in the accumulation of a set of RNAs in the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Glomus intraradices.

Plant root exudates contain a range of low molecular weight metabolites that trigger many of the structural and physiological changes associated with the progression and establishment of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Here, the physiological response triggered by acetosyringone (AS) was studied in Glomus intraradices. Incubation of G. intraradices spores with AS resulted in an overall increase in hyphal respiration. A G. intraradices cDNA library was then screened with a total cDNA probe obtained from the AS-treated spores and mycelium. cDNAs from genes induced in AS-treated G. intraradices were assigned to different functional categories, such as protein synthesis, membrane transport, signal transduction, and general metabolism, but without further information regarding their function or identity. A cDNA coding a fragment of a histidine kinase was also induced by AS, suggesting a two-component mediated response to the metabolite. In addition, the differential accumulation of a cruciform DNA-binding protein mRNA, termed as GiBP1, was also observed. Time-course experiments demonstrated the rapid accumulation of GiBP1 within 2 h of AS induction. These results indicate the presence of a set of fungal genes that are induced by AS. These findings are discussed in terms of the possible molecular events that follow the exchange of signals between mycorrhizal symbionts.