Jean-Michel Ané
Associate Professor of Agronomy
PhD, University of Toulouse (France), 2002
Lab Website: http://agronomy.wisc.edu/symbiosis
Address: 348 Horticulture-Moore Hall-Plant Sciences
Telephone: 262-6457
E-mail: jane@wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Molecular genetics of plant-microbe symbioses
Research Fields:
Plant Genetics
Developmental Genetics
Arabidopsis
Research Description: Our primary research interest is the understanding of how symbiotic associations between plants and microbes develop. The vast majority of higher plants establish symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that improve their ability to acquire phosphate and nitrogen from the soil. In addition to establishing mycorrhizal symbioses, legumes also enter into a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with bacteria known as rhizobia that results in the formation of root nodules.
An elegant combination of microbial genetics and biochemistry elucidated bacterial and plant factors that mediate the often-high level of host specificity observed in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis. Legumes secrete an array of flavonoid compounds from their roots, which activate the expression of bacterial nodulation genes. These genes encode proteins involved in the synthesis and secretion by the bacterial partner of lipochitooligosaccharidic (LCO) molecules, named Nod factors, harboring various substituents along their backbone. The nature of these substituents varies by bacterial species and confers host specificity. Legume roots are exquisitely sensitive to Nod factors, and can respond to picomolar concentrations. A similar molecular dialog has been recently identified in arbuscular mycorrhization with roots exuding stigolactones and fungi producing diffusible Myc factors. Both Nod and Myc factors are able to stimulate lateral root development and promote plant growth.
Our research aims at understanding how symbiotic signals are perceived by host plants and their effects on symbiotic interactions, plant development and plant-pathogen interactions.
We are utilizing and developing tools in the model legume Medicago truncatula to unravel these molecular processes. We are also transferring information gained from model plants to major crops such as soybean, alfalfa and corn to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by symbiotic associations to our modern agriculture.
Representative Publications:
Grimsrud P.A., den Os D., Wenger C.D., Schwartz D., Sussman M.R., Ané J.M., Coon J. (2010) Large-scale analysis of protein phosphorylation in Medicago truncatula roots, Plant Physiology, 152: 19-28.
Kevei Z., Lougnon G., Mergaert P., Horváth G.V., Kereszt A., Jayaraman D., Zaman N., Marcela F., Regulski K., Kiss G.B., Kondorosi A., Endre G., Kondorosi E., Ané J.M. (2007) A 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase interacts with NORK in the nodulation signaling pathway. The Plant Cell, 19:3974-3989.
Peiter E., Sun J., Heckmann A.B., Venkateshwaran M., Riley B.K., Otegui M.S., Edwards A., Freshour G., Hahn M.G., Cook D.R., Sanders D., Oldroyd G.E.D., Downie J.A., Ané J.M. (2007) Medicago truncatula DMI1 modulates calcium signaling. Plant Physiology, 145(1): 192–203.
Messinese E., Mun J.H., Yeun L.H., Jayaraman D., Rougé P., Barre A., Lougnon G., Schornack S., Bono J.J., Cook D.R., and Ané J.M. (2007) A novel nuclear protein interacts with the symbiotic DMI3 CCaMK of Medicago truncatula. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 20 (8): 912-921.
Zhu H., Riely B.K., Burns N.J., Ané J.M. (2006) Tracing non-legume orthologs of legume genes required for nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. Genetics, 172:2491-2499.
Associate Professor of Agronomy
PhD, University of Toulouse (France), 2002
Address: 348 Horticulture-Moore Hall-Plant Sciences
Telephone: 262-6457
E-mail: jane@wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Molecular genetics of plant-microbe symbioses
Research Fields:
Plant Genetics
Developmental Genetics
Arabidopsis
Our primary research interest is the understanding of how symbiotic associations between plants and microbes develop. The vast majority of higher plants establish symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that improve their ability to acquire phosphate and nitrogen from the soil. In addition to establishing mycorrhizal symbioses, legumes also enter into a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with bacteria known as rhizobia that results in the formation of root nodules.
Grimsrud P.A., den Os D., Wenger C.D., Schwartz D., Sussman M.R., Ané J.M., Coon J. (2010) Large-scale analysis of protein phosphorylation in Medicago truncatula roots, Plant Physiology, 152: 19-28.
Kevei Z., Lougnon G., Mergaert P., Horváth G.V., Kereszt A., Jayaraman D., Zaman N., Marcela F., Regulski K., Kiss G.B., Kondorosi A., Endre G., Kondorosi E., Ané J.M. (2007) A 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase interacts with NORK in the nodulation signaling pathway. The Plant Cell, 19:3974-3989.
Peiter E., Sun J., Heckmann A.B., Venkateshwaran M., Riley B.K., Otegui M.S., Edwards A., Freshour G., Hahn M.G., Cook D.R., Sanders D., Oldroyd G.E.D., Downie J.A., Ané J.M. (2007) Medicago truncatula DMI1 modulates calcium signaling. Plant Physiology, 145(1): 192–203.
Messinese E., Mun J.H., Yeun L.H., Jayaraman D., Rougé P., Barre A., Lougnon G., Schornack S., Bono J.J., Cook D.R., and Ané J.M. (2007) A novel nuclear protein interacts with the symbiotic DMI3 CCaMK of Medicago truncatula. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 20 (8): 912-921.
Zhu H., Riely B.K., Burns N.J., Ané J.M. (2006) Tracing non-legume orthologs of legume genes required for nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. Genetics, 172:2491-2499.
