Duration
September 2006 - August 2010

Coordinator
Julie Cullimore (Julie.Cullimore@toulouse.inra.fr)

Description
NODPERCEPTION is a Marie Curie Research Training Network (MCRTN) funded by the Human Resources and Mobility activity of the European Commission’s 6th Framework Research and Technological Development Programme. It involves a partnership between research groups in eight internationally renowned research centres from six European countries using complementary research methodologies.
The research project concerns the establishment of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. This symbiosis is initiated by rhizobial bacteria which secrete lipochitooligosaccharidic Nod factor signals. These signals are perceived by legume plants to initiate the development of root nodules in which the rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen which supports growth of the legume plant. The project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms of Nod factor perception through an integrated and multidisciplinary research project using the legume Medicago truncatula.
Genetic approaches have previously identified a number of receptors which are involved in Nod factor perception. In M. truncatula, these receptors include the lysin motif-receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) encoded by the NFP and LYK3 genes and the leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like-kinase (LRR-RLK) encoded by the DMI2 gene. The project will integrate multidisciplinary approaches to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors perceive Nod factors leading to specificity of partner recognition and activation of the plant infection and nodulation pathways. These approaches include plant genetics, functional genomics, proteomics, cellular, molecular and structural biology, computational analysis, biochemistry, organic and analytical chemistry, and biophysics. The project will be based on the model legume Medicago truncatula which is nodulated by Sinorhizobium meliloti. The project has recruited 7 PhD students (Early-stage researchers) and 2 post-doctoral researchers (Experienced researchers), who are working on different aspects of the work programme. A major aim of the contract is to train these researchers in both scientific and complementary skills, for careers in research and development.

Partnership
The NODPERCEPTION project is carried out by the following eight partners, located in internationally renowned research centres in France (2), the Netherlands (2), the UK, Hungary, Spain and Poland.
Dr Julie Cullimore, Dr Clare Gough and Dr Jean-Jacques Bono. Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes, INRA-CNRS, Toulouse, France.
Dr René Geurts. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
Dr Giles Oldroyd and Prof Allan Downie. The John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
Dr Gabriella Endre. Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary.
Prof Dorus Gadella. Swammerdam Institute for Life Science, Amsterdam University, The Netherlands.
Dr Anne Imberty and Dr Hugues Driguez. Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolecules Végétales, CNRS, Grenoble, France.
Dr Jesus Jimenez-Barbero. Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
Prof Slawomir Pikula. Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Warsaw, Poland.

Web site
http://medicago.toulouse.inra.fr/NODPERCEPTION/

More information
Contact : Julie.Cullimore@toulouse.inra.fr