Cell Cycle Control in Root Nodule Organogenesis

Studies on root nodules shed light on novel functions of known cell cycle genes (eg. CycD3, CycA2) and resulted in the identification of new plant cell cycle regulators (eg. E2F, ccs52, enod40). For example, CCS52 that may play a general role in plant development by stopping cell division and transforming the mitotic cycle to endocycles was discovered from nodules probably because endoreduplication cycles persist and reach a high degree of polyploidy in nodules. Although the function of enod40 remains a puzzle, existence of enod40 homologs in non-legumes plants indicates that it might have a broader implication in plants and the knowledge gained on nodules could be extended for other plants.