SOYBEAN NODULATION FACTOR RECEPTOR PROTEINS, ENCODING NUCLEIC ACIDS AND USES THEREFOR

摘要

The invention provides GmNFR1a, GmNFR1ß, GmNFR5a and GmNFR5ßsoybean nodulation factor receptor proteins, a receptor complex and encoding nucleic acids. Also provided are GmNFR1a, GmNFR1ß, GmNFR5a and GmNFR5ß promoters which may be useful for expressing autologous or heterologous sequences in plants such as soybean. Variant proteins and nucleic acids including RNA splice variants, mis-sense mutants and non-sense mutants are also described. Also provided are genetically-modified plants and methods of producing genetically-modified plants. Over-expression of soybean nodulation factor receptor proteins by genetically-modified plants may lead to enhanced and/or otherwise facilitated nodulation and/or nitrogen fixation. Genetically-modified plants with down-regulated nodulation factor receptor expression, such as by RNAi or antisense constructs, may exhibit inhibited, diminished or otherwise reduced nodulation and/or nitrogen fixation.