Synthesis and roles of glutathione and homoglutathione in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis

Abstract

Glutathione (GSH) is a major antioxidant molecule in plants. It is involved in regulating plant development and responses to abiotic and biotic environment changes. In leguminous plants, a GSH homolog, homoglutathione is also found. Most legumes can develop a symbiotic interaction with soil bacteria of the rhizobium family under nitrogen deficiency. This symbiosis allows the reduction of atmospheric nitrogen by the bacteria in plant organs called root nodules. In this chapter, we summarize studies that describe the synthesis and the roles of GSH and hGSH in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.