GmVTL1a is an iron transporter on the symbiosome membrane of soybean with an important role in nitrogen fixation

What is it about?

Legume plants such soybean interact with rhizobia bacteria that can fix nitrogen from the air and provide it to the plant as an alternative to expensive nitrogen fertilisers. In exchange for the nitrogen the plant needs to provide the rhizobia with energy and other nutrients like iron. We have identified a protein, GmVTL1, from soybean that helps transport the iron to the rhizobia. It is part of a family of proteins in legumes that are essential for nitrogen fixation to occur and without it the plants have to rely on nitrogen fertilisers. Producing nitrogen fertilisers uses lots of energy and produces greenhouse gases.

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