Editing Nod factor (section)

== Function ==
{{See also|Common Symbiotic Signaling Pathway}}
Nod factors are potentially recognized by plant receptors made of two [[histidine kinase]]s with extracellular [[LysM domain]], which have been identified in ''[[Lotus japonicus|L. japonicus]],'' [[soybean]], and ''[[Medicago truncatula|M. truncatula]]'' <ref name=":0">{{cite journal|vauthors=Gage DJ|date=June 2004|title=Infection and invasion of roots by symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia during nodulation of temperate legumes.|journal=Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews|volume=68|issue=2|pages=280–300|doi=10.1128/MMBR.68.2.280-300.2004|pmc=419923|pmid=15187185}}</ref>''.'' Binding of Nod factors to these receptors  depolarizes the plasma membrane of root hairs via an influx of Ca<sup>+2</sup>  which induce the expression of early nodulin (ENOD) genes and swelling of the root hairs. In M. truncatula, the signal transduction initiates by the activation of ''dmi1, dmi2'', and ''dmi3'' which lead to the deformation of root hairs, early nodulin expression, cortical cell division and bacterial infection. Additionally, ''nsp'' and ''hcl'' genes are recruited later and aid in the process of early nodulation expression, cortical cell division, and infection.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Oldroyd|first=G|date=2001|title=Dissecting Symbiosis: Developments in Nod Factor Signal Transduction|journal=Annals of Botany|volume=87|issue=6|pages=709–718|doi=10.1006/anbo.2001.1410|doi-access=free|bibcode=2001AnBot..87..709O}}</ref> Genes ''dmi1, dmi2, and dmi3''  have also been found to aid in the establishment of interactions between ''M. truncatula'' and [[arbuscular mycorrhiza]],  indicating that the two very different symbioses may share some common mechanisms.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Oláh B, Brière C, Bécard G, Dénarié J, Gough C|date=August 2005|title=Nod factors and a diffusible factor from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi stimulate lateral root formation in Medicago truncatula via the DMI1/DMI2 signalling pathway|journal=The Plant Journal|volume=44|issue=2|pages=195–207|doi=10.1111/j.1365-313X.2005.02522.x|pmid=16212600|doi-access=free}}</ref> The end result is the nodule, the structure in which nitrogen is fixed.  Nod factors act by inducing changes in gene expression in the legume, most notable the nodulin genes, which are needed for nodule organogenesis.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Govers F, Moerman M, Downie JA, Hooykaas P, Franssen HJ, Louwerse J, van Kammen A, Bisseling T | title = Rhizobium nod genes are involved in inducing an early nodulin gene. | journal = Nature | date = October 1986 | volume = 323 | issue = 6088 | pages = 564–466 | doi = 10.1038/323564a0 | bibcode = 1986Natur.323..564G | s2cid = 4324682 }}</ref>