Multifunctional channels as key components of biotrophic interfaces in legumes.

在豆科植物中，不同基因组之间有两种类型的膜界面，对生长和产量至关重要（固氮和种子装载），这需要细胞信号传导途径来控制营养交换。这些界面的膜含有专门的蛋白质，形成多功能通道，水，不带电分子和电解质通过这些通道移动。这些通道可能负责支持大部分运输的营养物质，并控制它们的交换。我们的目标是发现这些通道如何在固氮和种子装载中发挥作用，以期开发可能提高作物生产力的新技术。

In legumes there are two types of membrane interfaces between different genomes that are critical for growth and yield (nitrogen fixation and seed loading), which require cell-signalling pathways to control nutrient exchange. The membranes of these interfaces contain specialised proteins that form multifunctional channels through which water, uncharged molecules and electrolytes move. These channels are likely to be responsible for supporting the bulk of transported nutrients and in controlling their exchange. We aim to discover how these channels function in nitrogen fixation and seed loading with a view to developing new technologies that may enhance crop productivity.