ENOD8, a Novel Early Nodule-Specific Gene, Is Expressed in Empty Alfalfa Nodules. Rebecca Dickstein. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, 32nd and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19104 U.S.A. Reeta Prusty, Tao Peng, Winnie Ngo, and Mary Ellen Smith. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Drexel University, 32nd and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19104 U.S.A. MPMI 6:715-721. Accepted 30 July 1993. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1993.

The alfalfa ENOD8 nodule-specific gene is expressed in empty nodules elicited by exopolysaccharide-deficient Rhizobium meliloti, and it is expressed early in nodule development. An ENOD8 cDNA was sequenced and found to encode a novel product. Its deduced polypeptide sequence was found to be similar to the nonproline-rich domains of the putative polypeptides encoded by a class of anther-specific genes from Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus. The role of the ENOD8 gene product is predicted to be in nodule organogenesis. ENOD8 is expressed in a developmental pathway triggered as a result of Rhizobium nodulation signal transduction.