Dissection of Nod factor signalling in legumes: cell biology, mutants and pharmacological approaches

Nodulation factors (NFs) are lipochito-oligosaccharide signal molecules excreted by soil-living rhizobia. These molecules elicit a range of responses in the legume roots, with which the bacteria can live in symbiosis. In this review we focus on the genetic, pharmacological and cell biological approaches that have been, and are being, undertaken to decipher the signalling pathways that lead to the symbiotic responses in the plant