We identified the Medicago truncatula subtilisin-like protease (subtilase, SBT) 12a acting as a novel regulator of symbiosome functionality and maintenance. Loss-of-function mutations in SBT12a led to severe symbiotic defects with nodules of sbt12a being characterized by high level induction of
defense/senescence-related genes. Using untargeted proteomic High-efficiency Undecanal-based N-Termini EnRichment (HUNTER) we identified and individually confirmed specific SBT12a target proteins
that are involved in plant defense responses and symbiosome maintenance. This positions SBT12a as a central host factor controlling symbiosome performance.
Zhang G, Stockert F, Mantz M, Rodriguez-Franco M, van Beveren F, Hernández-Reyes C, Lace B, Yang W, Mancilla H, Maric A, Nebel N, Hartman S, Kraft C, Su C, Delaux PM, Huesgen PF, Ott T (2026). The compartmentalized activity of a legume subtilase SBT12a allows symbiosome stabilization.
pre-print: bioRxiv; https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.09.717438v1
