Following establishment of the symbiosis, see more many genes associated with nutrient exchange are expressed by both host and symbiont [43]. For example, expression of fungal

high affinity Pi transporters in Glomus species depends on internal Pi titer [44], and uptake of Pi by the fungus and exchange with the host are regulated by plant carbon availability [45]. In the GO, terms addressing formation of arbuscules are children of “”GO: 0075328 formation by symbiont of arbuscule for nutrient acquisition from host”" (Additional file 1 and Figure 2) [10]. This term is a child of “”GO: 0052093 formation of specialized structure for nutrient acquisition from host”" and a sibling of terms such as “”GO: 0052096 formation by symbiont of syncytium involving giant cell for nutrient acquisition

from host”" (see next paragraph) and “”GO: 0052094 formation by symbiont of haustorium for nutrient acquisition from host”", which underscores the potential for using this family of terms to facilitate AZD6244 in vivo cross kingdom functional comparisons of gene products involved in nutrient exchange. Further development of GO terms that describe such processes or structures is necessary. For example, there are a variety of categories of mycorrhizas, including AM, ectomycorrhizas, orchid mycorrhizas, and ericoid mycorrhizas [46]. New GO terms might address the formation of an ectomycorrhizal Hartig net, which allows for translocation

Rucaparib manufacturer of phosphorus in exchange for host carbohydrate [47]. In addition, there are commonalities in the signaling pathways of AM fungi and rhizobial bacteria in their mutualistic associations with legumes [48] that could be described by GO terms. Syncytia and giant cells in plant-nematode symbioses Sedentary endoparasitic nematodes are biotrophic animal pathogens of diverse plant species, and include cyst nematodes and root-knot nematodes [49]. Cyst nematodes, including the economically important genera Globodera and Heterodera, produce highly specialized Stattic feeding structures known as syncytia that form via fusion of host cells. Root-knot nematodes including Meloidogyne species produce multinucleate giant cells by uncoupling host nuclear division from cell division. Syncytia and giant cells significantly differ from one another with respect to cellular structure, but both act as a nutrient sink, are multinucleated, hypertrophied cells with many vacuoles, and are highly metabolically active [50–52]. “”GO: 0052096 formation by symbiont of syncytium involving giant cell for nutrient acquisition from host”" (Additional file 1 and Figure 2) is a child term of “”GO: 0052093 formation of specialized structure for nutrient acquisition from host”".