Biological Sciences Colloquium: Sonali Shedge

Sonali Shedge, PhD candidate in the Prasad lab, will be giving a talk about her work entitled “Rhizobial Nod Factors: Exploring New Roles in Root Nodule Symbiosis and Bacterial Physiology.”  The abstract is as follows:

Legumes form symbiosis with soil bacteria called rhizobia, which fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant. This symbiosis plays an important role in natural ecosystems and sustainable agriculture. A key step in establishing this relationship involves bacterial signaling molecules called Nod factors, which are recognized by compatible host plants and trigger root nodule development. Although Nod factors have been extensively studied as symbiotic signaling molecules, important questions remain about the roles of their biosynthetic precursors and their potential functions within bacterial cells. In this talk, I will explore two novel aspects of Nod factors. First, I will discuss the role of Nod factor precursors in root nodule formation and bacterial colonization. Second, I will present our investigation into a potential role of Nod factor biosynthesis in bacterial cell envelope integrity. The results of these studies expand our understanding of Nod factor biology beyond its established role in symbiotic signaling and provide new insights into their role in rhizobial physiology.

The presentation will begin at 3:00 PM in Lapham Hall N101, preceded by an informal reception from 2:45-3:00 PM.