Global gene expression in the rhizobial-legume symbiosis.

With the sequencing of entire genomes it has become technically feasible to study transcription on a global scale. Accessing an organism's transcriptional profile provides a glimpse into its inner workings. Transcriptional studies help determine how an organism adapts to diverse environments and how it interacts with other organisms. In the symbiosis between rhizobial bacteria and legume plants, the two organisms must be able to adapt to various environmental stresses and communicate to form a mutually beneficial relationship. The study of global gene expression during this nitrogen-fixing symbiosis has confirmed results of earlier studies and has shed new light on the molecular players involved in this complex, highly choreographed interaction.