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Symbiotic bacteria are harboured in the nodules of the nitrogen-fixing plants. The bacteria, collectively termed rhizobia, include genera such as Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Azorhizobium, and form specialised organs within the plant. Nitrogen fixation occurs via the conversion of N₂ into NH₃ by bacterial nitrogenases. Knowledge of protein profile (structural and soluble) of bacteria and host may provide information useful in understanding the bacteria–host relationship and improving N₂-fixation efficiency in leguminous plants. Although the majority of nitrogen-fixing plants belong to the family Fabaceae, a few non-leguminous plants (like actinorhizal plants) can also fix nitrogen. Proteomics is an ideal tool to study the protein profile and its correlation with nodule-associated metabolic and symbiotic processes. N₂-fixing symbioses are well studied but not in terms of proteomic …