1
|
Lodovici A, Buoso S, Miras-Moreno B, Lucini L, Garcia-Perez P, Tomasi N, Pinton R, Zanin L. Peculiarity of the early metabolomic response in tomato after urea, ammonium or nitrate supply. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 211:108666. [PMID: 38723490 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient most applied in agriculture as fertilizer (as nitrate, Nit; ammonium, A; and/or urea, U, forms) and its availability strongly constrains the crop growth and yield. To investigate the early response (24 h) of N-deficient tomato plants to these three N forms, a physiological and molecular study was performed. In comparison to N-deficient plants, significant changes in the transcriptional, metabolomic and ionomic profiles were observed. As a probable consequence of N mobility in plants, a wide metabolic modulation occurred in old leaves rather than in young leaves. The metabolic profile of U and A-treated plants was more similar than Nit-treated plant profile, which in turn presented the lowest metabolic modulation with respect to N-deficient condition. Urea and A forms induced some changes at the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, amino acids and phytohormones. Interestingly, a specific up-regulation by U and down-regulation by A of carbon synthesis occurred in roots. Along with the gene expression, data suggest that the specific N form influences the activation of metabolic pathways for its assimilation (cytosolic GS/AS and/or plastidial GS/GOGAT cycle). Urea induced an up-concentration of Cu and Mn in leaves and Zn in whole plant. This study highlights a metabolic reprogramming depending on the N form applied, and it also provide evidence of a direct relationship between urea nutrition and Zn concentration. The understanding of the metabolic pathways activated by the different N forms represents a milestone in improving the efficiency of urea fertilization in crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Lodovici
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206 - 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Sara Buoso
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206 - 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Begoña Miras-Moreno
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Research Centre for Nutrigenomics and Proteomics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.
| | - Luigi Lucini
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Research Centre for Nutrigenomics and Proteomics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.
| | - Pascual Garcia-Perez
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Research Centre for Nutrigenomics and Proteomics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy.
| | - Nicola Tomasi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206 - 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Roberto Pinton
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206 - 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Laura Zanin
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206 - 33100, Udine, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sato N, Khoa HV, Mikami K. Heat stress memory differentially regulates the expression of nitrogen transporter genes in the filamentous red alga ' Bangia' sp. ESS1. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1331496. [PMID: 38375079 PMCID: PMC10875135 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1331496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Introduction To withstand high temperatures that would be lethal to a plant in the naïve state, land plants must establish heat stress memory. The acquisition of heat stress tolerance via heat stress memory in algae has only been observed in the red alga 'Bangia' sp. ESS1. Methods In this study, we further evaluated the intrinsic ability of this alga to establish heat stress memory by monitoring hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and examining the relationship between heat stress memory and the expression of genes encoding nitrogen transporters, since heat stress generally reduces nitrogen absorption. Next, genes encoding nitrogen transporters were selected from our unpublished transcriptome data of 'Bangia' sp. ESS1. Results We observed a reduction in H2O2 content when heat stress memory was established in the alga. In addition, six ammonium transporter genes, a single-copy nitrate transporter gene and two urea transporter genes were identified. Two of these nitrogen transporter genes were induced by heat stress but not by heat stress memory, two genes showed heat stress memory-dependent expression, and one gene was induced by both treatments. Heat stress memory therefore differentially regulated the expression of the nitrogen transporter genes by reducing heat stress-inducible gene expression and inducing heat stress memory-dependent gene expression. Discussion These findings point to the functional diversity of nitrogen transporter genes, which play different roles under various heat stress conditions. The characteristic effects of heat stress memory on the expression of individual nitrogen transporter genes might represent an indispensable strategy for reducing the threshold of sensitivity to recurrent high-temperature conditions and for maintaining nitrogen absorption under such conditions in 'Bangia' sp. ESS1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natsumi Sato
- School of Food Industrial Sciences, Miyagi University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ho Viet Khoa
- Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate, Japan
| | - Koji Mikami
- School of Food Industrial Sciences, Miyagi University, Sendai, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wu C, Xiang Y, Huang P, Zhang M, Fang M, Yang W, Li W, Cao F, Liu LH, Pu W, Duan S. Molecular identification and physiological functional analysis of NtNRT1.1B that mediated nitrate long-distance transport and improved plant growth when overexpressed in tobacco. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1078978. [PMID: 36925751 PMCID: PMC10011135 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1078978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although recent physiological studies demonstrate that flue-cured tobacco preferentially utilizes nitrate ( NO 3 - ) or ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and possesses both high- and low-affinity uptake systems for NO 3 - , little is known about the molecular component(s) responsible for acquisition and translocation in this crop. Here we provide experimental data showing that NtNRT1.1B with a 1,785-bp coding sequence exhibited a function in mediating NO 3 - transport associated with tobacco growth on NO 3 - nutrition. Heterologous expression of NtNRT1.1B in the NO 3 - uptake-defective yeast Hp△ynt1 enabled a growth recovery of the mutant on 0.5 mM NO 3 - , suggesting a possible molecular function of NtNRT1.1B in the import of NO 3 - into cells. Transient expression of NtNRT1.1B::green fluorescent protein (GFP) in tobacco leaf cells revealed that NtNRT1.1B targeted mainly the plasma membrane, indicating the possibility of NO 3 - permeation across cell membranes via NtNRT1.1B. Furthermore, promoter activity assays using a GFP marker clearly indicated that NtNRT1.1B transcription in roots may be down-regulated by N starvation and induced by N resupply, including NO 3 - , after 3 days' N depletion. Significantly, constitutive overexpression of NtNRT1.1B could remarkably enhance tobacco growth by showing a higher accumulation of biomass and total N, NO 3 - , and even NH 4 + in plants supplied with NO 3 - ; this NtNRT1.1B-facilitated N acquisition/accumulation could be strengthened by short-term 15N- NO 3 - root influx assays, which showed 15%-20% higher NO 3 - deposition in NtNRT1.1B-overexpressors as well as a high affinity of NtNRT1.1B for NO 3 - at a K m of around 30-45 µM. Together with the detection of NtNRT1.1B promoter activity in the root stele and shoot-stem vascular tissues, and higher NO 3 - in both xylem exudate and the apoplastic washing fluid of NtNRT1.1B-transgenic lines, NtNRT1.1B could be considered as a valuable molecular breeding target aiming at improving crop N-use efficiency by manipulating the absorption and long-distance distribution/transport of nitrate, thus adding a new functional homolog as a nitrate permease to the plant NRT1 family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changzheng Wu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction of Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yucheng Xiang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction of Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Pingjun Huang
- Tobacco Research Institute of Technology Centre, China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Corporation, Changsha, China
| | - Mingfa Zhang
- Hunan Tobacco Research Institute (Changsha, Chenzhou, Xiangxi), China National Tobacco Corporation Hunan Company, Changsha, China
| | - Ming Fang
- Hunan Tobacco Research Institute (Changsha, Chenzhou, Xiangxi), China National Tobacco Corporation Hunan Company, Changsha, China
| | - Weiqin Yang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction of Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenrui Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction of Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengchun Cao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction of Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lai-Hua Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Nutrition, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction of Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenxuan Pu
- Tobacco Research Institute of Technology Centre, China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Corporation, Changsha, China
| | - Shuhui Duan
- Hunan Tobacco Research Institute (Changsha, Chenzhou, Xiangxi), China National Tobacco Corporation Hunan Company, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Substrate Recognition Properties from an Intermediate Structural State of the UreA Transporter. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416039. [PMID: 36555682 PMCID: PMC9783183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Through a combination of comparative modeling, site-directed and classical random mutagenesis approaches, we previously identified critical residues for binding, recognition, and translocation of urea, and its inhibition by 2-thiourea and acetamide in the Aspergillus nidulans urea transporter, UreA. To deepen the structural characterization of UreA, we employed the artificial intelligence (AI) based AlphaFold2 (AF2) program. In this analysis, the resulting AF2 models lacked inward- and outward-facing cavities, suggesting a structural intermediate state of UreA. Moreover, the orientation of the W82, W84, N279, and T282 side chains showed a large variability, which in the case of W82 and W84, may operate as a gating mechanism in the ligand pathway. To test this hypothesis non-conservative and conservative substitutions of these amino acids were introduced, and binding and transport assessed for urea and its toxic analogue 2-thiourea, as well as binding of the structural analogue acetamide. As a result, residues W82, W84, N279, and T282 were implicated in substrate identification, selection, and translocation. Using molecular docking with Autodock Vina with flexible side chains, we corroborated the AF2 theoretical intermediate model, showing a remarkable correlation between docking scores and experimental affinities determined in wild-type and UreA mutants. The combination of AI-based modeling with classical docking, validated by comprehensive mutational analysis at the binding region, would suggest an unforeseen option to determine structural level details on a challenging family of proteins.
Collapse
|
5
|
Yang D, Zhao J, Bi C, Li L, Wang Z. Transcriptome and Proteomics Analysis of Wheat Seedling Roots Reveals That Increasing NH 4 +/NO 3 - Ratio Induced Root Lignification and Reduced Nitrogen Utilization. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:797260. [PMID: 35095967 PMCID: PMC8792948 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.797260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Wheat growth and nitrogen (N) uptake gradually decrease in response to high NH4 +/NO3 - ratio. However, the mechanisms underlying the response of wheat seedling roots to changes in NH4 +/NO3 - ratio remain unclear. In this study, we investigated wheat growth, transcriptome, and proteome profiles of roots in response to increasing NH4 +/NO3 - ratios (N a : 100/0; N r1: 75/25, N r2: 50/50, N r3: 25/75, and N n : 0/100). High NH4 +/NO3 - ratio significantly reduced leaf relative chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm, and ΦII values. Both total root length and specific root length decreased with increasing NH4 +/NO3 - ratios. Moreover, the rise in NH4 +/NO3 - ratio significantly promoted O2 - production. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing and tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteome analyses identified 14,376 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1,819 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that glutathione metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were the main two shared enriched pathways across ratio comparisons. Upregulated DEGs and DEPs involving glutathione S-transferases may contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress. An increment in the NH4 +/NO3 - ratio induced the expression of genes and proteins involved in lignin biosynthesis, which increased root lignin content. Additionally, phylogenetic tree analysis showed that both A0A3B6NPP6 and A0A3B6LM09 belong to the cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase subfamily. Fifteen downregulated DEGs were identified as high-affinity nitrate transporters or nitrate transporters. Upregulated TraesCS3D02G344800 and TraesCS3A02G350800 were involved in ammonium transport. Downregulated A0A3B6Q9B3 is involved in nitrate transport, whereas A0A3B6PQS3 is a ferredoxin-nitrite reductase. This may explain why an increase in the NH4 +/NO3 - ratio significantly reduced root NO3 --N content but increased NH4 +-N content. Overall, these results demonstrated that increasing the NH4 +/NO3 - ratio at the seedling stage induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which in turn enhanced root glutathione metabolism and lignification, thereby resulting in increased root oxidative tolerance at the cost of reducing nitrate transport and utilization, which reduced leaf photosynthetic capacity and, ultimately, plant biomass accumulation.
Collapse
|
6
|
Nitrogen Uptake in Plants: The Plasma Membrane Root Transport Systems from a Physiological and Proteomic Perspective. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10040681. [PMID: 33916130 PMCID: PMC8066207 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Nitrogen nutrition in plants is a key determinant in crop productivity. The availability of nitrogen nutrients in the soil, both inorganic (nitrate and ammonium) and organic (urea and free amino acids), highly differs and influences plant physiology, growth, metabolism, and root morphology. Deciphering this multifaceted scenario is mandatory to improve the agricultural sustainability. In root cells, specific proteins located at the plasma membrane play key roles in the transport and sensing of nitrogen forms. This review outlines the current knowledge regarding the biochemical and physiological aspects behind the uptake of the individual nitrogen forms, their reciprocal interactions, the influences on root system architecture, and the relations with other proteins sustaining fundamental plasma membrane functionalities, such as aquaporins and H+-ATPase. This topic is explored starting from the information achieved in the model plant Arabidopsis and moving to crops in agricultural soils. Moreover, the main contributions provided by proteomics are described in order to highlight the goals and pitfalls of this approach and to get new hints for future studies.
Collapse
|
7
|
Beier MP, Kojima S. The function of high-affinity urea transporters in nitrogen-deficient conditions. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2021; 171:802-808. [PMID: 33280129 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Urea is the most used nitrogenous fertilizer worldwide and an important nitrogen-containing plant metabolite. Despite its major use as fertilizer, its direct uptake is limited due to the ubiquitous presence of bacterial urease, which leads to the formation of ammonium. In this review, we will focus mainly on the more recent research about the high-affinity urea transporter function in nitrogen-deficient conditions. The effective use of nitrogenous compounds is essential for plants to be able to deal with nitrogen-deficient conditions. Leaf senescence, either induced by development and/or by nitrogen deficiency, plays an important role in the efficient use of already assimilated nitrogen. Proteinaceous nitrogen is set free through catabolic reactions: the released amino acids from protein catabilization are in turn catabolized leading to an accumulation of ammonium and urea. The concentration and conversion to transportable forms of nitrogen, e.g. amino acids like glutamine and asparagine, are coordinated around the vascular tissue. Urea itself can be translocated directly over the phloem by a mechanism that involves DUR3, or it is converted by urease to ammonium and assimilated again into amino acids. The details of the high-affinity transporter function in this physiological context and the implications for crop yield are explained.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel P Beier
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soichi Kojima
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
dos Santos TB, Baba VY, Vieira LGE, Pereira LFP, Domingues DS. The urea transporter DUR3 is differentially regulated by abiotic and biotic stresses in coffee plants. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 27:203-212. [PMID: 33707863 PMCID: PMC7907287 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-021-00930-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The high costs of N fertilizers in the coffee production emphasizes the need to optimize fertilization practices and improve nitrogen use efficiency. Urea is widespread in nature, characterizing itself as a significant source of nitrogen for the growth and development of several organisms. Thus, the characterization of genes involved in urea transport in coffee plants is an important research topic for the sustainable production of this valuable cash crop. In the current study, we evaluated the expression of the DUR3 gene under abiotic and biotic stresses in coffee plants. Here, we show that the expression of a high-affinity urea transporter gene (CaDUR3) was up-regulated by N starvation in leaves and roots of two out of three C. arabica cultivars examined. Moreover, the CaDUR3 gene was differentially expressed in coffee plants under different abiotic and biotic stresses. In plants of cv. IAPAR59, CaDUR3 showed an increased expression in leaves after exposure to water deficit and heat stress, while it was downregulated in plants under salinity. Upon infection with H. vastatrix (coffee rust), the CaDUR3 was markedly up-regulated at the beginning of the infection process in the disease susceptible Catuaí Vermelho 99 in comparison with the resistant cultivar. These results indicate that besides urea acquisition and N-remobilization, CaDUR3 gene may be closely involved in the response to various stresses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Benedito dos Santos
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Instituto Agronômico Do Paraná (IAPAR), Londrina, Londrina, 86047-902 Brazil
- Universidade Do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE), Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 572, Presidente Prudente, 19067-175 Brazil
| | - Viviane Y. Baba
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Instituto Agronômico Do Paraná (IAPAR), Londrina, Londrina, 86047-902 Brazil
| | - Luiz Gonzaga Esteves Vieira
- Universidade Do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE), Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 572, Presidente Prudente, 19067-175 Brazil
| | | | - Douglas Silva Domingues
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, (UNESP), Avenida 24-A, 1515, Rio Claro, 13506-900 Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu L, Bi XY, Sheng S, Gong YY, Pu WX, Ke J, Huang PJ, Liang YL, Liu LH. Evidence that exogenous urea acts as a potent cue to alleviate ammonium-inhibition of root system growth of cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum). PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2021; 171:137-150. [PMID: 32997341 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Many plants grown with low-millimolar concentration of NH4 + as a sole nitrogen source develop NH4 + -toxicity symptoms. To date, crucial molecular identities and a practical approach involved in the improvement of plant NH4 + -tolerance remain largely unknown. By phenotyping of upland cotton grown on varied nitrogen forms, we came across a phenomenon that caused sub-millimolar concentrations of urea (e.g., up 50 μM) to repress the growth inhibition of roots and whole plant cultivated in a NH4 + -containing nutrient solution. A growth-recovery assay revealed that the relief in NH4 + -inhibited growth required only a short-term exposure (≧12 h) of the roots to urea, implying that urea could elicit an internal signaling and be involved in antagonizing NH4 + -sensitivity. Intriguingly, split-root experiments demonstrated that low urea occurrence in one root-half could efficaciously stimulate not only supplied root but also the root-half grown in NH4 + -solution without urea, indicating the existence of urea-triggered local and systemic long-distance signaling. In the split-root experiment we also observed high arginase activity, strong arginine reduction and remarkable upregulation of polyamine biosynthesis-related genes (ADC1/2, SPDS and SPMS). Therefore, we suggest that external urea might serve as an effective cue (signal molecule) in an arginine-/polyamine-related process for ameliorating NH4 + -suppressed root growth, providing a novel aspect for deeper exploring and understanding plant NH4 + -tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Centre for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Bi
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Song Sheng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Centre for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan-Yong Gong
- Biological and Chemical Engineering College, Panzhihua University, Panzhihua, China
| | - Wen-Xuan Pu
- Tobacco Research Institute of Technology Centre, China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Corporation, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Ke
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Centre for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping-Jun Huang
- Tobacco Research Institute of Technology Centre, China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Corporation, Changsha, China
| | - Yi-Long Liang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China
| | - Lai-Hua Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Centre for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pechkovskaya SA, Knyazev NA, Matantseva OV, Emelyanov AK, Telesh IV, Skarlato SO, Filatova NA. Dur3 and nrt2 genes in the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum: Transcriptional responses to available nitrogen sources. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 241:125083. [PMID: 31683425 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The increasing inflow of nitrogen (N) substrates into marine nearshore ecosystems induces proliferation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) of dinoflagellates, such as potentially toxic invasive species Prorocentrum minimum. In this study, we estimated the influence of NO3-, NH4+ and urea on transcription levels and urea transporter dur3 and nitrate transporter nrt2 genes expression in these dinoflagellates. We identified dur3 and nrt2 genes sequences in unannotated transcriptomes of P. minimum and other dinoflagellates presented in MMETSP database. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these genes of dinoflagellates clustered to the distinct clade demonstrating evolutionary relationship with the other known dur3 and nrt2 genes of microalgae. The evaluation of expression levels of dur3 and nrt2 genes by RT-qPCR revealed their sensitivity to input of the studied N sources. Dur3 expression levels were downregulated after the supplementation of additional N sources and were 1.7-2.6-fold lower than in the nitrate-grown culture. Nrt2 expression levels decreased 1.9-fold in the presence of NH4+. We estimated total RNA and DNA synthesis rates by the analysis of incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine in batch and continuous cultures. Addition of N compounds did not affect the DNA synthesis rates. Transcription levels increased up to 12.5-fold after the N supplementation in urea-limited treatments. Investigation of various nitrogen sources as biomarkers of dinoflagellate proliferation due to their differentiated impact on expression of dur3 and nrt2 genes and transcription rates in P. minimum cells allowed concluding about high potential of the studied parameters for future modeling of HABs under global N pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S A Pechkovskaya
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - N A Knyazev
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia; St. Petersburg Academic University of Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - O V Matantseva
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A K Emelyanov
- Pavlov First State Medical University of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - I V Telesh
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia; Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - S O Skarlato
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - N A Filatova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Quiroga G, Erice G, Aroca R, Delgado-Huertas A, Ruiz-Lozano JM. Elucidating the Possible Involvement of Maize Aquaporins and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in the Plant Ammonium and Urea Transport under Drought Stress Conditions. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:E148. [PMID: 31979273 PMCID: PMC7076390 DOI: 10.3390/plants9020148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the possible involvement of maize aquaporins which are regulated by arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) in the transport in planta of ammonium and/or urea under well-watered and drought stress conditions. The study also aims to better understand the implication of the AM symbiosis in the uptake of urea and ammonium and its effect on plant physiology and performance under drought stress conditions. AM and non-AM maize plants were cultivated under three levels of urea or ammonium fertilization (0, 3 µM or 10 mM) and subjected or not to drought stress. Plant aquaporins and physiological responses to these treatments were analyzed. AM increased plant biomass in absence of N fertilization or under low urea/ ammonium fertilization, but no effect of the AM symbiosis was observed under high N supply. This effect was associated with reduced oxidative damage to lipids and increased N accumulation in plant tissues. High N fertilization with either ammonium or urea enhanced net photosynthesis (AN) and stomatal conductance (gs) in plants maintained under well-watered conditions, but 14 days after drought stress imposition these parameters declined in AM plants fertilized with high N doses. The aquaporin ZmTIP1;1 was up-regulated by both urea and ammonium and could be transporting these two N forms in planta. The differential regulation of ZmTIP4;1 and ZmPIP2;4 with urea fertilization and of ZmPIP2;4 with NH4+ supply suggests that these two aquaporins may also play a role in N mobilization in planta. At the same time, these aquaporins were also differentially regulated by the AM symbiosis, suggesting a possible role in the AM-mediated plant N homeostasis that deserves future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Quiroga
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda nº 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Gorka Erice
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda nº 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Ricardo Aroca
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda nº 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | | | - Juan Manuel Ruiz-Lozano
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda nº 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Konečný J, Hršelová H, Bukovská P, Hujslová M, Jansa J. Correlative evidence for co-regulation of phosphorus and carbon exchanges with symbiotic fungus in the arbuscular mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224938. [PMID: 31710651 PMCID: PMC6844471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Research efforts directed to elucidation of mechanisms behind trading of resources between the partners in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis have seen a considerable progress in the recent years. Yet, despite of the recent developments, some key questions still remain unanswered. For example, it is well established that the strictly biotrophic AM fungus releases phosphorus to- and receives carbon molecules from the plant symbiont, but the particular genes, and their products, responsible for facilitating this exchange, are still not fully described, nor are the principles and pathways of their regulation. Here, we made a de novo quest for genes involved in carbon transfer from the plant to the fungus using genome-wide gene expression array targeting whole root and whole shoot gene expression profiles of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula plants grown in a glasshouse. Using physiological intervention of heavy shading (90% incoming light removed) and the correlation of expression levels of MtPT4, the mycorrhiza-inducible phosphate transporter operating at the symbiotic interface between the root cortical cells and the AM fungus, and our candidate genes, we demonstrate that several novel genes may be involved in resource tradings in the AM symbiosis established by M. truncatula. These include glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator, polyol/monosaccharide transporter, DUR3-like, nucleotide-diphospho-sugar transferase or a putative membrane transporter. Besides, we also examined the expression of other M. truncatula phosphate transporters (MtPT1-3, MtPT5-6) to gain further insights in the balance between the "direct" and the "mycorrhizal" phosphate uptake pathways upon colonization of roots by the AM fungus, as affected by short-term carbon/energy deprivation. In addition, the role of the novel candidate genes in plant cell metabolism is discussed based on available literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Konečný
- Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Hana Hršelová
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Bukovská
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Hujslová
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Jansa
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sun YC, Sheng S, Fan TF, Liu L, Ke J, Wang DB, Hua JP, Liu LH, Cao FQ. Molecular identification and functional characterization of GhAMT1.3 in ammonium transport with a high affinity from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2019; 167:217-231. [PMID: 30467856 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium (NH4 + ) represents a primary nitrogen source for many plants, its effective transport into and between tissues and further assimilation in cells determine greatly plant nitrogen use efficiency. However, biological components involved in NH4 + movement in woody plants are unclear. Here, we report kinetic evidence for cotton NH4 + uptake and molecular identification of certain NH4 + transporters (AMTs) from cotton (Gossypium hirustum). A substrate-influx assay using 15 N-isotope revealed that cotton possessed a high-affinity transport system with a Km of 58 μM for NH4 + . Sequence analysis showed that GhAMT1.1-1.3 encoded respectively a membrane protein containing 485, 509 or 499 amino acids. Heterologous functionality test demonstrated that GhAMT1.1-1.3 expression mediated NH4 + permeation across the plasma membrane (PM) of yeast and/or Arabidopsis qko-mutant cells, allowing a growth restoration of both mutants on NH4 + . Quantitative PCR measurement showed that GhAMT1.3 was expressed in roots and leaves and markedly up-regulated by N-starvation, repressed by NH4 + resupply and regulated diurnally and age-dependently, suggesting that GhAMT1.3 should be a N-responsive gene. Importantly, GhAMT1.3 expression in Arabidopsis improved plant growth on NH4 + and enhanced total nitrogen accumulation (∼50% more), conforming with the observation of 2-fold more NH4 + absorption by GhAMT1.3-transformed qko plant roots during a 1-h root influx period. Together with its targeting to the PM and saturated transport kinetics with a Km of 72 μM for NH4 + , GhAMT1.3 is suggested to be a high-affinity NH4 + permease that may play a significant role in cotton NH4 + acquisition and utilization, adding a new member in the plant AMT family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Sun
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Song Sheng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Teng-Fei Fan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Institute of Tobacco Science Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company, China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Lu Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jie Ke
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Dai-Bin Wang
- Institute of Tobacco Science Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company, China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Jin-Ping Hua
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Beijing Key Lab of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lai-Hua Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Lab of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Feng-Qiu Cao
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Beier MP, Fujita T, Sasaki K, Kanno K, Ohashi M, Tamura W, Konishi N, Saito M, Imagawa F, Ishiyama K, Miyao A, Yamaya T, Kojima S. The urea transporter DUR3 contributes to rice production under nitrogen-deficient and field conditions. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2019; 167:75-89. [PMID: 30426495 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for plant growth, and urea is one of the most frequently used nitrogen fertilizers worldwide. Besides the exogenously-supplied urea to the soil, urea is endogenously synthesized during secondary nitrogen metabolism. Here, we investigated the contribution of a urea transporter, DUR3, to rice production using a reverse genetic approach combined with localization studies. Tos17 insertion lines for DUR3 showed a 50% yield reduction in hydroponic culture, and a 26.2% yield reduction in a paddy field, because of decreased grain filling. Because shoot biomass production and shoot total N was not reduced, insertion lines were disordered not only in nitrogen acquisition but also in nitrogen allocation. During seed development, DUR3 insertion lines accumulated nitrogen in leaves and could not sufficiently develop their panicles, although shoot and root dry weights were not significantly different from the wild-type. The urea concentration in old leaf harvested from DUR3 insertion lines was lower than that in wild-type. DUR3 promoter-dependent β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity was localized in vascular tissue and the midribs of old leaves. These results indicate that DUR3 contributes to nitrogen translocation and rice yield under nitrogen-deficient and field conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel P Beier
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai 599-8531, Japan
| | - Takayuki Fujita
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Sasaki
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 188-0002, Japan
| | - Keiichi Kanno
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Miwa Ohashi
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Wataru Tamura
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Konishi
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Masahide Saito
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Fumi Imagawa
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Keiki Ishiyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Akio Miyao
- National Institute of Agrobiological Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 3058602, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yamaya
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Soichi Kojima
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Liu LH, Fan TF, Shi DX, Li CJ, He MJ, Chen YY, Zhang L, Yang C, Cheng XY, Chen X, Li DQ, Sun YC. Coding-Sequence Identification and Transcriptional Profiling of Nine AMTs and Four NRTs From Tobacco Revealed Their Differential Regulation by Developmental Stages, Nitrogen Nutrition, and Photoperiod. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:210. [PMID: 29563921 PMCID: PMC5850829 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Although many members encoding different ammonium- and nitrate-transporters (AMTs, NRTs) were identified and functionally characterized from several plant species, little is known about molecular components for [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text] acquisition/transport in tobacco, which is often used as a plant model for biological studies besides its agricultural and industrial interest. We reported here the first molecular identification in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) of nine AMTs and four NRTs, which are respectively divided into four (AMT1/2/3/4) and two (NRT1/2) clusters and whose functionalities were preliminarily evidenced by heterologous functional-complementation in yeast or Arabidopsis. Tissue-specific transcriptional profiling by qPCR revealed that NtAMT1.1/NRT1.1 mRNA occurred widely in leaves, flower organs and roots; only NtAMT1.1/1.3/2.1NRT1.2/2.2 were strongly transcribed in the aged leaves, implying their dominant roles in N-remobilization from source/senescent tissues. N-dependent expression analysis showed a marked upregulation of NtAMT1.1 in the roots by N-starvation and resupply with N including [Formula: see text], suggesting a predominant action of NtAMT1.1 in [Formula: see text] uptake/transport whenever required. The obvious leaf-expression of other NtAMTs e.g., AMT1.2 responsive to N indicates a major place, where they may play transport roles associated with plant N-status and ([Formula: see text]-)N movement within aerial-parts. The preferentially root-specific transcription of NtNRT1.1/1.2/2.1 responsive to N argues their importance for root [Formula: see text] uptake and even sensing in root systems. Moreover, of all NtAMTs/NRTs, only NtAMT1.1/NRT1.1/1.2 showed their root-expression alteration in a typical diurnal-oscillation pattern, reflecting likely their significant roles in root N-acquisition regulated by internal N-demand influenced by diurnal-dependent assimilation and translocation of carbohydrates from shoots. This suggestion could be supported at least in part by sucrose- and MSX-affected transcriptional-regulation of NtNRT1.1/1.2. Thus, present data provide valuable molecular bases for the existence of AMTs/NRTs in tobacco, promoting a deeper understanding of their biological functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lai-Hua Liu
- Department of Crop Breeding, College of Agriculture Sciences Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Teng-Fei Fan
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dong-Xue Shi
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Jun Li
- Institute of Tobacco Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing, China
| | - Ming-Jie He
- Department of Crop Breeding, College of Agriculture Sciences Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Yi-Yin Chen
- Institute of Tobacco Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Institute of Tobacco Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Cheng
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Institute of Tobacco Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing, China
| | - Di-Qin Li
- Department of Crop Breeding, College of Agriculture Sciences Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Yi-Chen Sun
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Fan TF, Cheng XY, Shi DX, He MJ, Yang C, Liu L, Li CJ, Sun YC, Chen YY, Xu C, Zhang L, Liu LH. Molecular identification of tobacco NtAMT1.3 that mediated ammonium root-influx with high affinity and improved plant growth on ammonium when overexpressed in Arabidopsis and tobacco. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 264:102-111. [PMID: 28969790 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Although biological functions of ammonium (NH4+) transporters (AMTs) have been intensively studied in many plant species, little is known about molecular bases responsible for NH4+ movement in tobacco. Here, we reported the identification and functional characterization of a putative NH4+ transporter NtAMT1.3 from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Analysis in silico showed that NtAMT1.3 encoded an integral membrane protein containing 464 amino acid residues and exhibiting 10 predicted transmembrane α-helices. Heterologous functionality study demonstrated that NtAMT1.3 expression facilitated NH4+ entry across plasma membrane of NH4+-uptake defective yeast and Arabidopsis qko mutant, allowing a restored growth of both yeast and Arabidopsis mutant on low NH4+. qPCR assay revealed that NtAMT1.3 was expressed in both roots and leaves and significantly up-regulated by nitrogen starvation and resupply of its putative substrate NH4+ and even nitrate, suggesting that NtAMT1.3 should represent a nitrogen-responsive gene. Critically, constitutive overexpression of NtAMT1.3 in tobacco per se improved obviously the growth of transgenic plants on NH4+ and enhanced leaf nitrogen (15% more) accumulation, consistent with observation of 35% more NH4+ uptake by the roots of transgenic lines in 20min root-influx test. Together with data showing its plasma membrane localization and saturated transport nature with Km of about 50μM for NH4+, we suggest that NtAMT1.3 acts an active NH4+ transporter that plays a significant role in NH4+ acquisition and utilization in tobacco.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Fei Fan
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Institute of Tobacco Science Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company, China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Cheng
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Dong-Xue Shi
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ming-Jie He
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; College of Agriculture Sciences, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Institute of Tobacco Science Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company, China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chang-Jun Li
- Institute of Tobacco Science Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company, China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yi-Chen Sun
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yi-Yin Chen
- Institute of Tobacco Science Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company, China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Chen Xu
- Institute of Tobacco Science Research of Chongqing Tobacco Company, China Tobacco Corporation, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lai-Hua Liu
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chen L, Liao H. Engineering crop nutrient efficiency for sustainable agriculture. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 59:710-735. [PMID: 28600834 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Increasing crop yields can provide food, animal feed, bioenergy feedstocks and biomaterials to meet increasing global demand; however, the methods used to increase yield can negatively affect sustainability. For example, application of excess fertilizer can generate and maintain high yields but also increases input costs and contributes to environmental damage through eutrophication, soil acidification and air pollution. Improving crop nutrient efficiency can improve agricultural sustainability by increasing yield while decreasing input costs and harmful environmental effects. Here, we review the mechanisms of nutrient efficiency (primarily for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and iron) and breeding strategies for improving this trait, along with the role of regulation of gene expression in enhancing crop nutrient efficiency to increase yields. We focus on the importance of root system architecture to improve nutrient acquisition efficiency, as well as the contributions of mineral translocation, remobilization and metabolic efficiency to nutrient utilization efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Root Biology Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Hong Liao
- Root Biology Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Myrach T, Zhu A, Witte CP. The assembly of the plant urease activation complex and the essential role of the urease accessory protein G (UreG) in delivery of nickel to urease. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:14556-14565. [PMID: 28710280 PMCID: PMC5582847 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.780403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Urease is a ubiquitous nickel metalloenzyme. In plants, its activation requires three urease accessory proteins (UAPs), UreD, UreF, and UreG. In bacteria, the UAPs interact with urease and facilitate activation, which involves the channeling of two nickel ions into the active site. So far this process has not been investigated in eukaryotes. Using affinity pulldowns of Strep-tagged UAPs from Arabidopsis and rice transiently expressed in planta, we demonstrate that a urease-UreD-UreF-UreG complex exists in plants and show its stepwise assembly. UreG is crucial for nickel delivery because UreG-dependent urease activation in vitro was observed only with UreG obtained from nickel-sufficient plants. This activation competence could not be generated in vitro by incubation of UreG with nickel, bicarbonate, and GTP. Compared with their bacterial orthologs, plant UreGs possess an N-terminal extension containing a His- and Asp/Glu-rich hypervariable region followed by a highly conserved sequence comprising two potential HXH metal-binding sites. Complementing the ureG-1 mutant of Arabidopsis with N-terminal deletion variants of UreG demonstrated that the hypervariable region has a minor impact on activation efficiency, whereas the conserved region up to the first HXH motif is highly beneficial and up to the second HXH motif strictly required for activation. We also show that urease reaches its full activity several days after nickel becomes available in the leaves, indicating that urease activation is limited by nickel accessibility in vivo Our data uncover the crucial role of UreG for nickel delivery during eukaryotic urease activation, inciting further investigations of the details of this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Till Myrach
- From the Freie Universität Berlin, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Department of Plant Biochemistry, Königin-Luise-Strasse 12-16, 14195 Berlin, Germany and
| | - Anting Zhu
- Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institute of Plant Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition and Biochemistry of Plants, Herrenhäuser Strasse 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany
| | - Claus-Peter Witte
- Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institute of Plant Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition and Biochemistry of Plants, Herrenhäuser Strasse 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lupini A, Princi MP, Araniti F, Miller AJ, Sunseri F, Abenavoli MR. Physiological and molecular responses in tomato under different forms of N nutrition. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 216:17-25. [PMID: 28551475 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Urea is the most common nitrogen (N) fertilizer in agriculture, due to its cheaper price and high N content. Although the reciprocal influence between NO3- and NH4+ nutrition are well known, urea (U) interactions with these N-inorganic forms are poorly studied. Here, the responses of two tomato genotypes to ammonium nitrate (AN), U alone or in combination were investigated. Significant differences in root and shoot biomass between genotypes were observed. Under AN+U supply, Linosa showed higher biomass compared to UC82, exhibiting also higher values for many root architectural traits. Linosa showed higher Nitrogen Uptake (NUpE) and Utilization Efficiency (NUtE) compared to UC82, under AN+U nutrition. Interestingly, Linosa exhibited also a significantly higher DUR3 transcript abundance. These results underline the beneficial effect of AN+U nutrition, highlighting new molecular and physiological strategies for selecting crops that can be used for more sustainable agriculture. The data suggest that translocation and utilization (NUtE) might be a more important component of NUE than uptake (NUpE) in tomato. Genetic variation could be a source for useful NUE traits in tomato; further experiments are needed to dissect the NUtE components that confer a higher ability to utilize N in Linosa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Lupini
- Dipartimento AGRARIA, Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito I-89124, Reggio Calabria RC, Italy.
| | - Maria Polsia Princi
- Dipartimento AGRARIA, Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito I-89124, Reggio Calabria RC, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Araniti
- Dipartimento AGRARIA, Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito I-89124, Reggio Calabria RC, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Sunseri
- Dipartimento AGRARIA, Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito I-89124, Reggio Calabria RC, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Abenavoli
- Dipartimento AGRARIA, Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito I-89124, Reggio Calabria RC, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Esteban R, Royo B, Urarte E, Zamarreño ÁM, Garcia-Mina JM, Moran JF. Both Free Indole-3-Acetic Acid and Photosynthetic Performance are Important Players in the Response of Medicago truncatula to Urea and Ammonium Nutrition Under Axenic Conditions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:140. [PMID: 26909089 PMCID: PMC4754419 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to identify the early stress response and plant performance of Medicago truncatula growing in axenic medium with ammonium or urea as the sole source of nitrogen, with respect to nitrate-based nutrition. Biomass measurements, auxin content analyses, root system architecture (RSA) response analyses, and physiological parameters were determined. Both ammonium and ureic nutrition severely affected the RSA, resulting in changes in the main elongation rate, lateral root development, and insert position from the root base. The auxin content decreased in both urea- and ammonium-treated roots; however, only the ammonium-treated plants were affected at the shoot level. The analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence transients showed that ammonium affected photosystem II, but urea did not impair photosynthetic activity. Superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in the plastids were moderately affected by urea and ammonium in the roots. Overall, our results showed that low N doses from different sources had no remarkable effects on M. truncatula, with the exception of the differential phenotypic root response. High doses of both ammonium and urea caused great changes in plant length, auxin contents and physiological measurements. Interesting correlations were found between the shoot auxin pool and both plant length and the "performance index" parameter, which is obtained from measurements of the kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence. Taken together, these data demonstrate that both the indole-3-acetic acid pool and performance index are important components of the response of M. truncatula under ammonium or urea as the sole N source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Esteban
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Agrobiology, Institute of Agrobiotechnology, IdAB-CSIC-UPNA-Government of Navarre, Public University of NavarreMutilva, Spain
| | - Beatriz Royo
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Agrobiology, Institute of Agrobiotechnology, IdAB-CSIC-UPNA-Government of Navarre, Public University of NavarreMutilva, Spain
| | - Estibaliz Urarte
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Agrobiology, Institute of Agrobiotechnology, IdAB-CSIC-UPNA-Government of Navarre, Public University of NavarreMutilva, Spain
| | - Ángel M. Zamarreño
- Group—CMI Roullier, Department of Environmental Biology, Agricultural Chemistry and Biology, University of NavarrePamplona, Spain
| | - José M. Garcia-Mina
- Group—CMI Roullier, Department of Environmental Biology, Agricultural Chemistry and Biology, University of NavarrePamplona, Spain
| | - Jose F. Moran
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Agrobiology, Institute of Agrobiotechnology, IdAB-CSIC-UPNA-Government of Navarre, Public University of NavarreMutilva, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zanin L, Tomasi N, Zamboni A, Varanini Z, Pinton R. The Urease Inhibitor NBPT Negatively Affects DUR3-mediated Uptake and Assimilation of Urea in Maize Roots. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:1007. [PMID: 26635834 PMCID: PMC4652015 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.01007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite the widespread use of urease inhibitors in agriculture, little information is available on their effect on nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation. Aim of this work was to study, at physiological and transcriptional level, the effects of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) on urea nutrition in hydroponically grown maize plants. Presence of NBPT in the nutrient solution limited the capacity of plants to utilize urea as a N-source; this was shown by a decrease in urea uptake rate and (15)N accumulation. Noteworthy, these negative effects were evident only when plants were fed with urea, as NBPT did not alter (15)N accumulation in nitrate-fed plants. NBPT also impaired the growth of Arabidopsis plants when urea was used as N-source, while having no effect on plants grown with nitrate or ammonium. This response was related, at least in part, to a direct effect of NBPT on the high affinity urea transport system. Impact of NBPT on urea uptake was further evaluated using lines of Arabidopsis overexpressing ZmDUR3 and dur3-knockout; results suggest that not only transport but also urea assimilation could be compromised by the inhibitor. This hypothesis was reinforced by an over-accumulation of urea and a decrease in ammonium concentration in NBPT-treated plants. Furthermore, transcriptional analyses showed that in maize roots NBPT treatment severely impaired the expression of genes involved in the cytosolic pathway of ureic-N assimilation and ammonium transport. NBPT also limited the expression of a gene coding for a transcription factor highly induced by urea and possibly playing a crucial role in the regulation of its acquisition. This work provides evidence that NBPT can heavily interfere with urea nutrition in maize plants, limiting influx as well as the following assimilation pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zanin
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of UdineUdine, Italy
- *Correspondence: Laura Zanin,
| | - Nicola Tomasi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of UdineUdine, Italy
| | - Anita Zamboni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaVerona, Italy
| | - Zeno Varanini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaVerona, Italy
| | - Roberto Pinton
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of UdineUdine, Italy
| |
Collapse
|