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Aluko OO, Kant S, Adedire OM, Li C, Yuan G, Liu H, Wang Q. Unlocking the potentials of nitrate transporters at improving plant nitrogen use efficiency. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1074839. [PMID: 36895876 PMCID: PMC9989036 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1074839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nitrate ( NO 3 - ) transporters have been identified as the primary targets involved in plant nitrogen (N) uptake, transport, assimilation, and remobilization, all of which are key determinants of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). However, less attention has been directed toward the influence of plant nutrients and environmental cues on the expression and activities of NO 3 - transporters. To better understand how these transporters function in improving plant NUE, this review critically examined the roles of NO 3 - transporters in N uptake, transport, and distribution processes. It also described their influence on crop productivity and NUE, especially when co-expressed with other transcription factors, and discussed these transporters' functional roles in helping plants cope with adverse environmental conditions. We equally established the possible impacts of NO 3 - transporters on the uptake and utilization efficiency of other plant nutrients while suggesting possible strategic approaches to improving NUE in plants. Understanding the specificity of these determinants is crucial to achieving better N utilization efficiency in crops within a given environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwaseun Olayemi Aluko
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Surya Kant
- Agriculture Victoria, Grains Innovation Park, Horsham, VIC, Australia
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Chuanzong Li
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guang Yuan
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haobao Liu
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, China
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Zhang H, Li Z, Xu G, Bai G, Zhang P, Zhai N, Zheng Q, Chen Q, Liu P, Jin L, Zhou H. Genome-wide identification and characterization of NPF family reveals NtNPF6.13 involving in salt stress in Nicotiana tabacum. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:999403. [PMID: 36311086 PMCID: PMC9608447 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.999403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Proteins of the Nitrate Transporter 1/Peptide Transporter (NPF) family transport a diverse variety of substrates, such as nitrate, peptides, hormones and chloride. In this study, a systematic analysis of the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) NPF family was performed in the cultivated 'K326'. In total, 143 NtNPF genes were identified and phylogenetically classified into eight subfamilies, NPF1 to NPF8, based on the classification of NPF families in other plant species. The chromosomal locations and structures of the NtNPF genes were analyzed. The expression profiles of NtNPF genes under NaCl stress were analyzed to screen the possible NPF genes involving in chloride regulation in tobacco. Most NtNPF6 genes responded to salt stress in the roots and leaves. The expression of NtNPF6.13 was significantly down-regulated after salt stress for 12h. The chloride content was reduced in the roots of ntnpf6.13 mutant. These findings support the participation of NtNPF6.13 in chloride uptake. Several other NtNPF genes that play potential roles in chloride metabolism of tobacco require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zefeng Li
- National Tobacco Genetic Engineering Research Center, Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Guoyun Xu
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ge Bai
- National Tobacco Genetic Engineering Research Center, Yunnan Academy of Tobacco Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Peipei Zhang
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Niu Zhai
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingxia Zheng
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiansi Chen
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Pingping Liu
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lifeng Jin
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huina Zhou
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), Zhengzhou, China
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Lu Y, Zhang J, Han Z, Han Z, Li S, Zhang J, Ma H, Han Y. Screening of differentially expressed microRNAs and target genes in two potato varieties under nitrogen stress. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:478. [PMID: 36207676 PMCID: PMC9547441 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03866-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A reasonable supply of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is essential for obtaining high-quality, high-level, and stable potato yields, and an improvement in the N utilization efficiency can effectively reduce N fertilizer use. It is important to use accurate, straightforward, and efficient transgenic breeding techniques for the identification of genes that can improve nitrogen use efficiency, thus enabling us to achieve the ultimate goal of breeding N-efficient potato varieties. In recent years, some of the mechanisms of miRNAs have been elucidated via the analysis of the correlation between the expression levels of potato miRNA target genes and regulated genes under conditions of stress, but the role of miRNAs in the inhibition/expression of key genes regulating N metabolism under N stress is still unclear. Our study aimed to identify the role played by specific enzymes and miRNAs in the responses of plants to N stress. RESULTS The roots and leaves of the N-efficient potato variety, Yanshu4 ("Y"), and N-inefficient potato variety, Atlantic ("D"), were collected at the seedling and budding stages after they were exposed to different N fertilizer treatments. The miRNAs expressed differentially under the two types of N stress and their corresponding target genes were first predicted using miRNA and degradome analysis. Then, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to verify the expression of differential miRNAs that were closely related to N metabolism. Finally, the shearing relationship between stu-miR396-5p and its target gene StNiR was determined by analyzing luciferase activity levels. The results showed that NiR activity increased significantly with an increase in the applied N levels from the seedling stage to the budding stage, and NiR responded significantly to different N treatments. miRNA sequencing enabled us to predict 48 families with conserved miRNAs that were mainly involved in N metabolism, carbon metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis. The differences in the expression of the following miRNAs were identified via screening (high expression levels and P < 0.05): stu-miR396-5p, stu-miR408b-3p_R-1, stu-miR3627-3p, stu-miR482a-3p, stu-miR8036-3p, stu-miR482a-5p, stu-miR827-5p, stu-miR156a_L-1, stu-miR827-3p, stu-miR172b-5p, stu-miR6022-p3_7, stu-miR398a-5p, and stu-miR166c-5p_L-3. Degradome analysis showed that most miRNAs had many-to-many relationships with target genes. The main target genes involved in N metabolism were NiR, NiR1, NRT2.5, and NRT2.7. qRT-PCR analysis showed that there were significant differences in the expression levels of stu-miR396-5p, stu-miR8036-3p, and stu-miR482a-3p in the leaves and roots of the Yanshu4 and Atlantic varieties at the seedling and budding stages under conditions that involved no N and excessive N application; the expression of these miRNAs was induced in response to N stress. The correlation between the differential expression of stu-miR396-5p and its corresponding target gene NiR was further verified by determining the luciferase activity level and was found to be strongly negative. CONCLUSION The activity of NiR was significantly positively correlated with N application from the seedling to the budding stage. Differential miRNAs and target genes showed a many-to-many relationship with each other. The expression of stu-miR396-5p, stu-miR482a-3p, and stu-miR8036-3p in the roots and leaves of the Yanshu4 and Atlantic varieties at the seedling and budding stages was notably different under two types of N stress. Under two types of N stress, stu-miR396-5p was down-regulated in Yanshu4 in the seedling-stage and shoot-stage roots, and up-regulated in seedling-stage roots and shoot-stage leaves; stu-miR482a-3p was up-regulated in the seedling and shoot stages. The expression of stu-miR8036-3p was up-regulated in the leaves and roots at the seedling and budding stages, and down-regulated in roots under both types of N stress. The gene expressing the key enzyme involved in N metabolism, StNiR, and the stu-miR396-5p luciferase assay reporter gene had a strong regulatory relationship with each other. This study provides candidate miRNAs related to nitrogen metabolism and highlights that differential miRNAs play a key role in nitrogen stress in potato, providing insights for future research on miRNAs and their target genes in nitrogen metabolic pathways and breeding nitrogen-efficient potatoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Lu
- College of Horticulture Research, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- College of Horticulture Research, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, People's Republic of China
- College of Resources and Environment, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, P.R. China
| | - Zhijun Han
- College of Horticulture Research, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongcai Han
- Jilin Provincial Research Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Changchun City, 130052, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Li
- Teaching and Research Base Management Office, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayue Zhang
- College of Horticulture Research, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoran Ma
- College of Horticulture Research, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuzhu Han
- College of Horticulture Research, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun City, 130118, People's Republic of China.
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Zhao Z, Li M, Xu W, Liu JH, Li C. Genome-Wide Identification of NRT Gene Family and Expression Analysis of Nitrate Transporters in Response to Salt Stress in Poncirus trifoliata. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071115. [PMID: 35885900 PMCID: PMC9323722 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The uptake and transportation of nitrate play a crucial role in plant growth and development. These processes mostly depend on nitrate transporters (NRT), which guarantee the supplement of nutrition in the plant. In this study, genes encoding NRT with Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) domain were identified in trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.). Totally, 56 NRT1s, 6 NRT2s, and 2 NAR2s were explored. The bioinformation analysis, including protein characteristics, conserved domain, motif, phylogenetic relationship, cis-acting element, and synteny correlation, indicated the evolutionary conservation and functional diversity of NRT genes. Additionally, expression profiles of PtrNRTs in different tissues demonstrated that NRT genes possessed spatio-temporal expression specificity. Further, the salt condition was certified to induce the expression of some NRT members, like PtrNPF2.1, PtrNPF7.4, and PtrNAR2.1, proposing the potential role of these NRTs in salt stress response. The identification of NRT genes and the expression pattern analysis in various tissues and salt stress lay a foundation for future research between nitrogen transport and salt resistance in P. trifoliata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeqi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Z.Z.); (M.L.); (W.X.); (J.-H.L.)
| | - Mengdi Li
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Z.Z.); (M.L.); (W.X.); (J.-H.L.)
| | - Weiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Z.Z.); (M.L.); (W.X.); (J.-H.L.)
| | - Ji-Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Z.Z.); (M.L.); (W.X.); (J.-H.L.)
| | - Chunlong Li
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE), College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (Z.Z.); (M.L.); (W.X.); (J.-H.L.)
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- Correspondence:
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Akbudak MA, Filiz E, Çetin D. Genome-wide identification and characterization of high-affinity nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and their transcriptional responses to drought and salinity stresses. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 272:153684. [PMID: 35349936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The high-affinity nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) proteins play vital roles in both nitrate (NO3-) uptake and translocation in plants. Although the gene families coding the NRT2 proteins have been identified and functionally characterized in many plant species, the systematic identification of NRT2 gene family members has not previously been reported in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Moreover, little is known about their expression profiles in response to different environmental stresses. The present study sought to identify the NRT2 gene family members within the tomato genome, and then to characterize them in detail by means of bioinformatics, physiological and expression analyses. Four novel NRT2 genes were identified in the tomato genome, all of which contained the same domain belonging to the major facilitator superfamily (PF07690). The co-expression network of the SlNRT2 genes revealed that they were co-expressed with several other genes in a number of different molecular pathways, including the transport, photosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism and amino acid catabolism pathways. Several phosphorylation sites were predicted in the NRT2 proteins. The SlNRT2 genes interact with many other genes that perform various functions in many crucial pathways within the tomato genome. The sequence variations observed at the gene and protein levels indicate the dynamic regulation of the SlNRT2 gene family members in relation to cell metabolism, particularly with regard to the nitrogen assimilation pathway. The responses of the SlNRT2 genes to drought and salinity stresses are diverse, and they are neither stress- nor tissue-specific. The findings of this study should provide a useful scientific basis for future studies concerning the roles of the NRT2 gene family in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Aydın Akbudak
- Akdeniz University, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Antalya, Turkey.
| | - Ertugrul Filiz
- Duzce University, Department of Crop and Animal Production, Cilimli Vocational School, 81750, Cilimli, Duzce, Turkey.
| | - Durmuş Çetin
- Akdeniz University, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Antalya, Turkey
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