1
|
Williamson G, Harris T, Bizior A, Hoskisson PA, Pritchard L, Javelle A. Biological ammonium transporters: evolution and diversification. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38265636 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Although ammonium is the preferred nitrogen source for microbes and plants, in animal cells it is a toxic product of nitrogen metabolism that needs to be excreted. Thus, ammonium movement across biological membranes, whether for uptake or excretion, is a fundamental and ubiquitous biological process catalysed by the superfamily of the Amt/Mep/Rh transporters. A remarkable feature of the Amt/Mep/Rh family is that they are ubiquitous and, despite sharing low amino acid sequence identity, are highly structurally conserved. Despite sharing a common structure, these proteins have become involved in a diverse range of physiological process spanning all domains of life, with reports describing their involvement in diverse biological processes being published regularly. In this context, we exhaustively present their range of biological roles across the domains of life and after explore current hypotheses concerning their evolution to help to understand how and why the conserved structure fulfils diverse physiological functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Williamson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas Harris
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Adriana Bizior
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Paul Alan Hoskisson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Leighton Pritchard
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Arnaud Javelle
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Scholz SS, Barth E, Clément G, Marmagne A, Ludwig-Müller J, Sakakibara H, Kiba T, Vicente-Carbajosa J, Pollmann S, Krapp A, Oelmüller R. The Root-Colonizing Endophyte Piriformospora indica Supports Nitrogen-Starved Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings with Nitrogen Metabolites. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15372. [PMID: 37895051 PMCID: PMC10607921 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The root-colonizing endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica promotes the root and shoot growth of its host plants. We show that the growth promotion of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves is abolished when the seedlings are grown on media with nitrogen (N) limitation. The fungus neither stimulated the total N content nor did it promote 15NO3- uptake from agar plates to the leaves of the host under N-sufficient or N-limiting conditions. However, when the roots were co-cultivated with 15N-labelled P. indica, more labels were detected in the leaves of N-starved host plants but not in plants supplied with sufficient N. Amino acid and primary metabolite profiles, as well as the expression analyses of N metabolite transporter genes suggest that the fungus alleviates the adaptation of its host from the N limitation condition. P. indica alters the expression of transporter genes, which participate in the relocation of NO3-, NH4+ and N metabolites from the roots to the leaves under N limitation. We propose that P. indica participates in the plant's metabolomic adaptation against N limitation by delivering reduced N metabolites to the host, thus alleviating metabolic N starvation responses and reprogramming the expression of N metabolism-related genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra S. Scholz
- Department of Plant Physiology, Matthias-Schleiden-Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Emanuel Barth
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Gilles Clément
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000 Versailles, France (A.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Anne Marmagne
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000 Versailles, France (A.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Jutta Ludwig-Müller
- Institute of Botany, Technische Universität Dresden, 01217 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Hitoshi Sakakibara
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan; (H.S.); (T.K.)
| | - Takatoshi Kiba
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan; (H.S.); (T.K.)
| | - Jesús Vicente-Carbajosa
- Centro de Biotechnología y Genómica de Plantas, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentación (INIA), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Campus de Montegancedo, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (J.V.-C.); (S.P.)
- Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephan Pollmann
- Centro de Biotechnología y Genómica de Plantas, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentación (INIA), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Campus de Montegancedo, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (J.V.-C.); (S.P.)
- Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Anne Krapp
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000 Versailles, France (A.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Ralf Oelmüller
- Department of Plant Physiology, Matthias-Schleiden-Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang C, Huang C, Gou L, Yang H, Liu G. Functional Identification and Genetic Transformation of the Ammonium Transporter PtrAMT1;6 in Populus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108511. [PMID: 37239858 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The ammonium transporter (AMT) family gene is an important transporter involved in ammonium uptake and transfer in plants and is mainly engaged in the uptake and transport of ammonium from the environment by roots and the reabsorption of ammonium in the aboveground parts. In this study, the expression pattern, functional identification, and genetic transformation of the PtrAMT1;6 gene, a member of the ammonium transporter protein family in P. trichocarpa, were investigated as follows: (1) Fluorescence quantitative PCR demonstrated that the PtrAMT1;6 gene was preferentially expressed in the leaves, with both dark-induced and light-inhibited expression patterns. (2) A functional restoration assay using the yeast ammonium transporter protein mutant strain indicated that the PtrAMT1;6 gene restored the ability of the mutant to transport ammonium with high affinity. (3) Arabidopsis was transformed with pCAMBIA-PtrAMT1;6P, and the transformed lines were stained with GUS, which showed that the rootstock junction, cotyledon petioles, and the leaf veins and pulp near the petioles of the transformed plants could be stained blue, indicating that the promoter of the PtrAMT1;6 gene had promoter activity. (4) The overexpression of the PtrAMT1;6 gene caused an imbalance in carbon and nitrogen metabolism and reduced nitrogen assimilation ability in '84K' poplar and ultimately reduced biomass. The above results suggest that PtrAMT1;6 may be involved in ammonia recycling during nitrogen metabolism in aboveground parts, and overexpression of PtrAMT1;6 may affect the process of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, as well as nitrogen assimilation in plants, resulting in stunted growth of overexpression plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengjun Yang
- Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Chunxi Huang
- Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Luzheng Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Han Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Guanjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gao S, Yang Y, Guo J, Zhang X, Feng M, Su Y, Que Y, Xu L. Ectopic Expression of Sugarcane ScAMT1.1 Has the Potential to Improve Ammonium Assimilation and Grain Yield in Transgenic Rice under Low Nitrogen Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021595. [PMID: 36675108 PMCID: PMC9863325 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In China, nitrogen (N) fertilizer is excessively used in sugarcane planting areas, while the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of sugarcane is relatively low. Mining and identifying the key genes in response to low N stress in sugarcane can provide useful gene elements and a theoretical basis for developing sugarcane varieties with high NUE. In our study, RNA-Seq combined with qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the ScAMT1.1 gene responded positively to low N stress, resulting in the stronger low N tolerance and high NUE ability of sugarcane cultivar ROC22. Then, ScAMT1.1 was cloned from sugarcane. The full-length cDNA of the ScAMT1.1 gene is 1868 bp, containing a 1491 bp open reading frame (ORF), and encoding 496 amino acids. ScAMT1.1 belongs to the AMT superfamily and shares 91.57% homologies with AMT1.1 from Oryza sativa. Furthermore, it was stably overexpressed in rice (O. sativa). Under low N treatment, the plant height and the fresh weight of the ScAMT1.1-overexpressed transgenic rice were 36.48% and 51.55% higher than that of the wild-type, respectively. Both the activity of ammonium assimilation key enzymes GS and GDH, and the expression level of ammonium assimilation key genes, including GS1.1, GS1.2, GDH, Fd-GOGAT, and NADH-GOGAT2 in the transgenic plants, were significantly higher than that of the wild-type. The grain number and grain yield per plant in the transgenic rice were 6.44% and 9.52% higher than that of the wild-type in the pot experiments, respectively. Taken together, the sugarcane ScAMT1.1 gene has the potential to improve ammonium assimilation ability and the yield of transgenic rice under low N fertilizer conditions. This study provided an important functional gene for improving sugarcane varieties with high NUE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yingying Yang
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (L.X.); Tel.: +86-591-8385-1742 (Y.Y. & L.X.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Liping Xu
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (L.X.); Tel.: +86-591-8385-1742 (Y.Y. & L.X.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kishchenko O, Stepanenko A, Straub T, Zhou Y, Neuhäuser B, Borisjuk N. Ammonium Uptake, Mediated by Ammonium Transporters, Mitigates Manganese Toxicity in Duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:plants12010208. [PMID: 36616338 PMCID: PMC9824425 DOI: 10.3390/plants12010208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that affects all aspects of the growth, development and metabolic responses of plants. Here we investigated the influence of the two major sources of inorganic nitrogen, nitrate and ammonium, on the toxicity caused by excess of Mn in great duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza. The revealed alleviating effect of ammonium on Mn-mediated toxicity, was complemented by detailed molecular, biochemical and evolutionary characterization of the species ammonium transporters (AMTs). Four genes encoding AMTs in S. polyrhiza, were classified as SpAMT1;1, SpAMT1;2, SpAMT1;3 and SpAMT2. Functional testing of the expressed proteins in yeast and Xenopus oocytes clearly demonstrated activity of SpAMT1;1 and SpAMT1;3 in transporting ammonium. Transcripts of all SpAMT genes were detected in duckweed fronds grown in cultivation medium, containing a physiological or 50-fold elevated concentration of Mn at the background of nitrogen or a mixture of nitrate and ammonium. Each gene demonstrated an individual expression pattern, revealed by RT-qPCR. Revealing the mitigating effect of ammonium uptake on manganese toxicity in aquatic duckweed S. polyrhiza, the study presents a comprehensive analysis of the transporters involved in the uptake of ammonium, shedding a new light on the interactions between the mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity and the regulation of the plant nitrogen metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olena Kishchenko
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, West Changjiang Road 111, Huai’an 223000, China
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Gatersleben, Germany
- Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Acad. Zabolotnogo Str. 148, 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Anton Stepanenko
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, West Changjiang Road 111, Huai’an 223000, China
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Gatersleben, Germany
- Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Acad. Zabolotnogo Str. 148, 03143 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Tatsiana Straub
- Institute of Crop Science, Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Yuzhen Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, West Changjiang Road 111, Huai’an 223000, China
| | - Benjamin Neuhäuser
- Institute of Crop Science, Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nikolai Borisjuk
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Huaiyin Normal University, West Changjiang Road 111, Huai’an 223000, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sebastiana M, Serrazina S, Monteiro F, Wipf D, Fromentin J, Teixeira R, Malhó R, Courty PE. Nitrogen Acquisition and Transport in the Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis-Insights from the Interaction between an Oak Tree and Pisolithus tinctorius. Plants (Basel) 2022; 12:10. [PMID: 36616139 PMCID: PMC9823632 DOI: 10.3390/plants12010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In temperate forests, the roots of various tree species are colonized by ectomycorrhizal fungi, which have a key role in the nitrogen nutrition of their hosts. However, not much is known about the molecular mechanisms related to nitrogen metabolism in ectomycorrhizal plants. This study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen metabolic response of oak plants when inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius. The expression of candidate genes encoding proteins involved in nitrogen uptake and assimilation was investigated in ectomycorrhizal roots. We found that three oak ammonium transporters were over-expressed in root tissues after inoculation, while the expression of amino acid transporters was not modified, suggesting that inorganic nitrogen is the main form of nitrogen transferred by the symbiotic fungus into the roots of the host plant. Analysis by heterologous complementation of a yeast mutant defective in ammonium uptake and GFP subcellular protein localization clearly confirmed that two of these genes encode functional ammonium transporters. Structural similarities between the proteins encoded by these ectomycorrhizal upregulated ammonium transporters, and a well-characterized ammonium transporter from E. coli, suggest a similar transport mechanism, involving deprotonation of NH4+, followed by diffusion of uncharged NH3 into the cytosol. This view is supported by the lack of induction of NH4+ detoxifying mechanisms, such as the GS/GOGAT pathway, in the oak mycorrhizal roots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Sebastiana
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Susana Serrazina
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Filipa Monteiro
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Daniel Wipf
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Jérome Fromentin
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Rita Teixeira
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui Malhó
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Courty
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Epalle NH, Beitz E. Local Attraction of Substrates and Co-Substrates Enhances Weak Acid and Base Transmembrane Transport. Biomolecules 2022; 12. [PMID: 36551222 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane transport of weak acid and base metabolites depends on the local pH conditions that affect the protonation status of the substrates and the availability of co-substrates, typically protons. Different protein designs ensure the attraction of substrates and co-substrates to the transporter entry sites. These include electrostatic surface charges on the transport proteins and complexation with seemingly transport-unrelated proteins that provide substrate and/or proton antenna, or enzymatically generate substrates in place. Such protein assemblies affect transport rates and directionality. The lipid membrane surface also collects and transfers protons. The complexity in the various systems enables adjustability and regulation in a given physiological or pathophysiological situation. This review describes experimentally shown principles in the attraction and facilitation of weak acid and base transport substrates, including monocarboxylates, ammonium, bicarbonate, and arsenite, plus protons as a co-substrate.
Collapse
|
8
|
Allen WJ, Collinson I. A molecular dual carriageway. eLife 2020; 9:61148. [PMID: 32840481 PMCID: PMC7447420 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to enter a cell, an ammonium ion must first dissociate to form an ammonia molecule and a hydrogen ion (a proton), which then pass through the cell membrane separately and recombine inside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William J Allen
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Collinson
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Williamson G, Tamburrino G, Bizior A, Boeckstaens M, Dias Mirandela G, Bage MG, Pisliakov A, Ives CM, Terras E, Hoskisson PA, Marini AM, Zachariae U, Javelle A. A two-lane mechanism for selective biological ammonium transport. eLife 2020; 9:57183. [PMID: 32662768 PMCID: PMC7447429 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The transport of charged molecules across biological membranes faces the dual problem of accommodating charges in a highly hydrophobic environment while maintaining selective substrate translocation. This has been the subject of a particular controversy for the exchange of ammonium across cellular membranes, an essential process in all domains of life. Ammonium transport is mediated by the ubiquitous Amt/Mep/Rh transporters that includes the human Rhesus factors. Here, using a combination of electrophysiology, yeast functional complementation and extended molecular dynamics simulations, we reveal a unique two-lane pathway for electrogenic NH4+ transport in two archetypal members of the family, the transporters AmtB from Escherichia coli and Rh50 from Nitrosomonas europaea. The pathway underpins a mechanism by which charged H+ and neutral NH3 are carried separately across the membrane after NH4+ deprotonation. This mechanism defines a new principle of achieving transport selectivity against competing ions in a biological transport process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Williamson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Tamburrino
- Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.,Physics, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Adriana Bizior
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mélanie Boeckstaens
- Biology of Membrane Transport Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Gaëtan Dias Mirandela
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus G Bage
- Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.,Physics, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Andrei Pisliakov
- Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.,Physics, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Callum M Ives
- Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Eilidh Terras
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Hoskisson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Maria Marini
- Biology of Membrane Transport Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Ulrich Zachariae
- Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.,Physics, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Arnaud Javelle
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hao DL, Zhou JY, Yang SY, Huang YN, Su YH. Functional and Regulatory Characterization of Three AMTs in Maize Roots. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:884. [PMID: 32676086 PMCID: PMC7333355 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Maize grows in nitrate-dominated dryland soils, but shortly upon localized dressing of nitrogen fertilizers, ammonium is retained as a noticeable form of nitrogen source available to roots. Thus in addition to nitrate, the absorption of ammonium can be an important strategy that promotes rapid plant growth at strong nitrogen demanding stages. The present study reports the functional characterization of three root-expressed ammonium transporters (AMTs), aiming at finding out functional and regulatory properties that correlate with efficient nitrogen acquisition of maize. Using a stable electrophysiological recording method we previously established in Xenopus laevis oocytes that integrates the capture of currents in response to voltage ramps with onsite stability controls, we demonstrate that all three ZmAMT1s engage NH4 + uniporting as ammonium uptake mechanisms. The K m value for ZmAMT1.1a, 1.1b, or ZmAMT1.3 is, respectively, 9.9, 15.6, or 18.6 μM, indicating a typical high-affinity transport of NH4 + ions. Importantly, the uptake currents of these ZmAMT1s are markedly amplified upon extracellular acidification. A pH drop from 7.4 to 5.4 results in a 140.8%, 64.1% or a 120.7% increase of ammonium uptake activity through ZmAMT1.1a, 1.1b, or ZmAMT1.3. Since ammonium uptake by plant roots accompanies a spontaneous acidification to the root medium, the functional promotion of ZmAMT1.1a, 1.1b, and ZmAMT1.3 by low pH is in line with the facilitated ammonium uptake activity in maize roots. Furthermore, the expression of the three ZmAMT1 genes is induced under ammonium-dominated conditions. Thus we describe a facilitated ammonium uptake strategy in maize roots by functional and expression regulations of ZmAMT1 transporters that may coordinate with efficient acquisition of this form of nitrogen source when available.
Collapse
|
11
|
Hao DL, Zhou JY, Yang SY, Qi W, Yang KJ, Su YH. Function and Regulation of Ammonium Transporters in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3557. [PMID: 32443561 PMCID: PMC7279009 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ammonium transporter (AMT)-mediated acquisition of ammonium nitrogen from soils is essential for the nitrogen demand of plants, especially for those plants growing in flooded or acidic soils where ammonium is dominant. Recent advances show that AMTs additionally participate in many other physiological processes such as transporting ammonium from symbiotic fungi to plants, transporting ammonium from roots to shoots, transferring ammonium in leaves and reproductive organs, or facilitating resistance to plant diseases via ammonium transport. Besides being a transporter, several AMTs are required for the root development upon ammonium exposure. To avoid the adverse effects of inadequate or excessive intake of ammonium nitrogen on plant growth and development, activities of AMTs are fine-tuned not only at the transcriptional level by the participation of at least four transcription factors, but also at protein level by phosphorylation, pH, endocytosis, and heterotrimerization. Despite these progresses, it is worth noting that stronger growth inhibition, not facilitation, unfortunately occurs when AMT overexpression lines are exposed to optimal or slightly excessive ammonium. This implies that a long road remains towards overcoming potential limiting factors and achieving AMT-facilitated yield increase to accomplish the goal of persistent yield increase under the present high nitrogen input mode in agriculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Li Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; (D.-L.H.); (J.-Y.Z.); (S.-Y.Y.)
| | - Jin-Yan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; (D.-L.H.); (J.-Y.Z.); (S.-Y.Y.)
| | - Shun-Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; (D.-L.H.); (J.-Y.Z.); (S.-Y.Y.)
| | - Wei Qi
- College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China;
| | - Ke-Jun Yang
- Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center, Zhucheng 262200, China;
| | - Yan-Hua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; (D.-L.H.); (J.-Y.Z.); (S.-Y.Y.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang Y, Wu X, Yuan L. Distinct non-coding RNAs confer root-dependent sense transgene-induced post-transcriptional gene silencing and nitrogen-dependent post-transcriptional regulation to AtAMT1;1 transcripts in Arabidopsis roots. Plant J 2020; 102:823-837. [PMID: 31901180 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
High-affinity ammonium uptake in roots mediate by AMT1-type ammonium transporters, which are tightly controlled at multiple regulatory levels for adapting various nitrogen availability. For Arabidopsis AtAMT1;1 gene, in addition to the transcriptional and post-translational controls, an organ-dependent and N-dependent post-transcriptional regulation was suggested as an additional regulatory step for fine tuning ammonium uptake, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here, we showed that degradation of AtAMT1;1 transcript in roots of Pro35s:AtAMT1;1-transformed atamt1;1-1 Arabidopsis plants resulted from RDR6-dependent sense transgene-induced post-transcriptional gene silencing (S-PTGS). The siRNAs for S-PTGS may derive from the aberrant RNA, of which the production was co-determined by sequence feature and excessive expression of AtAMT1;1. Switching to the expression of AtAMT1;1 driven by ProAtUBQ10 or of AtAMT1;1 mutated at two siRNA-targeted hotspots reduced AtAMT1;1-specific siRNAs and overcame S-PTGS in roots. In roots of these lines, however, the steady-state transcript levels of AtAMT1;1 still significantly decreased under conditions of N-sufficiency compared with N-deficiency, confirming a N-dependent post-transcriptional regulatory manner. A crucial role of the 207-bp 3'-end sequence of AtAMT1;1 was further demonstrated by N-dependent accumulation of chimeric-AtAMT1;1 transcript in T-DNA insertion lines and of GFP-tagged chimeric-AtAMT1;1 transcript in transgenic lines. A novel non-coding RNA (ncRNA), which was highly abundant in N-sufficient roots, may target the above-identified 3'-end region for the degrading AtAMT1;1 transcript. This degradation could be prevented by a mutation on the AtAMT1;1 transcript at a potential cleavage site (+1458). These results suggested two distinct mechanisms of regulating AtAMT1;1 mRNA turnover by ncRNA for strictly control of ammonium uptake in roots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, China
| | - Lixing Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ganz P, Ijato T, Porras-Murrilo R, Stührwohldt N, Ludewig U, Neuhäuser B. A twin histidine motif is the core structure for high-affinity substrate selection in plant ammonium transporters. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:3362-3370. [PMID: 31988244 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ammonium transporters (AMT), methylamine permeases (Mep), and the more distantly related rhesus factors (Rh) are trimeric membrane proteins present in all domains of life. AMT/Mep/Rhs are highly selective membrane proteins required for ammonium uptake or release, and they efficiently exclude the similarly sized K+ ion. Previously reported crystal structures have revealed that each transporter subunit contains a unique hydrophobic but occluded central pore, but it is unclear whether the base (NH3) or NH3 coupled with an H+ are transported. Here, using expression of two plant AMTs (AtAMT1;2 and AMT2) in budding yeast, we found that systematic replacements in the conserved twin-histidine motif, a hallmark of most AMT/Mep/Rh, alter substrate recognition, transport capacities, N isotope selection, and selectivity against K+ AMT-specific differences were found for histidine variants. Variants that completely lost ammonium N isotope selection, a feature likely associated with NH4 + deprotonation during passage, substantially transported K+ in addition to NH4 + Of note, the twin-histidine motif was not essential for ammonium transport. However, it conferred key AMT features, such as high substrate affinity and selectivity against alkali cations via an NH4 + deprotonation mechanism. Our findings indicate that the twin-His motif is the core structure responsible for substrate deprotonation and isotopic preferences in AMT pores and that decreased deprotonation capacity is associated with reduced selectivity against K+ We conclude that optimization for ammonium transport in plant AMT represents a compromise between substrate deprotonation for optimal selectivity and high substrate affinity and transport rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Ganz
- Institute of Crop Science, Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Toyosi Ijato
- Institute of Crop Science, Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Romano Porras-Murrilo
- Institute of Crop Science, Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nils Stührwohldt
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Uwe Ludewig
- Institute of Crop Science, Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Benjamin Neuhäuser
- Institute of Crop Science, Nutritional Crop Physiology, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lecompte M, Cattaert D, Vincent A, Birman S, Chérif-Zahar B. Drosophila ammonium transporter Rh50 is required for integrity of larval muscles and neuromuscular system. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:81-94. [PMID: 31273786 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Rhesus glycoproteins (Rh50) have been shown to be ammonia transporters in many species from bacteria to human. They are involved in various physiological processes including acid excretion and pH regulation. Rh50 proteins can also provide a structural link between the cytoskeleton and the plasma membranes that maintain cellular integrity. Although ammonia plays essential roles in the nervous system, in particular at glutamatergic synapses, a potential role for Rh50 proteins at synapses has not yet been investigated. To better understand the function of these proteins in vivo, we studied the unique Rh50 gene of Drosophila melanogaster, which encodes two isoforms, Rh50A and Rh50BC. We found that Drosophila Rh50A is expressed in larval muscles and enriched in the postsynaptic regions of the glutamatergic neuromuscular junctions. Rh50 inactivation by RNA interference selectively in muscle cells caused muscular atrophy in larval stages and pupal lethality. Interestingly, Rh50-deficiency in muscles specifically increased glutamate receptor subunit IIA (GluRIIA) level and the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic potentials. Our work therefore highlights a new role for Rh50 proteins in the maintenance of Drosophila muscle architecture and synaptic physiology, which could be conserved in other species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Lecompte
- Genes Circuits Rhythmes et Neuropathologies, Plasticité du Cerveau, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Cattaert
- Institut des Neurosciences Cognitives et Intégratives d'Aquitaine, CNRS, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alain Vincent
- Centre de Biologie du Développement, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, Toulouse University, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Serge Birman
- Genes Circuits Rhythmes et Neuropathologies, Plasticité du Cerveau, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Baya Chérif-Zahar
- Genes Circuits Rhythmes et Neuropathologies, Plasticité du Cerveau, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL University, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhu Y, Hao Y, Liu H, Sun G, Chen R, Song S. Identification and characterization of two ammonium transporter genes in flowering Chinese cabbage ( Brassica campestris). Plant Biotechnol (Tokyo) 2018; 35:59-70. [PMID: 31275038 PMCID: PMC6543737 DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.18.0202a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium transporters (AMTs), which include AMT1 and AMT2 subfamilies, have been identified and partially characterized in many plants. In this study, two AMT2-type genes from Brassica campestris, namely BcAMT2 and BcAMT2like, were identified and characterized. BcAMT2 and BcAMT2like are 2666 bp and 2952 bp, encode proteins of 490 and 489 amino acids, respectively, and contain five exons and four introns. Transient expression of these proteins labelled with green fluorescence protein in onion epidermal cells indicated that both are located on the plasma membrane. When expressing BcAMT2 or BcAMT2like, the mutant yeast strain 31019b could grow on medium containing 2 mM ammonium as the only nitrogen source when expressing BcAMT2 or BcAMT2like, indicating that both are functional AMT genes. Quantitative PCR results showed that BcAMT2 and BcAMT2like were expressed in all tissues, but they displayed different expression patterns in the reproductive stages. BcAMT2s transcript levels in leaves were positively correlated with ammonium concentration and external pH. Moreover, the expression BcAMT2s responded to diurnal change. Furthermore, the uncharged form of ammonium, i.e., ammonia, might also be transported by BcAMT2s. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying ammonium absorption and transportation by the AMT2 subfamily in B. campestris.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunna Zhu
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanwei Hao
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Houcheng Liu
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guangwen Sun
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Riyuan Chen
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiwei Song
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Calabrese S, Pérez-Tienda J, Ellerbeck M, Arnould C, Chatagnier O, Boller T, Schüßler A, Brachmann A, Wipf D, Ferrol N, Courty PE. GintAMT3 - a Low-Affinity Ammonium Transporter of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Rhizophagus irregularis. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7:679. [PMID: 27252708 PMCID: PMC4879785 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient acquisition and transfer are essential steps in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, which is formed by the majority of land plants. Mineral nutrients are taken up by AM fungi from the soil and transferred to the plant partner. Within the cortical plant root cells the fungal hyphae form tree-like structures (arbuscules) where the nutrients are released to the plant-fungal interface, i.e., to the periarbuscular space, before being taken up by the plant. In exchange, the AM fungi receive carbohydrates from the plant host. Besides the well-studied uptake of phosphorus (P), the uptake and transfer of nitrogen (N) plays a crucial role in this mutualistic interaction. In the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (formerly called Glomus intraradices), two ammonium transporters (AMT) were previously described, namely GintAMT1 and GintAMT2. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a newly identified R. irregularis AMT, GintAMT3. Phylogenetic analyses revealed high sequence similarity to previously identified AM fungal AMTs and a clear separation from other fungal AMTs. Topological analysis indicated GintAMT3 to be a membrane bound pore forming protein, and GFP tagging showed it to be highly expressed in the intraradical mycelium of a fully established AM symbiosis. Expression of GintAMT3 in yeast successfully complemented the yeast AMT triple deletion mutant (MATa ura3 mep1Δ mep2Δ::LEU2 mep3Δ::KanMX2). GintAMT3 is characterized as a low affinity transport system with an apparent Km of 1.8 mM and a V max of 240 nmol(-1) min(-1) 10(8) cells(-1), which is regulated by substrate concentration and carbon supply.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Calabrese
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Botany, Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of BaselBasel, Switzerland
| | - Jacob Pérez-Tienda
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasGranada, Spain
| | - Matthias Ellerbeck
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University MunichPlanegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christine Arnould
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéDijon, France
| | - Odile Chatagnier
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéDijon, France
| | - Thomas Boller
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Botany, Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of BaselBasel, Switzerland
| | - Arthur Schüßler
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University MunichPlanegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Andreas Brachmann
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University MunichPlanegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Daniel Wipf
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéDijon, France
| | - Nuria Ferrol
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasGranada, Spain
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Courty
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Botany, Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of BaselBasel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wu X, Yang H, Qu C, Xu Z, Li W, Hao B, Yang C, Sun G, Liu G. Sequence and expression analysis of the AMT gene family in poplar. Front Plant Sci 2015; 6:337. [PMID: 26052331 PMCID: PMC4440354 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium transporters (AMTs) are plasma membrane proteins that exclusively transport ammonium/ammonia. These proteins are encoded by an ancient gene family with many members. The molecular characteristics and evolutionary history of AMTs in woody plants are still poorly understood. We comprehensively evaluated the AMT gene family in the latest release of the Populus trichocarpa genome (version 3.0; Phytozome 9.0), and identified 16 AMT genes. These genes formed four clusters; AMT1 (7 genes), AMT2 (2 genes), AMT3 (2 genes), and AMT4 (5 genes). Evolutionary analyses suggested that the Populus AMT gene family has expanded via whole-genome duplication events. Among the 16 AMT genes, 15 genes are located on 11 chromosomes of Populus. Expression analyses showed that 14 AMT genes were vegetative organs expressed; AMT1;1/1;3/1;6/3;2 and AMT1;1/1;2/2;2/3;1 had high transcript accumulation level in the leaves and roots, respectively and strongly changes under the nitrogen-dependent experiments. The results imply the functional roles of AMT genes in ammonium absorption in poplar.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Han Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Chunpu Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Zhiru Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
- School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Bingqing Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Chuanping Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Guangyu Sun
- School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
- *Correspondence: Guangyu Sun, School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, 26 Hexing Road, HarBin 150040, China
| | - Guanjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbin, China
- Guanjun Liu, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, 26 Hexing Road, HarBin 150040, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
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. Front Plant Sci 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
19
|
Pérez-Tienda J, Corrêa A, Azcón-Aguilar C, Ferrol N. Transcriptional regulation of host NH₄⁺ transporters and GS/GOGAT pathway in arbuscular mycorrhizal rice roots. Plant Physiol Biochem 2014; 75:1-8. [PMID: 24361504 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a key role in the nutrition of many land plants. AM roots have two pathways for nutrient uptake, directly through the root epidermis and root hairs and via AM fungal hyphae into root cortical cells, where arbuscules or hyphal coils provide symbiotic interfaces. Recent studies demonstrated that the AM symbiosis modifies the expression of plant transporter genes and that NH₄⁺ is the main form of N transported in the symbiosis. The aim of the present work was to get insights into the mycorrhizal N uptake pathway in Oryza sativa by analysing the expression of genes encoding ammonium transporters (AMTs), glutamine synthase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) in roots colonized by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and grown under two N regimes. We found that the AM symbiosis down-regulated OsAMT1;1 and OsAMT1;3 expression at low-N, but not at high-N conditions, and induced, independently of the N status of the plant, a strong up-regulation of OsAMT3;1 expression. The AM-inducible NH₄⁺ transporter OsAMT3;1 belongs to the family 2 of plant AMTs and is phylogenetically related to the AM-inducible AMTs of other plant species. Moreover, for the first time we provide evidence of the specific induction of a GOGAT gene upon colonization with an AM fungus. These data suggest that OsAMT3;1 is likely involved in the mycorrhizal N uptake pathway in rice roots and that OsGOGAT2 plays a role in the assimilation of the NH₄⁺ supplied via the OsAMT3;1 AM-inducible transporter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Pérez-Tienda
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, C. Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Corrêa
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, C. Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Concepción Azcón-Aguilar
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, C. Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Nuria Ferrol
- Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y Sistemas Simbióticos, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, CSIC, C. Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Li H, Li M, Luo J, Cao X, Qu L, Gai Y, Jiang X, Liu T, Bai H, Janz D, Polle A, Peng C, Luo ZB. N-fertilization has different effects on the growth, carbon and nitrogen physiology, and wood properties of slow- and fast-growing Populus species. J Exp Bot 2012; 63:6173-85. [PMID: 23028021 PMCID: PMC3481209 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ers271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
To investigate how N-fertilization affects the growth, carbon and nitrogen (N) physiology, and wood properties of poplars with contrasting growth characteristics, slow-growing (Populus popularis, Pp) and fast-growing (P. alba×P. glandulosa, Pg) poplar saplings were exposed to different N levels. Above-ground biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic rates (A), instantaneous photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE (i)), chlorophyll and foliar sugar concentrations were higher in Pg than in Pp. Foliar nitrate reductase (NR) activities and root glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activities were higher in Pg than in Pp as were the N amount and NUE of new shoots. Lignin contents and calorific values of Pg wood were less than that of Pp wood. N-fertilization reduced root biomass of Pg more than of Pp, but increased leaf biomass, leaf area, A, and PNUE(i) of Pg more than of Pp. Among 13 genes involved in the transport of ammonium or nitrate or in N assimilation, transcripts showed more pronounced changes to N-fertilization in Pg than in Pp. Increases in NR activities and N contents due to N-fertilization were larger in Pg than in Pp. In both species, N-fertilization resulted in lower calorific values as well as shorter and wider vessel elements/fibres. These results suggest that growth, carbon and N physiology, and wood properties are more sensitive to increasing N availability in fast-growing poplars than in slow-growing ones, which is probably due to prioritized resource allocation to the leaves and accelerated N physiological processes in fast-growing poplars under higher N levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Mengchun Li
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Jie Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Xu Cao
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Long Qu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Ying Gai
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Xiangning Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Tongxian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Hua Bai
- Büsgen-Institute, Department of Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Georg-August University, Büsgenweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dennis Janz
- Büsgen-Institute, Department of Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Georg-August University, Büsgenweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Polle
- Büsgen-Institute, Department of Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Georg-August University, Büsgenweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Changhui Peng
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Ecology in Western China of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Zhi-Bin Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Ecology in Western China of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
McDonald TR, Dietrich FS, Lutzoni F. Multiple horizontal gene transfers of ammonium transporters/ammonia permeases from prokaryotes to eukaryotes: toward a new functional and evolutionary classification. Mol Biol Evol 2012; 29:51-60. [PMID: 21680869 PMCID: PMC3383101 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msr123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteins of the ammonium transporter/methylammonium permease/Rhesus factor family (AMT/MEP/Rh family) are responsible for the movement of ammonia or ammonium ions across the cell membrane. Although it has been established that the Rh proteins are distantly related to the other members of the family, the evolutionary history of the AMT/MEP/Rh family remains unclear. Here, we use phylogenetic analysis to infer the evolutionary history of this family of proteins across 191 genomes representing all main lineages of life and to provide a new classification of the proteins in this family. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that what has heretofore been conceived of as a protein family with two clades (AMT/MEP and Rh) is instead a protein family with three clades (AMT, MEP, and Rh). We show that the AMT/MEP/Rh family illustrates two contrasting modes of gene transmission: The AMT family as defined here exhibits vertical gene transfer (i.e., standard parent-to-offspring inheritance), whereas the MEP family as defined here is characterized by several ancient independent horizontal gene transfers (HGTs). These ancient HGT events include a gene replacement during the early evolution of the fungi, which could be a defining trait for the kingdom Fungi, a gene gain from hyperthermophilic chemoautolithotrophic prokaryotes during the early evolution of land plants (Embryophyta), and an independent gain of this same gene in the filamentous ascomycetes (Pezizomycotina) that was subsequently lost in most lineages but retained in even distantly related lichenized fungi. This recircumscription of the ammonium transporters/ammonia permeases family into MEP and AMT families informs the debate on the mechanism of transport in these proteins and on the nature of the transported molecule because published crystal structures of proteins from the MEP and Rh clades may not be representative of the AMT clade. The clades as depicted in this phylogenetic study appear to correspond to functionally different groups, with AMTs and ammonia permeases forming two distinct and possibly monophyletic groups.
Collapse
|
22
|
Berg GM, Shrager J, Glöckner G, Arrigo KR, Grossman AR. UNDERSTANDING NITROGEN LIMITATION IN AUREOCOCCUS ANOPHAGEFFERENS (PELAGOPHYCEAE) THROUGH cDNA AND qRT-PCR ANALYSIS(1). J Phycol 2008; 44:1235-1249. [PMID: 27041720 DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00571.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Brown tides of the marine pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens Hargraves et Sieburth have been investigated extensively for the past two decades. Its growth is fueled by a variety of nitrogen (N) compounds, with dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) being particularly important during blooms. Characterization of a cDNA library suggests that A. anophagefferens can assimilate eight different forms of N. Expression of genes related to the sensing, uptake, and assimilation of inorganic and organic N, as well as the catabolic process of autophagy, was assayed in cells grown on different N sources and in N-limited cells. Growth on nitrate elicited an increase in the relative expression of nitrate and ammonium transporters, a nutrient stress-induced transporter, and a sensory kinase. Growth on urea increased the relative expression of a urea and a formate/nitrite transporter, while growth on ammonium resulted in an increase in the relative expression of an ammonium transporter, a novel ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter and a putative high-affinity phosphate transporter. N limitation resulted in a 30- to 110-fold increase in the relative expression of nitrate, ammonium, urea, amino acid/polyamine, and formate/nitrite transporters. A. anophagefferens demonstrated the highest relative accumulation of a transcript encoding a novel purine transporter, which was highly expressed across all N sources. This finding suggests that purines are an important source of N for the growth of this organism and could possibly contribute to the initiation and maintenance of blooms in the natural environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gry Mine Berg
- Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USAGenome Analysis Group Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, D-07745 Jena, GermanyDepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Jeff Shrager
- Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USAGenome Analysis Group Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, D-07745 Jena, GermanyDepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Gernot Glöckner
- Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USAGenome Analysis Group Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, D-07745 Jena, GermanyDepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Kevin R Arrigo
- Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USAGenome Analysis Group Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, D-07745 Jena, GermanyDepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Arthur R Grossman
- Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USAGenome Analysis Group Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, D-07745 Jena, GermanyDepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USADepartment of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Duan YH, Zhang YL, Ye LT, Fan XR, Xu GH, Shen QR. Responses of rice cultivars with different nitrogen use efficiency to partial nitrate nutrition. Ann Bot 2007; 99:1153-60. [PMID: 17428833 PMCID: PMC3244343 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcm051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2006] [Revised: 12/11/2006] [Accepted: 02/08/2007] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS There is increased evidence that partial nitrate (NO3-) nutrition (PNN) improves growth of rice (Oryza sativa), although the crop prefers ammonium (NH4+) to NO3- nutrition. It is not known whether the response to NO3- supply is related to nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) in rice cultivars. Methods Solution culture experiments were carried out to study the response of two rice cultivars, Nanguang (High-NUE) and Elio (Low-NUE), to partial NO3- supply in terms of dry weight, N accumulation, grain yield, NH4+ uptake and ammonium transporter expression [real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]. KEY RESULTS A ratio of 75/25 NH4+ -N/NO3- -N increased dry weight, N accumulation and grain yield of 'Nanguang' by 30, 36 and 21 %, respectively, but no effect was found in 'Elio' when compared with those of 100/0 NH4+ -N/NO3- -N. Uptake experiments with 15N-NH4+ showed that NO3- increased NH4+ uptake efficiency in 'Nanguang' by increasing Vmax (14 %), but there was no effect on Km. This indicated that partial replacement of NH4+ by NO3- could increase the number of the ammonium transporters but did not affect the affinity of the transporters for NH4+. Real-time PCR showed that expression of OsAMT1s in 'Nanguang' was improved by PNN, while that in 'Elio' did not change, which is in accordance with the differing responses of these two cultivars to PNN. Conclusions Increased NUE by PNN can be attributed to improved N uptake. The rice cultivar with a higher NUE has a more positive response to PNN than that with a low NUE, suggesting that there might be a relationship between PNN and NUE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Q. R. Shen
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| |
Collapse
|