Differential regulation of the NO3- and NH4+ transporter genes AtNrt2.1 and AtAmt1.1 in Arabidopsis: relation with long-distance and local controls by N status of the plant.
Regulation of root N uptake by whole-plant signalling of N status was investigated at the molecular level in Arabidopsis thaliana plants through expression analysis of AtNrt2.1 and AtAmt1.1. These two genes encode starvation-induced high-affinity NO3- and NH4+ transporters, respectively. Split-root experiments indicate that AtNrt2.1 expression is controlled by shoot-to-root signals of N demand. Together with 15NO3- influx, the steady-state transcript level of this gene is increased in NO3--fed roots in response to N deprivation of another portion of the root system. Thus AtNrt2.1 is the first identified molecular target of the long-distance signalling informing the roots of the whole plant's N status. In contrast, AtAmt1.1 expression is predominantly dependent on the local N status of the roots, as it is mostly stimulated in the portion of the root system directly experiencing N starvation. The same behaviour was found for NH4+ influx, suggesting that the NH4+ uptake system is much less efficient than the NO3- uptake system, to compensate for a spatial restriction of N availability. Other major differences were found between the regulations of AtNrt2.1 and AtAmt1.1 expression. AtNrt2.1 is strongly upregulated by moderate level of N limitation, while AtAmt1.1 transcript level is markedly increased only under severe N deficiency. Unlike AtNrt2.1, AtAmt1.1 expression is not stimulated in a nitrate reductase-deficient mutant after transfer to NO3- as sole N source, indicating that NO3- per se acts as a signal repressing transcription of AtAmt1.1. These results reveal two fundamentally different types of mechanism involved in the feedback regulation of root N acquisition by the N status of the plant.
Gansel
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Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UMR 5004, Agro-M, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Université Montpellier II, Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier cedex 1, France.
Muños
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Tillard
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P
Gojon
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A
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018533:Biomass; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D000091285:Nitrate Transporters; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D015398:Signal Transduction
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D000091285:Nitrate Transporters; D009566:Nitrates; D009584:Nitrogen; D010940:Plant Proteins; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; C088952:ammonium transporters, plant; C477335:NRT2.1 protein, Arabidopsis