title: Expression of a putative high-affinity NO3- transporter and of an H+-ATPase in relation to whole plant nitrate transport physiology in two maize genotypes differently responsive to low nitrogen availability.
abstract: Two maize genotypes differently responsive to nitrogen availability were characterized for their efficiency in nitrate accumulation via both the LATS (Low-Affinity Transport System) and HATS (High-Affinity Transport System) nitrate uptake systems. In addition, a full-length cDNA encoding a putative high-affinity nitrate transporter (ZmNrt2.1) was isolated and its expression evaluated in both the roots and leaves of the two maize genotypes, together with the expression of a maize H(+)-ATPase isoform (Mha1). The data showed the importance of the iHATS (Inducible High-Affinity System) system efficiency as a physiological marker of adaptation to low input and suggested that the transcript accumulation of ZmNrt2.1 might be a key step for the regulation of iHATS. However, ZmNrt2.1 transcription cannot account for the differences found between the two hybrids in terms of the activity of their respective iHATS and, as a consequence, of their adaptation to low input. Therefore, the involvement of some other transporter(s) or of some post-transcriptional/post-translational mechanism of regulation affecting the efficiency of iHATS may be hypothesized. In addition, the data suggest that the transcription of the Mha1 gene may also be involved in the global efficiency of the iHATS system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Padua, Agripolis, Strada Romea 16, 35020 Legnaro (Padua), Italy. silviaqu@unipd.it
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quaggiotti
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruperti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borsa
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Destro
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malagoli
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D027321:Anion Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D005838:Genotype; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000091285:Nitrate Transporters; D009566:Nitrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D000091285:Nitrate Transporters; D009566:Nitrates; D010940:Plant Proteins; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D009584:Nitrogen