Switching between the two action modes of the dual-affinity nitrate transporter CHL1 by phosphorylation.
To counteract fluctuating nutrient environments, plants have evolved high- and low-affinity uptake systems. These two systems were traditionally thought to be genetically distinct, but, recently, two Arabidopsis transporters, AtKUP1 and CHL1, were shown to have dual affinities. However, little is known about how a dual-affinity transporter works and the advantages of having a dual-affinity transporter. This study demonstrates that, in the case of CHL1, switching between the two modes of action is regulated by phosphorylation at threonine residue 101; when phosphorylated, CHL1 functions as a high-affinity nitrate transporter, whereas, when dephosphorylated, it functions as a low-affinity nitrate transporter. This regulatory mechanism allows plants to change rapidly between high- and low-affinity nitrate uptake, which may be critical when competing for limited nitrogen. These results demonstrate yet another regulatory role of phosphorylation in plant physiology.
Liu
Kun-Hsiang
KH
Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsay
Yi-Fang
YF
D000818:Animals; D027321:Anion Transport Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010940:Plant Proteins; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D013912:Threonine / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C101492:NRT1.1 protein, Arabidopsis; D009566:Nitrates; D010940:Plant Proteins; D013912:Threonine; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D009584:Nitrogen