Regulation of root ion transporters by photosynthesis: functional importance and relation with hexokinase.
Coordination between the activity of ion transport systems in the root and photosynthesis in the shoot is a main feature of the integration of ion uptake in the whole plant. However, the mechanisms that ensure this coordination are largely unknown at the molecular level. Here, we show that the expression of five genes that encode root NO(3)(-), NH(4)(+), and SO(4)(2-) transporters in Arabidopsis is regulated diurnally and stimulated by sugar supply. We also provide evidence that one Pi and one K(+) transporter also are sugar inducible. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are able to induce expression of the ion transporter genes but not of the carboxylic acids malate and 2-oxoglutarate. For most genes investigated, induction by light and induction by sucrose are strongly correlated, indicating that they reflect the same regulatory mechanism (i.e., stimulation by photosynthates). The functional importance of this control is highlighted by the phenotype of the atnrt2 mutant of Arabidopsis. In this mutant, the deletion of the sugar-inducible NO(3)(-) transporter gene AtNrt2.1 is associated with the loss of the regulation of high-affinity root NO(3)(-) influx by light and sugar. None of the sugar analogs used (3-O-methylglucose, 2-deoxyglucose, and mannose) is able to mimic the inducing effect of sugars. In addition, none of the sugar-sensing mutants investigated (rsr1-1, sun6, and gin1-1) is altered in the regulation of AtNrt2.1 expression. These results indicate that the induction of AtNrt2.1 expression by sugars is unrelated to the main signaling mechanisms documented for sugar sensing in plants, such as regulation by sucrose, hexose transport, and hexokinase (HXK) sensing activity. However, the stimulation of AtNrt2.1 transcript accumulation by sucrose and glucose is abolished in an antisense AtHXK1 line, suggesting that HXK catalytic activity and carbon metabolism downstream of the HXK step are crucial for the sugar regulation of AtNrt2.1 expression.
Lejay
Laurence
L
Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5004, Agro-M/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique/UM2, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 1, France.
Gansel
Xavier
X
Cerezo
Miguel
M
Tillard
Pascal
P
Müller
Cathrin
C
Krapp
Anne
A
von Wirén
Nicolaus
N
Daniel-Vedele
Françoise
F
Gojon
Alain
A
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006593:Hexokinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008027:Light; D008293:Malates / Q000494:pharmacology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D006593:Hexokinase; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; D008293:Malates; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009566:Nitrates; D013395:Sucrose; C477335:NRT2.1 protein, Arabidopsis; C030298:malic acid