Up-regulation of a magnesium transporter gene OsMGT1 is required for conferring aluminum tolerance in rice.
Magnesium (Mg)-mediated alleviation of aluminum (Al) toxicity has been observed in a number of plant species, but the mechanisms underlying the alleviation are still poorly understood. When a putative rice (Oryza sativa) Mg transporter gene, Oryza sativa MAGNESIUM TRANSPORTER1 (OsMGT1), was knocked out, the tolerance to Al, but not to cadmium and lanthanum, was decreased. However, this inhibition could be rescued by addition of 10 μm Mg, but not by the same concentration of barium or strontium. OsMGT1 was expressed in both the roots and shoots in the absence of Al, but the expression only in the roots was rapidly up-regulated by Al. Furthermore, the expression did not respond to low pH and other metals including cadmium and lanthanum, and was regulated by an Al-responsive transcription factor, AL RESISTANCE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1. An investigation of subcellular localization showed that OsMGT1 was localized to the plasma membrane. A short-term (30 min) uptake experiment with stable isotope (25)Mg showed that knockout of OsMGT1 resulted in decreased Mg uptake, but that the uptake in the wild type was enhanced by Al. Mg concentration in the cell sap of the root tips was also increased in the wild-type rice, but not in the knockout lines in the presence of Al. A microarray analysis showed that transcripts of genes related to stress were more up- and down-regulated in the knockout lines. Taken together, our results indicate that OsMGT1 is a transporter for Mg uptake in the roots and that up-regulation of this gene is required for conferring Al tolerance in rice by increasing Mg concentration in the cell.
Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Japan.
Zhi Chang
ZC
Chen
Naoki
N
Yamaji
Ritsuko
R
Motoyama
Yoshiaki
Y
Nagamura
Jian Feng
JF
Ma
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002951:Citrates / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D002951:Citrates; D010940:Plant Proteins; D000535:Aluminum; D008274:Magnesium