title: Arabidopsis copper transport protein COPT2 participates in the cross talk between iron deficiency responses and low-phosphate signaling.
abstract: Copper and iron are essential micronutrients for most living organisms because they participate as cofactors in biological processes, including respiration, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress protection. In many eukaryotic organisms, including yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammals, copper and iron homeostases are highly interconnected; yet, such interdependence is not well established in higher plants. Here, we propose that COPT2, a high-affinity copper transport protein, functions under copper and iron deficiencies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). COPT2 is a plasma membrane protein that functions in copper acquisition and distribution. Characterization of the COPT2 expression pattern indicates a synergic response to copper and iron limitation in roots. We characterized a knockout of COPT2, copt2-1, that leads to increased resistance to simultaneous copper and iron deficiencies, measured as reduced leaf chlorosis and improved maintenance of the photosynthetic apparatus. We propose that COPT2 could play a dual role under iron deficiency. First, COPT2 participates in the attenuation of copper deficiency responses driven by iron limitation, possibly to minimize further iron consumption. Second, global expression analyses of copt2-1 versus wild-type Arabidopsis plants indicate that low-phosphate responses increase in the mutant. These results open up new biotechnological approaches to fight iron deficiency in crops.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de València, ES-46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perea-García
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Molina
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrés-Colás
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vera-Sirera
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pérez-Amador
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Lola
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peñarrubia
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006706:Homeostasis; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000080083:SLC31 Proteins; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C585190:COPT2 protein, Arabidopsis; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000080083:SLC31 Proteins; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron