title: Cation transporters/channels in plants: Tools for nutrient biofortification.
abstract: Cation transporters/channels are key players in a wide range of physiological functions in plants, including cell signaling, osmoregulation, plant nutrition and metal tolerance. The recent identification of genes encoding some of these transport systems has allowed new studies toward further understanding of their integrated roles in plant. This review summarizes recent discoveries regarding the function and regulation of the multiple systems involved in cation transport in plant cells. The role of membrane transport in the uptake, distribution and accumulation of cations in plant tissues, cell types and subcellular compartments is described. We also discuss how the knowledge of inter- and intra-species variation in cation uptake, transport and accumulation as well as the molecular mechanisms responsible for these processes can be used to increase nutrient phytoavailability and nutrients accumulation in the edible tissues of plants. The main trends for future research in the field of biofortification are proposed.
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE/Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Bromatology and Hydrology, Faculty of Pharmacy - University of Porto, Portugal; CISA - Research Centre on Environment and Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: ecp@estsp.ipp.pt.
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE/Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Bromatology and Hydrology, Faculty of Pharmacy - University of Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel M P L V O
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels
keywords: Biofortification; Cations; Channel; Genetic engineering; Transporter