Molecular cloning and functional analysis of two phosphate transporter genes from Rhizopogon luteolus and Leucocortinarius bulbiger, two ectomycorrhizal fungi of Pinus tabulaeformis.
Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) is essential for plant growth, and phosphate (P) deficiency is a primary limiting factor in Pinus tabulaeformis development in northern China. P acquisition in mycorrhizal plants is highly dependent on the activities of phosphate transporters of their root-associated fungi. In the current study, two phosphate transporter genes, RlPT and LbPT, were isolated from Rhizopogon luteolus and Leucocortinarius bulbiger, respectively, two ectomycorrhizal fungi forming symbiotic interactions with the P. tabulaeformis. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the sequence of the phosphate transporter of L. bulbiger is most closely related to a phosphate transporter of Hebeloma cylindrosporum, whereas the phosphate transporter of R. luteolus is most closely related to that of Piloderma croceum. The subcellular localization indicated that RlPT and LbPT were expressed in the plasma membrane. The complementation assay in yeast indicated that both RlPT and LbPT partially compensated for the absence of phosphate transporter activity in the MB192 yeast strain, with a K m value of 57.90 μmol/L Pi for RlPT and 35.87 μmol/L Pi for LbPT. qPCR analysis revealed that RlPT and LbPT were significantly up-regulated at lower P availability, which may enhance P uptake and transport under Pi starvation. Our results suggest that RlPT and LbPT presumably play a key role in Pi acquisition by P. tabulaeformis via ectomycorrhizal fungi.
College of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010019, Inner Mongolia, China.|College of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010020, Inner Mongolia, China.
Rong
R
Zheng
College of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010019, Inner Mongolia, China.|South Subtropical Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Zhanjiang, 524091, Guangdong, China.
Jugang
J
Wang
College of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010019, Inner Mongolia, China.
Min
M
Liu
College of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010019, Inner Mongolia, China.
Guozhen
G
Duan
South Subtropical Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Zhanjiang, 524091, Guangdong, China.
Xiaomin
X
Gao
College of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010019, Inner Mongolia, China. baishulan2004@163.com.
Shulan
S
Bai
Fuyang Vocational and Technical College, Fuyang, 236031, Anhui, China.
Yachao
Y
Han
D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D028223:Pinus / Q000382:microbiology*; D021381:Protein Transport
D005656:Fungal Proteins
Ectomycorrhizae; Gene expression; Heterologous characterization; Phosphate transporter; Pinus tabulaeformis