title: Short-Term Treatment with the Urease Inhibitor N-(n-Butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) Alters Urea Assimilation and Modulates Transcriptional Profiles of Genes Involved in Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Maize Seedlings.
abstract: To limit nitrogen (N) losses from the soil, it has been suggested to provide urea to crops in conjunction with the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). However, recent studies reported that NBPT affects urea uptake and urease activity in plants. To shed light on these latter aspects, the effects of NBPT were studied analysing transcriptomic and metabolic changes occurring in urea-fed maize seedlings after a short-term exposure to the inhibitor. We provide evidence that NBPT treatment led to a wide reprogramming of plant metabolism. NBPT inhibited the activity of endogenous urease limiting the release and assimilation of ureic-ammonium, with a simultaneous accumulation of urea in plant tissues. Furthermore, NBPT determined changes in the glutamine, glutamate, and asparagine contents. Microarray data indicate that NBPT affects ureic-N assimilation and primary metabolism, such as glycolysis, TCA cycle, and electron transport chain, while activates the phenylalanine/tyrosine-derivative pathway. Moreover, the expression of genes relating to the transport and complexation of divalent metals was strongly modulated by NBPT. Data here presented suggest that when NBPT is provided in conjunction with urea an imbalance between C and N compounds might occur in plant cells. Under this condition, root cells also seem to activate a response to maintain the homeostasis of some micronutrients.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanin
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venuti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: De Brito Francisco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Zeno
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Varanini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pinton
keywords: Zea mays; gene expression; microarray; nitrogen fertilizers; nitrogen nutrition; root uptake; urea; urea metabolism