A Chloroplast Phosphate Transporter, PHT2;1, Influences Allocation of Phosphate within the Plant and Phosphate-Starvation Responses Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The uptake and distribution of Pi in plants requires multiple Pi transport systems that must function in concert to maintain homeostasis throughout growth and development. The Pi transporter PHT2;1 of Arabidopsis shares similarity with members of the Pi transporter family, which includes Na(+)/Pi symporters of fungal and animal origin and H(+)/Pi symporters of bacterial origin. Sequence comparisons between proteins of this family revealed that plant members possess extended N termini, which share features with chloroplast transit peptides. Localization of a PHT2;1-green fluorescent protein fusion protein indicates that it is present in the chloroplast envelope. A Pi transport function for PHT2;1 was confirmed in yeast using a truncated version of the protein lacking its transit peptide, which allowed targeting to the plasma membrane. To assess the in vivo role of PHT2;1 in phosphorus metabolism, we identified a null mutant, pht2;1-1. Analysis of the mutant reveals that PHT2;1 activity affects Pi allocation within the plant and modulates Pi-starvation responses, including the expression of Pi-starvation response genes and the translocation of Pi within leaves.

altmetric score

  • 4

author list (cited authors)

  • Versaw, W. K., & Harrison, M. J.

citation count

  • 263

complete list of authors

  • Versaw, Wayne K||Harrison, Maria J

publication date

  • August 2002