The Phosphate Transporter Gene OsPht1;4 Is Involved in Phosphate Homeostasis in Rice

PLoS One. 2015 May 13;10(5):e0126186. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126186. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

A total of 13 phosphate transporters in rice (Oryza sative) have been identified as belonging to the Pht1 family, which mediates inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake and transport. We report the biological property and physiological role of OsPht1;4 (OsPT4). Overexpressing OsPT4 resulted in significant higher Pi accumulation in roots, straw and brown rice, and suppression of OsPT4 caused decreased Pi concentration in straw and brown rice. Expression of the β-glucuronidase reporter gene driven by the OsPT4 promoter showed that OsPT4 is expressed in roots, leaves, ligules, stamens, and caryopses under sufficient Pi conditions, consistent with the expression profile showing that OsPT4 has high expression in roots and flag leaves. The transcript level of OsPT4 increased significantly both in shoots and roots with a long time Pi starvation. OsPT4 encoded a plasma membrane-localized protein and was able to complement the function of the Pi transporter gene PHO84 in yeast. We concluded that OsPT4 is a functional Pi-influx transporter involved in Pi absorption in rice that might play a role in Pi translocation. This study will enrich our understanding about the physiological function of rice Pht1 family genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Glucuronidase / genetics
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism
  • Homeostasis / genetics
  • Oryza / genetics*
  • Oryza / metabolism
  • Phosphate Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Phosphate Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphates / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / genetics*
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / genetics*
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Shoots / genetics
  • Plant Shoots / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proton-Phosphate Symporters / genetics
  • Proton-Phosphate Symporters / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • PHO84 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Phosphate Transport Proteins
  • Phosphates
  • Plant Proteins
  • Proton-Phosphate Symporters
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Glucuronidase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB100304), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2012AA10A303), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31172017), the transgenic project (2014ZX08001005) and the Gates Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.