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.
Highlights
Phosphorous is a major macronutrient for plant growth and development [1]
We found that OsPT4 is a functional Pi transporter localized mainly in the plasma membrane of exodermis cells in rice roots
To clarify OsPT4 gene function in detail, the expression patterns in different tissues were extracted from the CREP database; the microarray data were verified by quantitative PCR to reveal the expression profile of OsPT4
Summary
Phosphorous is a major macronutrient for plant growth and development [1]. Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) ensures the maintenance of metabolism and the processes of cell formation and signal transduction [2,3,4]. To resolve the conflict between the root peripheral environment with low Pi concentrations (
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