Unraveling the Functional Role of NPF6 Transporters

Overview

Journal Front Plant Sci

Date 2018 Jul 26

PMID 30042774

Citations 10

Authors

Zhengyu Wen

Brent N Kaiser

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter (NPF) family represents a growing list of putative nitrate permeable transport proteins expressed within multiple cell types and tissues across a diverse range of plant species. Their designation as nitrate permeable and/or selective transporters is slowly being defined as more genes are characterized and their functional activities tested both and . The most notable of the NPF family has been the homolog, , previously known as or . AtNPF6.3 has traditionally been characterized as a dual-affinity nitrate transporter contributing to root nitrate uptake in . It has also been identified as a nitrate sensor which regulates the expression of high-affinity nitrate transport proteins NRT2s and lateral root development as a part of the primary nitrate response in plants. The sensor function of AtNPF6.3 has also been attributed to its auxin transport activity. Other homologs of AtNPF6.3 are now being described highlighting the variability in their functional capabilities (alternative substrates and kinetics) linking to structural aspects of the proteins. This review focusses on NPF6.3-like transport proteins and the knowledge that has been gained since their initial discovery over two decades ago. The review will investigate from a structural point of view how NPF6.3-like proteins may transport nitrate as well as other ions and what can be learned from structural uniqueness about predicted activities in plants.

Citing Articles

Functional and Molecular Characterization of Plant Nitrate Transporters Belonging to NPF (NRT1/PTR) 6 Subfamily.

Nedelyaeva O, Khramov D, Balnokin Y, Volkov V Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 25(24.

PMID: 39769409 PMC: 11677463. DOI: 10.3390/ijms252413648.

Molecular Cloning, Expression and Transport Activity of SaNPF6.3/SaNRT1.1, a Novel Protein of the Low-Affinity Nitrate Transporter Family from the Euhalophyte (L.) Pall.

Nedelyaeva O, Khramov D, Khalilova L, Konoshenkova A, Ryabova A, Popova L Membranes (Basel). 2023; 13(10).

PMID: 37888016 PMC: 10608580. DOI: 10.3390/membranes13100845.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of NPF family reveals NtNPF6.13 involving in salt stress in .

Zhang H, Li Z, Xu G, Bai G, Zhang P, Zhai N Front Plant Sci. 2022; 13:999403.

PMID: 36311086 PMC: 9608447. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.999403.

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE): elucidated mechanisms, mapped genes and gene networks in maize ( L.).

Wani S, Vijayan R, Choudhary M, Kumar A, Zaid A, Singh V Physiol Mol Biol Plants. 2022; 27(12):2875-2891.

PMID: 35035142 PMC: 8720126. DOI: 10.1007/s12298-021-01113-z.

TypiCal but DeliCate Care: Dissecting the Essence of Calcium Signaling Network as a Robust Response Coordinator of Versatile Abiotic and Biotic Stimuli in Plants.

Patra N, Hariharan S, Gain H, Maiti M, Das A, Banerjee J Front Plant Sci. 2021; 12:752246.

PMID: 34899779 PMC: 8655846. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.752246.

References

Sun J, Bankston J, Payandeh J, Hinds T, Zagotta W, Zheng N . Crystal structure of the plant dual-affinity nitrate transporter NRT1.1. Nature. 2014; 507(7490):73-7. PMC: 3968801. DOI: 10.1038/nature13074. View

Li H, Yu M, Du X, Wang Z, Wu W, Quintero F . NRT1.5/NPF7.3 Functions as a Proton-Coupled H/K Antiporter for K Loading into the Xylem in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 2017; 29(8):2016-2026. PMC: 5590498. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.16.00972. View

Hu B, Wang W, Ou S, Tang J, Li H, Che R . Variation in NRT1.1B contributes to nitrate-use divergence between rice subspecies. Nat Genet. 2015; 47(7):834-8. DOI: 10.1038/ng.3337. View

HUANG N, Chiang C, Crawford N, Tsay Y . CHL1 encodes a component of the low-affinity nitrate uptake system in Arabidopsis and shows cell type-specific expression in roots. Plant Cell. 1996; 8(12):2183-91. PMC: 161344. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.8.12.2183. View

Remans T, Nacry P, Pervent M, Filleur S, Diatloff E, Mounier E . The Arabidopsis NRT1.1 transporter participates in the signaling pathway triggering root colonization of nitrate-rich patches. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006; 103(50):19206-11. PMC: 1748200. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0605275103. View

Parker J, Li C, Brinth A, Wang Z, Vogeley L, Solcan N . Proton movement and coupling in the POT family of peptide transporters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017; 114(50):13182-13187. PMC: 5740623. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1710727114. View

Bouguyon E, Brun F, Meynard D, Kubes M, Pervent M, Leran S . Multiple mechanisms of nitrate sensing by Arabidopsis nitrate transceptor NRT1.1. Nat Plants. 2016; 1:15015. DOI: 10.1038/nplants.2015.15. View

Ho C, Lin S, Hu H, Tsay Y . CHL1 functions as a nitrate sensor in plants. Cell. 2009; 138(6):1184-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.07.004. View

Weber W . Ion currents of Xenopus laevis oocytes: state of the art. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999; 1421(2):213-33. DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2736(99)00135-2. View

10.

Ho C, Frommer W . Fluorescent sensors for activity and regulation of the nitrate transceptor CHL1/NRT1.1 and oligopeptide transporters. Elife. 2014; 3:e01917. PMC: 3950950. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.01917. View

11.

Kanno Y, Kamiya Y, Seo M . Nitrate does not compete with abscisic acid as a substrate of AtNPF4.6/NRT1.2/AIT1 in Arabidopsis. Plant Signal Behav. 2013; 8(12):e26624. PMC: 4091189. DOI: 10.4161/psb.26624. View

12.

Meharg A, Blatt M . NO3- transport across the plasma membrane of Arabidopsis thaliana root hairs: kinetic control by pH and membrane voltage. J Membr Biol. 1995; 145(1):49-66. DOI: 10.1007/BF00233306. View

13.

Lin S, Kuo H, Canivenc G, Lin C, Lepetit M, Hsu P . Mutation of the Arabidopsis NRT1.5 nitrate transporter causes defective root-to-shoot nitrate transport. Plant Cell. 2008; 20(9):2514-28. PMC: 2570733. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.108.060244. View

14.

Parker J, Newstead S . Molecular basis of nitrate uptake by the plant nitrate transporter NRT1.1. Nature. 2014; 507(7490):68-72. PMC: 3982047. DOI: 10.1038/nature13116. View

15.

Solcan N, Kwok J, Fowler P, Cameron A, Drew D, Iwata S . Alternating access mechanism in the POT family of oligopeptide transporters. EMBO J. 2012; 31(16):3411-21. PMC: 3419923. DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2012.157. View

16.

Kanno Y, Hanada A, Chiba Y, Ichikawa T, Nakazawa M, Matsui M . Identification of an abscisic acid transporter by functional screening using the receptor complex as a sensor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012; 109(24):9653-8. PMC: 3386071. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1203567109. View

17.

Allen T, Cullis P . Liposomal drug delivery systems: from concept to clinical applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012; 65(1):36-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2012.09.037. View

18.

Tsay Y, Schroeder J, Feldmann K, Crawford N . The herbicide sensitivity gene CHL1 of Arabidopsis encodes a nitrate-inducible nitrate transporter. Cell. 1993; 72(5):705-13. DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(93)90399-b. View

19.

Conde A, Diallinas G, Chaumont F, Chaves M, Geros H . Transporters, channels, or simple diffusion? Dogmas, atypical roles and complexity in transport systems. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009; 42(6):857-68. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.12.012. View

20.

Okamoto M, Kumar A, Li W, Wang Y, Siddiqi M, Crawford N . High-affinity nitrate transport in roots of Arabidopsis depends on expression of the NAR2-like gene AtNRT3.1. Plant Physiol. 2006; 140(3):1036-46. PMC: 1400568. DOI: 10.1104/pp.105.074385. View