Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
13:16
Characterization of Membrane Transporters by Heterologous Expression in E. coli and Production of Membrane Vesicles
Published on: December 31, 2019
Cloning and expression pattern of SsHKT1 encoding a putative cation transporter from halophyte Suaeda salsa.
Qun Shao1, Chang Zhao, Ning Han
1Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, P R China.
DNA Sequence : the Journal of DNA Sequencing and Mapping
|September 14, 2007
Summary
Researchers identified a new gene, SsHKT1, in Suaeda salsa plants. This gene is crucial for potassium uptake and helps plants tolerate salt stress, especially under low potassium conditions.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Potassium is vital for plant growth and development.
- High-affinity potassium (K+) uptake systems are essential for efficient K+ absorption and transport in plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a HKT1 homolog (SsHKT1) from the C3 halophyte Suaeda salsa.
- To investigate the role of SsHKT1 in potassium uptake and salt tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and sequencing of the SsHKT1 cDNA.
- Bioinformatic analysis of the SsHKT1 gene and protein sequence.
- Antibody preparation and Western blot analysis.
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for gene expression analysis.
Main Results:
- The SsHKT1 cDNA is 2033 nucleotides long, encoding a 550-amino acid peptide with a predicted molecular mass of 63.0 kDa.
- SsHKT1 shares 39-64% sequence identity with other plant HKT-like sequences.
- SsHKT1 protein is localized to the plasma membrane of S. salsa.
- SsHKT1 is primarily expressed in leaf tissues and is upregulated by potassium deprivation and NaCl treatment.
Conclusions:
- SsHKT1 plays a significant role in maintaining ion homeostasis in Suaeda salsa.
- The identified gene contributes to the plant's salt tolerance mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
02:02Responses to Salt Stress
Salt stress—which can be triggered by high salt concentrations in a plant’s environment—can significantly affect plant growth and crop production by influencing photosynthesis and the absorption of water and nutrients.
01:18Protein Transport to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane
Proteins targeted to the inner chloroplast membrane, or plastid proteins, are transported by two general pathways: the stop-transfer and the re-insertion or post-import pathways. Most plastid proteins carry N-terminal transit sequences and internal import sequences targeting it to the specific chloroplast subcompartment. Proteins targeted by the stop-transfer pathway have internal hydrophobic sequences that inhibit their translocation into the stroma. As a result, these precursors are arrested...
01:32Secondary Active Transport
One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme "pump" embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...