Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Polysome Profiling Protocol for Studying Translational Regulation in Arabidopsis Under Heat Stress
Published on: October 11, 2024
Zn stress facilitates nitrate transporter 1.1-mediated nitrate uptake aggravating Zn accumulation in Arabidopsis
Wei Pan1, Yue You1, Yi-Neng Weng1
1College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
Abstract:
Describing the mechanisms of zinc (Zn) accumulation in plants is essential to counteract the effects of excessive Zn uptake in crops grown in contaminated soils. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a positive correlation between nitrate supply and Zn accumulation in plants. However, the role of the primary nitrate transporter NRT1.1 in Zn accumulation in plants remains unknown. In this study, a Zn stress-induced increase in nitrate uptake and an increase in NRT1.1 protein levels in wild-type (Col-0) Arabidopsis plants were measured using microelectrode ion flux and green fluorescent protein (GFP)/β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining, respectively. Both agar and hydroponic cultures showed that mutants lacking the NRT1.1 function in nrt1.1 and chl1-5 (chlorate resistant 1) exhibited lower Zn levels in the roots and shoots of Zn-stressed plants than the wild-type. A lack of NRT1.1 activity also alleviated Zn-induced photosynthetic damage and growth inhibition in plants. Further, we used a rotation system with synchronous or asynchronous uptakes of nitrate and Zn to demonstrate differences in Zn levels between the Col-0 and nrt1.1/chl1-5 mutants. Significantly lower difference in Zn levels were noted in the nitrate/Zn asynchronous treatment than in the nitrate/Zn synchronous treatment. From these results, it can be concluded that NRT1.1 modulates Zn accumulation in plants via a nitrate-dependent pathway.
More Related Videos
13:14Measuring Fluxes of Mineral Nutrients and Toxicants in Plants with Radioactive Tracers
Published on: August 22, 2014
08:31Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes-Mediated Transformation of Potato and the Promoter Activity of a Suberin Gene by GUS Staining
Published on: March 29, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Responses to Salt Stress
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Short-distance Transport of Resources
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Responses to Drought and Flooding