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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits
Published on: February 10, 2023
Crystal structure and function of a phosphate starvation responsive protein phosphatase, GmHAD1-2 regulating soybean
Zeyu Zhang1, Xiaohui Mo1, Hongbo Zhao2
1Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Abstract:
Phosphate (Pi) availability is well known to regulate plant root growth. However, it remains largely unknown how flavonoid synthesis participates in affecting plant root growth in response to Pi starvation. In the study, the crystal structure of a plant protein phosphatase, GmHAD1-2, was dissected using X-ray crystallography for the first time. It was revealed that GmHAD1-2 contained a modified Rossmannoid class of α/β folds with three layered α/β sandwich. Transcripts of GmHAD1-2 were increased by Pi starvation in soybean roots, especially in lateral root tips. GmHAD1-2 suppression or overexpression significantly influenced soybean lateral root length and number, as well as phosphorus (P) content. Furthermore, GmHAD1-2 was found to interact with a chalcone reductase, GmCHR1. Suppression of GmHAD1-2 significantly changed the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in soybean roots. Taken together, the results highlight that GmHAD1-2 can regulate soybean root growth by influencing flavonoid metabolism.
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