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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
06:34
The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability
Published on: April 28, 2022
CITF1 fine-tunes FIT activity to regulate Fe uptake
Yuerong Cai1,2, Rihua Lei1,2, Junhui Zhao1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 650223, China.
The Plant Cell
|June 13, 2026
Summary
The CU-DEFICIENCY INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 1 (CITF1) regulates plant iron uptake by modulating the central regulator FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (FIT). CITF1 fine-tunes FIT activity through multiple mechanisms, ensuring iron homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Iron (Fe) is crucial for plant growth, requiring sophisticated uptake systems under deficiency.
- FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (FIT) is a key regulator of plant iron uptake.
- Maintaining iron homeostasis involves intricate modulation of FIT activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CU-DEFICIENCY INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 1 (CITF1) in regulating plant iron uptake.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which CITF1 modulates FIT activity.
Main Methods:
- Functional and genetic analyses were employed.
- Mechanistic investigations were conducted to understand protein interactions and localization.
- Gene expression analysis related to iron uptake.
Main Results:
- CITF1 regulates iron uptake in a FIT-dependent manner.
- CITF1 interferes with BTSL1/2 interaction with FIT.
- CITF1 sequesters FIT protein from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
- CITF1 forms a dimer with FIT, inhibiting its transcriptional activity.
Conclusions:
- CITF1 acts as a novel regulator of plant iron uptake by fine-tuning FIT activity.
- CITF1 employs multiple mechanisms to control FIT function, contributing to iron homeostasis.
- This study provides new insights into the complex regulatory network of iron uptake in plants.
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