ZmPTR1, a maize peptide transporter expressed in the epithelial cells of the scutellum during germination.
PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2013;
207:140-147. [PMID:
23602109 DOI:
10.1016/j.plantsci.2013.03.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/09/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In plants, peptide transporter/nitrate transporter 1 (PTR/NRT1) family proteins transport a variety of substrates such as nitrate, di- and tripepetides, auxin and carboxylates across membranes. We isolated and characterized ZmPTR1, a maize member of this family. ZmPTR1 protein sequence is highly homologous to the previously characterized di- and tripeptide Arabidopsis transporters AtPTR2, AtPTR4 and AtPTR6. ZmPTR1 gene is expressed in the cells of the scutellar epithelium during germination and, to a less extent, in the radicle and the hypocotyl. Arabidopsis thaliana lines overexpressing ZmPTR1 performed better than control plants when grown on a medium with Ala-Ala dipeptide as the unique N source. Our results suggest that ZmPTR1 plays a role in the transport into the embryo of the small peptides produced during enzymatic hydrolysis of the storage proteins in the endosperm.
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