Research2 sources
Nicotianamine-driven nickel transport to sink organs underpins maize productivity
Cell · By Zhen-Fei Chao, Yuanyuan Chen, Jia-Chen Wu, Ya-Ling Wang, Yingjie Xiao, Yong Peng, Lu-Yu Fan, Xiaqing Wang, Mei-Ling Han, Hai-Jun Liu, Nicolaus von Wirén, Jianbing Yan & Dai-Yin Chao ·
The Brief · written from 2 sources
- Researchers identified a maize gene, ZmNAET1, that controls nickel accumulation in the plant.
- The gene encodes a nicotianamine efflux transporter localized in the node phloem that regulates nickel delivery to sink organs, including seeds.
- In seeds, nickel-dependent urease activity promotes amino acid metabolism, suggesting a role for nickel in yield formation of graminaceous plants.
Why it matters
Long-distance transport of nickel from stems and leaves to grains was poorly understood for more than 50 years, and the findings point to a previously unappreciated link between nickel and cereal yield.
Who’s affected
- plant physiologists and crop scientists
- researchers studying plant nutrient transport
- #nickel
- #maize
- #plant nutrition
- #nutrient transport
- #crop yield
A node-phloem-localized nicotianamine efflux transporter in maize regulates Ni delivery to sink organs, including seeds, where Ni-dependent urease activity promotes amino acid metabolism, revealing an unappreciated role of Ni in the yield formation of graminaceous plants.
Timeline
Study describing the ZmNAET1 nickel transporter in maize published in Cell
cell.com
Nicotianamine-driven nickel transport to sink organs underpins maize productivity
Biology News - Evolution, Cell theory, Gene theory, Microbiology, Biotechnology
Tiny nutrient, big mystery: Key gene reveals how cereal crops transport nickel
Full coverage · 2 sources
- 5h ago ↗
Biology News - Evolution, Cell theory, Gene theory, Microbiology, Biotechnology
Tiny nutrient, big mystery: Key gene reveals how cereal crops transport nickel - 21h ago ↗
cell.com
Nicotianamine-driven nickel transport to sink organs underpins maize productivity