Phosphate Transport and Apoplastic Phosphate Homeostasis in Barley Leaves

Levels of apoplastic inorganic phosphate (P_i) in leaves andP_i-transport activities of mesophyll cells were measured insitu in control and P_i-deficient plants. When detached leaveswere fed a solution that contained 10 mM P_i, the apoplasticP_i levels, as measured by an infiltration method, remained almostconstant. When the leaves were immersed in pure water, the apoplasticP_i level gradually decreased. With 50 mM P_i in the feeding solution,the level increased dramatically. The apoplastic P_i levels inP_i-deficient leaves were somewhat, but not very much lower thanthose in controls. When the immersion medium was changed topure water 60 mm after feeding with 10 mM P_i, the apoplasticP_i levels started to decrease and then returned to the initiallevel. It is suggested that intracellular P_i may be transportedback to the apoplast to maintain the apoplastic P_i levels ata constant value. Changes in cytoplasmic pH were measured during feeding of P_ito the leaves by use of the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, pyranineafter Yin et al. (l990a, b). On feeding of P_i the cytoplasmicpH decreased in P_i-deficient plants as a result of co-transportof P_i and protons in situ. After removal of P_i from the immersionmedium, the cytoplasmic pH returned to the original value. ³ Present address: Institute für Biochemische Pflanzenpathologie,GSF-München, D-8042 Neuherberg, Germany.     

Pyridoxal 5-phosphate, Phenyl Phosphate and Acetyl Phosphate, as Inhibitors of Photophosphorylation Competitive with Phosphate

Pyridoxal 5-phosphate, phenyl phosphate and acetyl phosphate,as well as rß-naphthyl monophosphate, inhibited photophosphorylationof spinach chloroplasts competitively with P_i and noncompetitivelywith ADP. The apparent dissociation constant of the inhibitor-enzymecomplex (K_i) values of pyridoxal 5-phosphate, phenyl phosphateand acetyl phosphate for the P_i site were 1.1, 3.8 and 2.4 _mM,respectively. These organic phosphates inhibited Ca²⁺-ATPaseof the isolated coupling factor 1 (CF₁) (EC 3.6.1.3 [EC] ) noncompetitivelywith ATP. AMP, creatine phosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate,glucose 6-phosphate, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, ribose 5-phosphateand PP_i did not significantly inhibit photophosphorylation.Like rß-naphthyl monophosphate, pyridoxal 5-phosphateand phenyl phosphate inhibited photophosphorylation and thecoupled electron transport, but were almost without effect onthe basal electron transport. On the other hand, acetyl phosphateconsiderably inhibited photophosphorylation, but had almostno effect on the coupled electron transport rate and the basalrate. The results suggest that these organic phosphates inhibitphotophosphorylation by binding at the P_i site on the activecenter of CF₁ and that their binding inhibits the ATPase activityof isolated CF₁. These four organic phosphates which inhibited photophosphorylationcompetitively with Pi could not substitute for ADP or ATP ininhibiting ferricyanide photoreduction by decreasing H⁺-permeabilitythrough CF₁ and in protecting the ATPase of isolated CF₁ againstcold-anion inactivation. ¹ This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for ScientificResearch from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture,Japan to H.S. (Received May 25, 1981; Accepted September 28, 1981)     

Phosphate rock bioleaching

Summary Microbiological acid solutions produced byThiobacillus ferrooxidans andThiobacillus thiooxidans on pyritiferous concentrate were used to solubilize phosphate rock with a high grade in P₂O₅. Five different mixtures of pyritiferous concentrate and phosphate rock, in different proportions, were used in adequate liquid culture media. Phosphate solubilization ranged from 12% to 100% when 9K nutrients medium was used and from 12% to 89% when medium contained only 3.0g/l ammonium sulphate.     

Phosphate Deficiency in Maize. IV. Changes in Amounts of Sucrose Phosphate Synthase during the Course of Phosphate Deprivation

With low-P treatment of maize, the level of sucrose phosphatesynthase (SPS) protein decreased to 15% of the control, whilethe "V_max" activity stayed relatively high (100–80% ofthe control) and the substrate limiting activity increased about2 fold in the leaves. These results suggest that leaf phosphatestatus has dual effects on the amount of SPS protein and theactivation state of SPS. (Received January 20, 1992; Accepted April 14, 1993)     

Phosphate transport in plants

Transport of inorganic phosphate (P_i) through plant membranes is mediated by a number of families of transporter proteins. Studies on the topology, function, regulation and sites of expression of the genes that encode the members of these transporter families are enabling roles to be ascribed to each of them. The Pht1 family, of which there are nine members in the Arabidopsis genome, includes proteins involved in the uptake of P_i from the soil solution and the redistribution of P_i within the plant. Members of this family are H₂PO₄ ^–/H⁺ symporters. Most of the genes of the Pht1 family that are expressed in roots are up-regulated in P-stressed plants. Two members of the Pht1 family have been isolated from the cluster roots of white lupin. These same genes are expressed in non-cluster roots. The evidence available to date suggests that there are no major differences between the types of transport systems that cluster roots and non-cluster roots use to acquire P_i. Differences in uptake rates between cluster and non-cluster roots can be ascribed to more high-affinity P_i transporters in the plasma membranes of cluster roots, rather than any difference in the characteristics of the transporters. The efficient acquisition of P_i by cluster roots arises primarily from their capacity to increase the availability of soil P_i immediately adjacent to the rootlets by excretion of carboxylates, protons and phosphatases within the cluster. This paper reviews P_i transport processes, concentrating on those mediated by the Pht1 family of transporters, and attempts to relate those processes involved in P_i acquisition to likely P_i transport processes in cluster roots.     

Phosphate transport and signaling

The discovery of phosphate (Pi) transporter genes has provided a basis for the molecular study of the complex pattern of Pi transport in plants. Over the past two years, a significant amount of information has been generated on the molecular regulation of phosphate transport in plants. Recent developments in plant genomics will soon allow the complete dissection of the signal transduction pathway(s) associated with plant responses to Pi limitation in the rhizosphere.     

Phosphate toxicity and tumorigenesis

In this article, we briefly summarized evidence that cellular phosphate burden from phosphate toxicity is a pathophysiological determinant of cancer cell growth. Tumor cells express more phosphate cotransporters and store more inorganic phosphate than normal cells, and dysregulated phosphate homeostasis is associated with the genesis of various human tumors. High dietary phosphate consumption causes the growth of lung and skin tumors in experimental animal models. Additional studies show that excessive phosphate burden induces growth-promoting cell signaling, stimulates neovascularization, and is associated with chromosome instability and metastasis. Studies have also shown phosphate is a mitogenic factor that affects various tumor cell growth. Among epidemiological evidence linking phosphate and tumor formation, the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study found that high dietary phosphate levels were independently associated with lethal and high-grade prostate cancer. Further research is needed to determine how excessive dietary phosphate consumption influences initiation and promotion of tumorigenesis, and to elucidate prognostic benefits of reducing phosphate burden to decrease tumor cell growth and delay metastatic progression. The results of such studies could provide the basis for therapeutic modulation of phosphate metabolism for improved patient outcome.     

小麦磷酸丙糖转运器cDNA的克隆及其基因表达分析

利用RT-PCR方法以及RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA ends)策略,从小麦(Triticum aestivum L.) 幼苗叶片中克隆了编码磷酸丙糖转运器(TPT)的全长cDNA.序列分析结果表明,小麦TPT cDNA编码402个氨基酸的前体蛋白,其中信号肽含有78个氨基酸.成熟蛋白部分与玉米(Zea mays L.)TPT有很高的同源性(89%).推测小麦TPT成熟蛋白有8个跨膜区,形成双亲α-螺旋的跨膜结构.位于第7个跨膜区的Arg-274和Lys-275可能是底物结合位点.比较TPT基因在小麦幼苗的根、胚芽鞘、叶片和种子中的表达差异表明:TPT基因在叶片、胚芽鞘中均有表达,但在胚芽鞘中的表达量较低,在种子和根中未见有表达.由此看来,小麦TPT的基因可能只局限在绿色组织中表达.还就C3和C4植物TPT不同的底物特异性问题进行了讨论.     

小麦磷酸丙糖转运器cDNA的克隆及其基因表达分析

利用RT_PCR方法以及RACE(rapidamplificationofcDNAends)策略 ,从小麦 (TriticumaestivumL .)幼苗叶片中克隆了编码磷酸丙糖转运器 (TPT)的全长cDNA。序列分析结果表明 ,小麦TPTcDNA编码 40 2个氨基酸的前体蛋白 ,其中信号肽含有 78个氨基酸。成熟蛋白部分与玉米 (ZeamaysL .)TPT有很高的同源性 (89% )。推测小麦TPT成熟蛋白有 8个跨膜区 ,形成双亲α_螺旋的跨膜结构。位于第 7个跨膜区的Arg_2 74和Lys_2 75可能是底物结合位点。比较TPT基因在小麦幼苗的根、胚芽鞘、叶片和种子中的表达差异表明 :TPT基因在叶片、胚芽鞘中均有表达 ,但在胚芽鞘中的表达量较低 ,在种子和根中未见有表达。由此看来 ,小麦TPT的基因可能只局限在绿色组织中表达。还就C3 和C4植物TPT不同的底物特异性问题进行了讨论