Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2014, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (6): 14-21.

• Review and editorial • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Function and Regulation Mechanisms of Nitrate Transporters in Higher Plants

Jia Hongfang, Zhang Hongying, Liu Weizhi, Cui Hong, Liu Guoshun   

  1. (College of Tobacco Science,Henan Agricultural University;National Tobacco Cultivation,Physiology and Biochemistry Research Center,Zhengzhou 450002)
  • Received:2013-11-03 Online:2014-06-25 Published:2014-06-25

Abstract: Nitrate(NO3-)is main nitrogen sources which plants absorb from soil. There are two different uptake systems in plants to cope with low or high NO3- concentrations in soil, the high affinity systems(HATS)and low affinity NO3- uptake systems(LATS). It is suggested that NRT1 and NRT2 families contribute to LATS and HATS for both NO3- uptake and distribution within the plant. Specific transport systems are essential for the uptake of NO3- and for its internal redistribution within plant. Over the past years, a significant advance has been obtained on the gene cloning, expression regulation and functional characterization of NRT1/2 transporters in higher plants. In this article, the research progresses on molecular level of known Nitrate transporters in higher plant in last decade were reviewed.

Key words: Higher plants, Nitrate transporters, Regulation mechanism, Recent advances