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The SlZRT1 gene encodes a Plasma membrane-located ZIP (Zrt-, Irt-Like Protein) transporter in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus

Coninx, Laura ; Thoonen, Anneleen ; Slenders, Eli ; Morin, Emmanuelle ; Arnauts, Natascha ; De Beeck, Michiel Op LU orcid ; Kohler, Annegret ; Ruytinx, Joske and Colpaert, Jan V. (2017) In Frontiers in Microbiology 8.
Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient but may become toxic when present in excess. In Zn-contaminated environments, trees can be protected from Zn toxicity by their root-associated micro-organisms, in particular ectomycorrhizal fungi. The mechanisms of cellular Zn homeostasis in ectomycorrhizal fungi and their contribution to the host tree's Zn status are however not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize transporters involved in Zn uptake in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus, a cosmopolitan pine mycobiont. Zn uptake in fungi is known to be predominantly governed by members of the ZIP (Zrt/IrtT-like protein) family of Zn transporters. Four ZIP transporter encoding genes were identified in... (More)

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient but may become toxic when present in excess. In Zn-contaminated environments, trees can be protected from Zn toxicity by their root-associated micro-organisms, in particular ectomycorrhizal fungi. The mechanisms of cellular Zn homeostasis in ectomycorrhizal fungi and their contribution to the host tree's Zn status are however not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize transporters involved in Zn uptake in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus, a cosmopolitan pine mycobiont. Zn uptake in fungi is known to be predominantly governed by members of the ZIP (Zrt/IrtT-like protein) family of Zn transporters. Four ZIP transporter encoding genes were identified in the S. luteus genome. By in silico and phylogenetic analysis, one of these proteins, SlZRT1, was predicted to be a plasma membrane located Zn importer. Heterologous expression in yeast confirmed the predicted function and localization of the protein. A gene expression analysis via RT-qPCR was performed in S. luteus to establish whether SlZRT1 expression is affected by external Zn concentrations. SlZRT1 transcripts accumulated almost immediately, though transiently upon growth in the absence of Zn. Exposure to elevated concentrations of Zn resulted in a significant reduction of SlZRT1 transcripts within the first hour after initiation of the exposure. Altogether, the data support a role as cellular Zn importer for SlZRT1 and indicate a key role in cellular Zn uptake of S. luteus. Further research is needed to understand the eventual contribution of SlZRT1 to the Zn status of the host plant.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Metal uptake, Mycorrhiza, Suillus luteus, Zinc deficiency, Zinc homeostasis, Zinc transporter
in
Frontiers in Microbiology
volume
8
article number
2320
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85035353554
  • pmid:29234311
ISSN
1664-302X
DOI
10.3389/fmicb.2017.02320
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
f9f07754-1e3e-4428-92e7-92537ca0cab7
date added to LUP
2017-12-21 12:02:32
date last changed
2024-06-10 03:23:29
@article{f9f07754-1e3e-4428-92e7-92537ca0cab7,
  abstract     = {{<p>Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient but may become toxic when present in excess. In Zn-contaminated environments, trees can be protected from Zn toxicity by their root-associated micro-organisms, in particular ectomycorrhizal fungi. The mechanisms of cellular Zn homeostasis in ectomycorrhizal fungi and their contribution to the host tree's Zn status are however not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize transporters involved in Zn uptake in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus, a cosmopolitan pine mycobiont. Zn uptake in fungi is known to be predominantly governed by members of the ZIP (Zrt/IrtT-like protein) family of Zn transporters. Four ZIP transporter encoding genes were identified in the S. luteus genome. By in silico and phylogenetic analysis, one of these proteins, SlZRT1, was predicted to be a plasma membrane located Zn importer. Heterologous expression in yeast confirmed the predicted function and localization of the protein. A gene expression analysis via RT-qPCR was performed in S. luteus to establish whether SlZRT1 expression is affected by external Zn concentrations. SlZRT1 transcripts accumulated almost immediately, though transiently upon growth in the absence of Zn. Exposure to elevated concentrations of Zn resulted in a significant reduction of SlZRT1 transcripts within the first hour after initiation of the exposure. Altogether, the data support a role as cellular Zn importer for SlZRT1 and indicate a key role in cellular Zn uptake of S. luteus. Further research is needed to understand the eventual contribution of SlZRT1 to the Zn status of the host plant.</p>}},
  author       = {{Coninx, Laura and Thoonen, Anneleen and Slenders, Eli and Morin, Emmanuelle and Arnauts, Natascha and De Beeck, Michiel Op and Kohler, Annegret and Ruytinx, Joske and Colpaert, Jan V.}},
  issn         = {{1664-302X}},
  keywords     = {{Metal uptake; Mycorrhiza; Suillus luteus; Zinc deficiency; Zinc homeostasis; Zinc transporter}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Microbiology}},
  title        = {{The SlZRT1 gene encodes a Plasma membrane-located ZIP (Zrt-, Irt-Like Protein) transporter in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02320}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fmicb.2017.02320}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}