Abstract
This chapter describes the physiological and biochemical background of sulphate transport in relation to current molecular approaches. Following identification and isolation of the first plant gene encoding H+/sulphate co-transporter, a large gene family has now been identified. Phylogenetic analysis of this gene family suggests a specialisation of function of subgroups defined by the patterns of gene expression and tissue, cellular and sub-cellular localisation. Functional characteristics of the cloned transporters have been determined by expression in a heterologous yeast expression system, utilising sulphate transporter deficient mutants. A range of affinity constants for sulphate has been determined. An analysis of conserved amino acids together with site-directed mutagenesis indicates residues of probable functional importance.
The control of sulphate uptake and assimilation can be described by a model of a ‘highly regulated circuit’, mediated by feedback loops involving key metabolites of cysteine biosynthesis. In this model, expression of genes involved in uptake and assimilation are under positive regulation by O-acetylserine, which accumulates when insufficient sulphide is available to utilise the O-acetylserine for cysteine synthesis. This modulates the activity of the serine acetyltransferase/O-acetylserine-thiol-lyase complex. A negative feedback mechanism, mediated by reduced S-compounds may also act at the level of gene expression.
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Hawkesford, M.J., Buchner, P., Hopkins, L., Howarth, J.R. (2003). Sulphate Uptake and Transport. In: Abrol, Y.P., Ahmad, A. (eds) Sulphur in Plants. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0289-8_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0289-8_4
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