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Molecular mechanisms of potassium and sodium uptake in plants

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Progress in Plant Nutrition: Plenary Lectures of the XIV International Plant Nutrition Colloquium

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 98))

Abstract

Potassium (K+) is an essential nutrient and the most abundant cation in plants, whereas the closely related ion sodium (Na+) is toxic to most plants at high millimolar concentrations. K+ deficiency and Na+ toxicity are both major constraints to crop production worldwide. K+ counteracts Na+ stress, while Na+, in turn, can to a certain degree alleviate K+ deficiency. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of K+ and Na+ transport is pivotal to the understanding — and eventually engineering — of plant K+ nutrition and Na+ sensitivity. Here we provide an overview on plant K+ transporters with particular emphasis on root K+ and Na+ uptake. Plant K+-permeable cation transporters comprise seven families. Shaker-type K+ channels, ‘two-pore’ K+ channels, cyclic-nucleotidegated channels, putative K+/H+ antiporters, KUP/HAK/KT transporters, HKT transporters, and LCT1. Candidate genes for Na+ transport are the KUP/HAK/KTs, HKTs, CNGCs,and LCT1. Expression in heterologous systems, localization in plants, and genetic disruption in plants will provide insight into the roles of transporter genes in K+ nutrition and Na+ toxicity.

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Abbreviations

AKT:

ArabidopsisK+ transporter

CNGC:

cyclic-nucleotide-gated channel

HAK:

high-affinity K+ transporter

HKT:

high-affinity K+ transporter

KCO:

K+ channel outward-rectifier

KEA:

K+ exchange antiporter

KT:

K+ transporter

KUP:

K+ uptake permease

LCT:

low-affinity cation transporter

SKOR:

stelar K+ outward-rectifier

Trk:

K+ transporter

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cell and Developmental Biology Section and Center for Molecular Genetics, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0116, USA

    Pascal Mäser, Markus Gierth & Julian I. Schroeder

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  1. Pascal Mäser
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  2. Markus Gierth
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  3. Julian I. Schroeder
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Correspondence to Julian I. Schroeder .

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  1. Hannover, Germany

    Walter J. Horst

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Mäser, P., Gierth, M., Schroeder, J.I. (2002). Molecular mechanisms of potassium and sodium uptake in plants. In: Horst, W.J., et al. Progress in Plant Nutrition: Plenary Lectures of the XIV International Plant Nutrition Colloquium. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 98. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2789-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2789-1_3

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