Dealing with Environmental Fluctuations: Diversity of Potassium Uptake Systems Across the Three Domains of Life

• Published in: Journal of plant growth regulation Vol. 42; no. 10; pp. 6104 - 6136
• Main Authors: Rajagopal, Divya, Sopory, Sudhir K., Mathew, M. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Agriculture; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell survival; Drought; Efflux; Frost damage; Intracellular; Life Sciences; Optimization; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant growth; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Potassium; Sodium; Survival; Transportation systems; K; Ion homeostasis; uptake; Arabidopsis; Archaea; Bacterial pathogenicity
• ISSN: 0721-7595; 1435-8107
• DOI: 10.1007/s00344-022-10782-3

Potassium ion (K + ) constitutes one of the six macronutrients and is implicated in several processes that aid cell survival and growth. Optimal intracellular K + level is achieved through the combination of low and high-affinity transport systems allowing uptake over a wide range (millimolar (mM) to micromolar (μM)) of external K + concentration and is impacted by both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Plants growing in K + -deficient soil are more susceptible to disease and damage caused due to abiotic stress factors like frost, drought, and salinity. The severity decreases with an increase in exogenous K + . Exposure to high saline conditions results in an increase in intracellular sodium (Na + ) and a concurrent decrease in K + levels. Thus, intracellular K + levels are crucially linked to specific uptake and efflux mechanisms operational during a particular stress regime. While molecular pathway(s) operative in K + -mediated endurance to multiple stress conditions are not fully understood, studies suggest a positive correlation between capacity for incremented K + levels and survival advantages. In this article we review: K + uptake systems and mechanisms available across life domains with special reference to plant systems. Recent emerging evidence on the involvement of K + in stress management, and the role of K + uptake systems during pathogenicity and symbiotic associations. Approaches aimed at optimizing intracellular K + levels through modulation of (influx and efflux mechanisms) and (vacuole pools) as a viable strategy to support plant growth under stress conditions.