OsFRDL1 Is a Citrate Transporter Required for Efficient Translocation of Iron in Rice

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) Vol. 149; no. 1; pp. 297 - 305
• Main Authors: Yokosho, Kengo, Yamaji, Naoki, Ueno, Daisei, Mitani, Namiki, Ma, Jian Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Plant Biologists 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Aluminum - metabolism; Animals; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Citrates; Citric Acid - metabolism; Epidermal cells; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gene Knockout Techniques; Genes, Plant; Iron - metabolism; Nutrient solutions; Oocytes; Oocytes - metabolism; Oryza - genetics; Oryza - metabolism; Phenotype; Plant cells; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant roots; Plant Roots - genetics; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Rice; RNA, Plant - genetics; Secretion; Xenopus; Xylem; Xylem - metabolism
• ISSN: 0032-0889; 1532-2548; 1532-2548
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.108.128132

Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporters represent a large family in plants, but their functions are poorly understood. Here, we report the function of a rice (Oryza sativa) MATE gene (Os03g0216700, OsFRDL1), the closest homolog of barley (Hordeum vulgare) HvAACT1 (aluminum [Al]-activated citrate transporter 1), in terms of metal stress (iron [Fe] deficiency and Al toxicity). This gene was mainly expressed in the roots and the expression level was not affected by either Fe deficiency or Al toxicity. Knockout of this gene resulted in leaf chlorosis, lower leaf Fe concentration, higher accumulation of zinc and manganese concentration in the leaves, and precipitation of Fe in the root's stele. The concentration of citrate and ferric iron in the xylem sap was lower in the knockout line compared to the wild-type rice. Heterologous expression of OsFRDL1 in Xenopus oocytes showed transport activity for citrate. Immunostaining showed that OsFRDL1 was localized at the pericycle cells of the roots. On the other hand, there was no difference in the Al-induced secretion of citrate from the roots between the knockout line and the wild-type rice. Taken together, our results indicate that OsFRDL1 is a citrate transporter localized at the pericycle cells, which is necessary for efficient translocation of Fe to the shoot as a Fe-citrate complex.