PvUPS1 plays a role in source–sink transport of allantoin in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Hélène C. Pélissier A and Mechthild Tegeder A BA School of Biological Sciences, Center for Integrated Biotechnology, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
B Corresponding author. Email: tegeder@wsu.edu
C This paper originates from an International Symposium in Memory of Vincent R. Franceschi, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA, June 2006.
Functional Plant Biology 34(4) 282-291 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP06277
Submitted: 27 October 2006 Accepted: 6 December 2006 Published: 19 April 2007
Abstract
Nodulated tropical legumes such as French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) receive their nitrogen via N-fixing rhizobia. The principal products of fixed nitrogen are the ureides allantoin and allantoic acid that are synthesised in root nodules and then translocated to the mature leaves of the shoot via the xylem. By feeding [14C]allantoin to mature leaves and roots of French bean plants we showed that this ureide is transported over long distances by xylem and then phloem to developing organs such as pods, root tips and growing leaves. For analysis of allantoin partitioning within the plant, concentrations of allantoin in French bean organs and xylem sap were determined. The amounts of allantoin varied between organs, with the highest levels being detected in the stems. Differences in levels of allantoin were found between nodulated and non-nodulated plants, with generally higher allantoin concentrations in tissues and xylem sap of nodulated plants. RNA and protein expression of the recently identified French bean allantoin permease PvUPS1 (AY461734) was detected in all plant organs indicating a function in allantoin transport throughout the plant. The levels of PvUPS1 expression were consistent with the allantoin concentrations in the different organs. In situ RNA hybridisation studies were carried out and showed that PvUPS1 is expressed in the phloem throughout the plant. Together, our results indicate that in French bean allantoin is transported from source to sink and that PvUPS1 plays a role in phloem loading and in allantoin transport to developing sinks.
Additional keywords: nitrogen partitioning, ureide transport.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the late Vince Franceschi for all his help with the microscopy and identification of anatomical features. The assistance of Valerie Lynch Holmes and Chris Davitt at the WSU Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center is appreciated. We thank Nathan Tarlyn for his technical assistance and Chuck Cody for his help in the greenhouse. We also acknowledge the financial support by grant 2001–35318–10990 from the National Research Initiative of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and by grant IOB 0448506 from the National Science Foundation.
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