Boron toxicity tolerance in barley through reduced expression of the multifunctional aquaporin HvNIP2;1

Plant Physiol. 2010 Aug;153(4):1706-15. doi: 10.1104/pp.110.158832. Epub 2010 Jun 25.

Abstract

Boron (B) toxicity is a significant limitation to cereal crop production in a number of regions worldwide. Here we describe the cloning of a gene from barley (Hordeum vulgare), underlying the chromosome 6H B toxicity tolerance quantitative trait locus. It is the second B toxicity tolerance gene identified in barley. Previously, we identified the gene Bot1 that functions as an efflux transporter in B toxicity-tolerant barley to move B out of the plant. The gene identified in this work encodes HvNIP2;1, an aquaporin from the nodulin-26-like intrinsic protein (NIP) subfamily that was recently described as a silicon influx transporter in barley and rice (Oryza sativa). Here we show that a rice mutant for this gene also shows reduced B accumulation in leaf blades compared to wild type and that the mutant protein alters growth of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) under high B. HvNIP2;1 facilitates significant transport of B when expressed in Xenopus oocytes compared to controls and to another NIP (NOD26), and also in yeast plasma membranes that appear to have relatively high B permeability. We propose that tolerance to high soil B is mediated by reduced expression of HvNIP2;1 to limit B uptake, as well as by increased expression of Bot1 to remove B from roots and sensitive tissues. Together with Bot1, the multifunctional aquaporin HvNIP2;1 is an important determinant of B toxicity tolerance in barley.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aquaporins / genetics
  • Aquaporins / metabolism*
  • Boron / toxicity*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Hordeum / genetics*
  • Hordeum / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Oocytes
  • Oryza / genetics
  • Oryza / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Quantitative Trait Loci
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Xenopus

Substances

  • Aquaporins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Boron

Associated data

  • GENBANK/GQ496519
  • GENBANK/GQ496520
  • GENBANK/GQ496521
  • GENBANK/GQ496522