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The AMT1 family genes from Malus robusta display differential transcription features and ammonium transport abilities

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Abstract

Ammonium is an important nitrogen sources for plant growth. In this study, we report on the gene characterization of the ammonium transporter AMT1 subfamily in the apple rootstock Malus robusta Rehd. Thirteen AMT genes were comprehensively evaluated from the apple genome (version 1.0). Then the gene features and expression patterns of five AMT1 members from M. robusta were analyzed. These genes fell into four clusters in the AMT phylogenetic tree: clade I (MrAMT1;1 and MrAMT1;3), clade II (MrAMT1;4), clade III (MrAMT1;2), and clade IV (MrAMT1;5). All the AMT1s, apart from MrAMT1;4, were expressed in vegetative organs and strongly responded to nitrogen concentration changes. For example, MrAMT1;2 and MrAMT1;3 had high transcript accumulation levels in the leaves and roots, respectively. Finally, the functions of these AMT1s were studied in detail by heterologous expression in yeast. These genes allowed strain 31019b to assimilate nitrogen, but their 15NH4 + uptake kinetics varied. These results revealed the functional roles of AMT1 during ammonium absorption in the AMT-defective mutant yeast system.

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Abbreviations

AMT:

Ammonium transporter

MEGA:

Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis

N:

Nitrogen

NH4 + :

Ammonium

qPCR:

Real-time quantitative PCR

TMs:

Transmembrane domains

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund of China [CX (14) 5018], the Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation (BK20151361), and the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 1372051).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing, China

    Hui Li, Qing-song Yang, Wei Liu, Jing Lin & You-hong Chang

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  1. Hui Li
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  2. Qing-song Yang
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  3. Wei Liu
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  4. Jing Lin
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  5. You-hong Chang
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Correspondence to You-hong Chang.

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Hui Li and Qing-song Yang are co-first authors.

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Li, H., Yang, Qs., Liu, W. et al. The AMT1 family genes from Malus robusta display differential transcription features and ammonium transport abilities. Mol Biol Rep 44, 379–390 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-017-4119-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-017-4119-y

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