Integrated comparative transcriptome and physiological analysis reveals the mechanisms underlying genotype variations in ammonium tolerance
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ABSTRACT: Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain NH4+ toxicity. However, the core information about the biochemical regulation of plants in response to ammonium toxicity is still lacking. In this study, the tissue content of NH4+was found the main cause for NH4+ toxicity, and the cellular threshold was 50 μg/g. Furthermore, ammonium led to the reprogramming of the transcriptional profile, as genes related to trehalose-6-phosphate and zeatin biosynthesis were downregulated, whereas genes related to nitrogen metabolism, camalexin, stilbenoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were upregulated. Further analysis revealed that a large number of genes, which enriched in phenylpropanoid and stilbenoid biosynthesis, were uniquely upregulated in the NH4+- tolerant ecotype Or-1. These results suggested that the NH4+-tolerant ecotype showed a more intense response to ammonium by activating defense processes and pathways. Importantly, the tolerant ecotype had a higher 15NH4+ uptake and NPE, but lower NH4+, indicating the tolerant ecotype maintained a low NH4+ level, mainly by promoting ammonium assimilation rather than inhibiting NH4+ uptake. The carbon and nitrogen metabolism analysis revealed that the tolerant ecotype had a stronger carbon skeleton (2-OG) production capacity with higher levels of hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and GDH activity to assimilate free NH4+. Taken together, the results revealed the threshold for ammonium toxicity and the core mechanisms utilized by plants in response to ammonium, which are consequently of ecological and agricultural importance
ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana
PROVIDER: GSE243624 | GEO | 2024/01/17
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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