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The vacuolar transporter OsNRAMP2 mediates Fe remobilization during germination and affects Cd distribution to rice grain

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Abstract

Background and aims

Iron (Fe) deficiency in plants is a common problem affecting agricultural production. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that can be taken up and transported within plants by transporters for divalent metals including Fe(II). The present study aims to investigate the functions of OsNRAMP2 (Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein 2) in the remobilization and distribution of Fe and Cd in rice.

Methods

The expression pattern of OsNRAMP2 was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and pOsNRAMP2::GUS assay. Knockout mutants of OsNRAMP2 were generated by using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Localization of Fe in the vacuolar globoids of germinating seeds was imaged by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Distributions of Fe and Cd between different plant tissues were investigated in hydroponic and soil pot experiments.

Results

OsNRAMP2 was mainly expressed in the embryo of germinating seeds, roots, leaf sheaths and leaf blades. OsNRAMP2 was localized at the tonoplast. Knockout of OsNRAMP2 delayed seed germination and produced chlorotic seedling leaves. Remobilization of Fe stored in the protein storage vacuoles in the scutellum of germinating seeds was restricted in osnramp2 mutants compared with wild type. Expression of genes related to Fe uptake was enhanced in the seedlings of osnramp2 mutants. Knockout of OsNRAMP2 significantly decreased the distribution of Cd, but not Fe, from leaves and straws to rice grains.

Conclusions

OsNRAMP2 plays an important role in remobilizing vacuolar Fe during seed germination and affects translocation of Cd from vegetative tissues to rice grains.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu province (BE2021717). We thank Jiani Chen (State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, Nanjing University) and Prof. Shiwei Guo (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University) for their technical assistance in the electron microscopy and microanalysis and root phenotypes analysis.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Jia-Dong Chang, Yun Xie, Huanhuan Zhang, Shurui Zhang & Fang-Jie Zhao

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  1. Jia-Dong Chang
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  2. Yun Xie
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  3. Huanhuan Zhang
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Correspondence to Fang-Jie Zhao.

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Chang, JD., Xie, Y., Zhang, H. et al. The vacuolar transporter OsNRAMP2 mediates Fe remobilization during germination and affects Cd distribution to rice grain. Plant Soil 476, 79–95 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05323-6

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