Phosphate metabolism in plants

Phosphate-based fertilisers have revolutionised agriculture in modern times, allowing improved growth and maximising crop yield. However, phosphate run-off from fields is one of the major water pollutants in the world today.

Despite the importance of phosphates in agriculture, little is known about the mechanisms of phosphate import and export in plants. The EU-funded 'Phosphate transport and signaling in Arabidopsis' (PHOSTASIA) project aimed to investigate the role of PHO1, a phosphate transporter and signalling protein in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The project began by determining the structure of PHO1 for the first time. This knowledge allowed researchers to create various mutated forms of PHO1 in order to better understand how the protein works.

Scientists also used genetic engineering to create an A. thaliana plant that grew normally despite having low phosphate concentrations in its shoots.

Another aspect of the project found that expression of the mammalian PHO1 orthologue XPR1 in tobacco leads to export phosphate out of cells, making it the first phosphate exporter identified in mammals.

PHOSTASIA has advanced our knowledge of phosphate transport in both plants and animals. This will ultimately contribute to the sustainable use of phosphate in agriculture.