• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Regulation of amino acid uptake in conifers by exogenous and endogenous nitrogen
  • Contributor: Persson, Jörgen; Näsholm, Torgny
  • Published: Springer-Verlag, 2002
  • Published in: Planta, 215 (2002) 4, Seite 639-644
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 0032-0935; 1432-2048
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: Although an accumulating amount of research clearly indicates that plants are capable of taking up exogenous amino acids, the actual importance of such organic N sources for plant N nutrition is under debate. In this study, we show that amino acid uptake by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is significantly decreased by elevated internal NH4+ levels, while it increases following exposure to exogenous amino acids. Furthermore, amino acid uptake is larger in N-deficient plants than in plants grown with a large access of N. The regulatory pattern of amino acid uptake shows important similarities to the regulation of NO3- and NH4+ transport as well as to the regulation of yeast amino acid transporters. In addition, our data suggest that uptake may be regulated by factors not originating from N metabolism. The up-regulation of uptake in response to N deficiency suggests that amino acid uptake may be a significant contributor to the N economy of P. sylvestris.