Variation in Molybdenum Content Across Broadly Distributed Populations of Arabidopsis thaliana Is Controlled by a Mitochondrial Molybdenum Transporter (MOT1)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000004
• Publication Date: 2008-02-29T02:50:16Z
• Authors: Ivan Baxter; Balasubramaniam M...; Hyeong Cheol Park; Peter Buchner; Brett Lahner; John Danku; Keyan Zhao; Joohyun Lee; Malcolm J. Hawkes...; Mary Lou Guerinot; David E. Salt
• Keywords: Molybdenum Cofactor; Sulfite oxidase; Ammonium molybdate

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micronutrient for plants, serving as a cofactor enzymes involved in nitrate assimilation, sulfite detoxification, abscisic acid biosynthesis, and purine degradation. Here we show that natural variation shoot Mo content across 92 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions controlled by mitochondrially localized transporter (Molybdenum Transporter 1 - MOT1) belongs to the sulfate superfamily. A deletion MOT1 promoter strongly associated with low Mo, occurring seven of lowest Mo. Consistent phenotype, expression reduced. Reciprocal grafting experiments demonstrate roots Ler-0 are responsible accumulation shoot, GUS localization demonstrates expressed roots. contains N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence tagged GFP protoplasts transgenic establishing this protein. Furthermore, specifically enhances yeast 5-fold, consistent functioning molybdate transporter. This work provides first molecular insight into processes regulate plants shows novel loci can be detected association mapping.