Publications

• Characterization of Arabidopsis AtAMT2, a high-affinity ammonium transporter of the plasma membrane.

  Sohlenkamp C., Wood C.C., Roeb G.W., Udvardi M.K.

  AtAMT2 is an ammonium transporter that is only distantly related to the five members of the AtAMT1 family of high-affinity ammonium transporters in Arabidopsis. The short-lived radioactive ion (13)NH(4)(+) was used to show that AtAMT2, expressed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), is a high-affin ... >> More

  AtAMT2 is an ammonium transporter that is only distantly related to the five members of the AtAMT1 family of high-affinity ammonium transporters in Arabidopsis. The short-lived radioactive ion (13)NH(4)(+) was used to show that AtAMT2, expressed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), is a high-affinity transporter with a K(m) for ammonium of about 20 microM. Changes in external pH between 5.0 and 7.5 had little effect on the K(m) for ammonium, indicating that NH(4)(+), not NH(3), is the substrate for AtAMT2. The AtAMT2 gene was expressed in all organs of Arabidopsis and was subject to nitrogen (N) regulation, at least in roots where expression was partially repressed by high concentrations of ammonium nitrate and derepressed in the absence of external N. Although expression of AtAMT2 in shoots responded little to changes in root N status, transcript levels in leaves declined under high CO(2) conditions. Transient expression of an AtAMT2-green fluorescent protein fusion protein in Arabidopsis leaf epidermal cells indicated a plasma membrane location for the AtAMT2 protein. Thus, AtAMT2 is likely to play a significant role in moving ammonium between the apoplast and symplast of cells throughout the plant. However, a dramatic reduction in the level of AtAMT2 transcript brought about by dsRNA interference with gene expression had no obvious effect on plant growth or development, under the conditions tested. << Less

  Plant Physiol. 130:1788-1796(2002) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Temporal and spatial expression of ammonium transporter genes during growth and development of Dictyostelium discoideum.

  Follstaedt S.C., Kirsten J.H., Singleton C.K.

  Ammonia is an important signaling molecule involved in the regulation of development in Dictyostelium. During aggregation, ammonia gradients are established, and the ammonia concentration in the immediate environment or within a particular cell throughout development may vary. This is due to the r ... >> More

  Ammonia is an important signaling molecule involved in the regulation of development in Dictyostelium. During aggregation, ammonia gradients are established, and the ammonia concentration in the immediate environment or within a particular cell throughout development may vary. This is due to the rate of cellular ammonia production, its rate of loss by evaporation to the atmosphere or by diffusion into the substratum, and perhaps to cellular transport by ammonium transporters (AMTs). Recent efforts in genome and cDNA sequencing have identified three ammonium transporters in Dictyostelium. In addition to physically altering the levels of ammonia within cells, AMTs also may play a role in ammonia signaling. As an initial step in identifying such a function, the temporal and spatial expression of the three amt genes is examined. RT-PCR demonstrates that each of the three amt mRNAs is present and relatively constant throughout growth and development. The spatial expression of these three amt genes is examined during multiple stages of Dictyostelium development using in situ hybridization. A distinct and dynamic pattern of expression is seen for the three genes. In general, amtA is expressed heavily in pre-stalk cells in a dynamic way, while amtB and amtC are expressed in pre-spore regions consistently throughout development. AmtC also is expressed in the most anterior tip of fingers and slugs, corresponding to cells that mediate ammonia's effect on the choice between slug migration and culmination. Indeed, amtC null cells have a slugger phenotype, suggesting AmtC functions in the signaling pathway underlying the mechanics of this choice. << Less

  Differentiation 71:557-566(2003) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Mechanisms of ammonium transport, accumulation, and retention in ooyctes and yeast cells expressing Arabidopsis AtAMT1;1.

  Wood C.C., Poree F., Dreyer I., Koehler G.J., Udvardi M.K.

  Ammonium is a primary source of N for plants, so knowing how it is transported, stored, and assimilated in plant cells is important for rational approaches to optimise N-use in agriculture. Electrophysiological studies of Arabidopsis AtAMT1;1 expressed in oocytes revealed passive, Deltapsi-driven ... >> More

  Ammonium is a primary source of N for plants, so knowing how it is transported, stored, and assimilated in plant cells is important for rational approaches to optimise N-use in agriculture. Electrophysiological studies of Arabidopsis AtAMT1;1 expressed in oocytes revealed passive, Deltapsi-driven transport of NH(4)(+) through this protein. Expression of AtAMT1;1 in a novel yeast mutant defective in endogenous ammonium transport and vacuolar acidification supported the above mechanism for AtAMT1;1 and revealed a central role for acid vacuoles in storage and retention of ammonia in cells. These results highlight the mechanistic differences between plant AMT proteins and related transporters in bacteria and animal cells, and suggest novel strategies to enhance nitrogen use efficiency in agriculture. << Less

  FEBS Lett. 580:3931-3936(2006) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• A family of ammonium transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

  Marini A.-M., Soussi-Boudekou S., Vissers S., Andre B.

  Ammonium is a nitrogen source supporting growth of yeast cells at an optimal rate. We recently reported the first characterization of an NH4+ transport protein (Mep1p) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we describe the characterization of two additional NH4+ transporters, Mep2p and Mep3p, both of w ... >> More

  Ammonium is a nitrogen source supporting growth of yeast cells at an optimal rate. We recently reported the first characterization of an NH4+ transport protein (Mep1p) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we describe the characterization of two additional NH4+ transporters, Mep2p and Mep3p, both of which are highly similar to Mep1p. The Mep2 protein displays the highest affinity for NH4+ (Km, 1 to 2 microM), followed closely by Mep1p (Km, 5 to 10 microM) and finally by Mep3p, whose affinity is much lower (Km, approximately 1.4 to 2.1 mM). A strain lacking all three MEP genes cannot grow on media containing less than 5 mM NH4+ as the sole nitrogen source, while the presence of individual NH4+ transporters enables growth on these media. Yet, the three Mep proteins are not essential for growth on NH4+ at high concentrations (>20 mM). Feeding experiments further indicate that the Mep transporters are also required to retain NH4+ inside cells during growth on at least some nitrogen sources other than NH4+. The MEP genes are subject to nitrogen control. In the presence of a good nitrogen source, all three MEP genes are repressed. On a poor nitrogen source, MEP2 expression is much higher than MEP1 and MEP3 expression. High-level MEP2 transcription requires at least one of the two GATA family factors Gln3p and Nil1p, which are involved in transcriptional activation of many other nitrogen-regulated genes. In contrast, expression of either MEP1 or MEP3 requires only Gln3p and is unexpectedly down-regulated in a Nil1p-dependent manner. Analysis of databases suggests that families of NH4+ transporters exist in other organisms as well. << Less

  Mol. Cell. Biol. 17:4282-4293(1997) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]