Systemic long-distance sulfur transport and its role in symbiotic root nodule protein turnover

Author(s)

Alina Siegl, Leila Afjehi-Sadat, Stefanie Wienkoop

Abstract

Sulfur is an essential nutrient for all plants, but also crucial for the nitrogen fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. Sulfur limitation can hamper nodule development and functioning. Until now, it remained unclear whether sulfate uptake into nodules is local or mainly systemic via the roots, and if long-distance transport from shoots to roots and into nodules occurs. Therefore, this work investigates the systemic regulation of sulfur transportation in the model legume Lotus japonicus by applying stable isotope labeling to a split-root system. Metabolite and protein extraction together with mass spectrometry analyses were conducted to determine the plants molecular phenotype and relative isotope protein abundances. Data show that treatments of varying sulfate concentrations including the absence of sulfate on one side of a nodulated root was not affecting nodule development as long as the other side of the root system was provided with sufficient sulfate. Concentrations of shoot metabolites did not indicate a significant stress response caused by a lack of sulfur. Further, we did not observe any quantitative changes in proteins involved in biological nitrogen fixation in response to the different sulfate treatments. Relative isotope abundance of

34S confirmed a long-distance transport of sulfur from one side of the roots to the other side and into the nodules. Altogether, these results provide evidence for a systemic long-distance transport of sulfur via the upper part of the plant to the nodules suggesting a demand driven sulfur distribution for the maintenance of symbiotic N-fixation.

Organisation(s)

Core Facility Shared Services UBB, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology

Journal

Journal of Plant Physiology

Volume

297

Pages

154260

ISSN

0176-1617

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2024.154260

Publication date

06-2024

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

106037 Proteomics, 106031 Plant physiology

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Agronomy and Crop Science, Physiology, Plant Science

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/systemic-longdistance-sulfur-transport-and-its-role-in-symbiotic-root-nodule-protein-turnover(3ea95e57-6479-4b5e-91f8-c0d6a42cb70c).html