A CYBDOM protein impacts iron homeostasis and primary root growth under phosphate deficiency in Arabidopsis

Phosphate is an essential macronutrient required for plant growth and development. However, it is present at suboptimal levels in many terrestrial ecosystems. To ameliorate this limitation, plants have evolved developmental and physiological mechanisms known as phosphate starvation responses (PSR). One of the main PSR in Arabidopsis thaliana is a deep restructuration of the root system architecture, which includes a reduction in primary root growth resulting in a shallower root system better adapted to explore the nutrient-rich topsoil. Intense research over the last years has shown that this developmental change is dependent on the accumulation and redistribution of iron (Fe) at the root tip, which in turn, participates in Fenton reactions and generates reactive oxygen species that affect meristem function and cell elongation. We have recently identified and characterized a cytochrome-containing protein in A. thaliana, named CRR, which is involved in the primary root growth response to phosphate starvation. Our results showed that CRR is an ascorbate-dependent ferric-reductase whose expression levels modulates iron distribution pattern in the root, affecting meristem function and cell elongation. Moreover, this activity also has shown to be critical for iron toxicity tolerance since CRR determines the transport rate of iron from root to shoot. Overall design: Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings Col-0 or a line over-expressing CRR (CRR OE), were grown on plus (+Pi; control condition) or minus (-Pi) phosphate conditions for 7 days and root tissue was used for the transcriptomic analysis