Cell
Volume 72, Issue 5, 12 March 1993, Pages 705-713
Journal home page for Cell

Article
The herbicide sensitivity gene CHL1 of arabidopsis encodes a nitrate-inducible nitrate transporter

https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-8674(93)90399-BGet rights and content

Abstract

This paper reportsthe identification and functional expression of a gene that is involved in nitrate uptake in plants, a process essential for the assimilation of nitrate and the biological removal of nitrate from the soil solution. The CHL1 gene of Arabldopsis, which when mutated confers resistance to the herbicide chlorate and a decrease in nitrate uptake, was isolated and found to encode a protein with 12 putative membrane-spanning segments. Injection of CHL1 mRNA into Xenopus oocytes produces a nitrate- and pH-dependent membrane depolarization, inward current, and nitrate uptake. These data show that the CHL1 gene encodes an electrogenic nitrate transporter. CHL1 mRNA is found predominantly in roots and displays nitrate- and pH-dependent regulation.

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