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Plant defensins are recognized for their antifungal properties. However, a few type 1 defensins ( PDF1s) were identified for their cellular zinc (Zn) tolerance properties after a study of the metal extremophile Arabidopsis halleri. In order to investigate whether different paralogues would display specialized functions, the A. halleri PDF1 family was characterized at the functional and genomic levels., Eleven PDF1s were isolated from A. halleri. Their ability to provide Zn tolerance in yeast cells, their activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonii, and their level of expression in planta were compared with those of the seven A. thaliana PDF1s. The genomic organization of the PDF1 family was comparatively analysed within the Arabidopsis genus., Ah PDF1s and At PDF1s were able to confer Zn tolerance and Ah PDF1s also displayed antifungal activity. PDF1 transcripts were constitutively more abundant in A. halleri than in A. thaliana. Within the Arabidopsis genus, the PDF1 family is evolutionarily dynamic, in terms of gain and loss of gene copy., Arabidopsis halleri PDF1s display no superior abilities to provide Zn tolerance. A constitutive increase in Ah PDF1 transcript accumulation is proposed to be an evolutionary innovation co-opting the promiscuous PDF1 protein for its contribution to Zn tolerance in A. halleri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In Arabidopsis thaliana, NRT2.1 codes for a main component of the root nitrate high‐affinity transport system. Previous studies revealed that post‐translational regulation of NRT2.1 plays an important role in the control of root nitrate uptake and that one mechanism could correspond to NRT2.1 C‐terminus processing.To further investigate this hypothesis, we produced transgenic plants with truncated forms of NRT2.1. This revealed an essential sequence for NRT2.1 activity, located between the residues 494 and 513.Using a phospho‐proteomic approach, we found that this sequence contains one phosphorylation site, at serine 501, which can inactivate NRT2.1 function when mimicking the constitutive phosphorylation of this residue in transgenic plants. This phenotype could neither be explained by changes in abundance of NRT2.1 and NAR2.1, a partner protein of NRT2.1, nor by a lack of interaction between these two proteins.Finally, the relative level of serine 501 phosphorylation was found to be increased by ammonium nitrate in wild‐type plants, leading to the inactivation of NRT2.1 and to a decrease in high affinity nitrate transport into roots. Altogether, these observations reveal a new and essential mechanism for the regulation of NRT2.1 activity. See also the Commentary on this article by Rahikainen & Kangasjärvi (2020), 228: 802–804. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In an attempt to advance the understanding of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, which improves mineral nutrition and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses of most woody plants from temperate and boreal regions, we produced a cDNA library of the ectomycorrhizal fungusHebeloma cylindrosporumin a yeast expression vector. The library was used for functional complementation cloning and for sequencing of 4036 expressed sequence tags (ESTs).• Expression of the library in a yeastade2andtrp1mutant strain allowed cloning of twoHebelomagenes,HcADE2andHcTRP1by functional complementation. This experiment highlighted both the efficiency of the complementation strategy and the quality of the library.• All sequence data available onHebeloma(4596) were analysed and contiged. The whole EST resource is accessibleviaa web interface, which allows searching and navigation through clusters and tentative contigs (TCs).• Analysis of the database revealed a low level of counterparts already identified in other ectomycorrhizal fungi. For example, it allowed identification of a large set of membrane transporters, such as phosphate, potassium, sulphate or micronutrient transporters. Thus, this EST resource provides a valuable tool for research on ectomycorrhiza and symbiotic interactions.New Phytologist(2004)doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01185.x© New Phytologist(2004) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]