Iron uptake, translocation, and regulation in higher plants

Abstract

Iron is an essential micronutrient element for most living organisms. However,although iron is abundant in many soils,iron availability is very often limiting for plant growth. In addition,iron is potentially highly toxic to cells. Therefore,iron homeostasis needs to be strictly regulated. Higher plants have developed a complex regulatory network in their cells to control the uptake,translocation,transportation,and metabolism of Fe. Nongraminaceous and graminaceous plant species acquire iron from the soil through two distinct strategies based on iron reduction and iron chelation,respectively. The acquisition of iron by plants is regulated at several levels by local and systemic signals. The systemic signaling pathway appears to integrate multiple inputs from hormonal signals,NO signals,and the plant nutritional demand. This paper reviewed the molecular mechanisms by which these strategies depend and the factors that are responsible for inducing these strategies under iron deficiency.