Abstract
Genes for high-affinity nitrate transporter (NRT2) has been isolated and well characterized in many higher plants. However, biochemical properties of NRT2 proteins are not well investigated. To obtain a tool for biochemical analysis of NRT2, we have developed an antibody against C-terminus region of NRT2 protein, which is expressed in E. coli. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the expression patterns of NRT2 protein and nitrate flux during the nitrate induction in barley roots.
Barley seedlings grown hydroponically in N-free medium were supplied with nitrate and plasma membranes (PM) and other membranes were isolated from root with two-phase partitioning method. The immunoblot analysis of membrane proteins clearly indicated that NRT2 proteins located in PM of barley roots. There was no correlation between the accumulation patterns of NRT2 protein and nitrate flux during the nitrate induction suggesting that NRT2 are post-translationally regulated in barley roots.
