Abstract
Plants evolved two strategies for the acquisition of Fe. Graminaceous monocots release phytosiderophores (PS), that chelate Fe(III) in rhizosphere. PS solubilize Fe(III)-compounds by chelation, and the Fe(III)-PS are taken up through a specific transport system in the root cell membrane. The maize yellow stripe1 (YS1) is the Fe(III)-PS transporter (Curie et al.2001). Searching the Rice genome based on the sequence similarity to the ZmYS1 gene, we identified 18 members of putative rice YS1-like (OsYSL) genes. To understand possible functions of these OsYSL (1-18) proteins, we analyzed the mRNA expression level of each gene, in the roots and shoots of Fe-sufficient (+Fe) and Fe-deficient (-Fe) rice plants by Northern Blot Analysis. OsYSL2 was expressed only in Fe-deficient shoots. We use Laser Microdisection to separate tissues (stele, cortex and epidermis) and examine more detailed expression patern of OsYSL (1-18). To investigate subcellular localization of these OsYSL (1-18), we made GFP-fusion constructs.
