Control of eukaryotic phosphate homeostasis by inositol polyphosphate sensor domains

Peptide domain links phosphate need to uptake Cellular phosphate (Pi) levels are tightly controlled, but it is not clear how eukaryotic cells actually “measure” the concentration of Pi. Wild et al. now show that inositol polyphosphate (InsP) signaling molecules regulate Pi homeostasis in fungi, plants, and humans by interacting with SPX-domain-containing proteins. SPX domains are found in many eukaryotic Pi transporters, Pi-regulated enzymes, and signaling proteins. InsP binding allowed SPX domains to interact with different target proteins. In plants, one such target protein is a transcription factor. During normal growth, high levels of InsP promoted formation of a SPX protein-transcription factor complex. Under Pi starvation, InsP levels dropped, releasing the transcription factor to promote Pi starvation-response gene transcription. Science , this issue p. 986