NRT2.1, a major contributor to cadmium uptake controlled by high-affinity nitrate transporters

Management of nitrogen fertilizer is a good strategy for controlling cadmium (Cd) accumulation in plants. Some progress has already been made but much remains to be done. Here, we show that mutants with loss of function of nitrate transporter1.1 (NRT1.1) or nitrate transporter2.1 (NRT2.1) had lower Cd concentrations than wild-type plants under low-nitrate conditions. However, this was eliminated when plants were cultivated in nitrate-free medium or supplied with Cd and nitrate alternately. These findings indicate that inhibition of NRT1.1 or NRT2.1 activity reduces Cd accumulation in plants, and depends on the presence of nitrate. The results showing that nrt2.1-2 mutants had the lowest Cd concentrations compared with Col-0, nrt1.1 and nrt2.4 plants, proves that NRT2.1 is the major contributor to Cd uptake controlled by nitrate high-affinity transporters. NRT2.1 acts as the major contributor to nitrate uptake under Cd stress in low-nitrate conditions, and contributes about 50% to nitrate uptake, while NRT1.1 contributes only 10%, and little is known regarding the role of NRT2.2 and NRT2.4 on nitrate uptake in medium with 200 μM nitrate. Positive correlations between nitrate uptake and Cd concentration in plants were also observed. Collectively, NRT2.1 acts as the major contributor to Cd uptake by controlling nitrate uptake in nitrate high-affinity systems.