Overexpression of Rice Genes OsNRT1.1A and OsNRT1.1B Restores Chlorate Uptake and NRT2.1/NAR2.1 Expression in Arabidopsis thaliana chl1-5 Mutant

Nitrogen uptake by plants is a key step for efficient nitrogen use, which affects plant growth and yield. Arabidopsis thaliana gene NRT1.1 was identified as a transporter related to nitrate (NO3−) signaling and uptake. In rice, three orthologs of NRT1.1, named OsNRT1.1A, OsNRT1.1B, and OsNRT1.1C, have been identified. This study evaluated the potential of OsNRT1.1A, OsNRT1.1B, and OsNRT1.1C in NO3− signaling and uptake through overexpression in the Arabidopsis chl1-5 mutant. The expression of OsNRT1.1A, OsNRT1.1B, and OsNRT1.1C was evaluated in the roots and shoots of rice cultivated with NO3− or NH4+. OsNRT1.1A was expressed in the roots and shoots cultivated with NO3− and NH4+. OsNRT1.1B was expressed predominantly in roots of rice cultivated with NO3−, while the expression of OsNRT1.1C was low in roots and shoots. Arabidopsis chl1-5 plants were transformed by the floral dip method using Agrobacterium tumefaciens to overexpress OsNRT1.1A and the alternative splicing product named OsNRT1.1As, OsNRT1.1B, and OsNRT1.1C. The chlorate test showed the ability of OsNRT1.1A, OsNRT1.1B or OsNRT1.1C to take up chlorate, as evidenced by the decrease in fresh weight. The OsNRT1.1B lineages presented higher toxicity to chlorate. Gene expression analyses showed that the insertion of OsNRT1.1A and OsNRT1.1B into Arabidopsis chl1-5 induced the expression of NRT2.1 and NAR2.1. OsNRT1.1As overexpression did not significantly affect the expression of NRT2.1 and NAR2.1. The results show the differential ability of NRT1.1 orthologs in rice to take up chlorate and signal the expression of other nitrate transporters, which may affect the efficiency of nitrogen utilization and its uptake.