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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #243811
Title: Yeast as a tool for plant Ca(2+) transporter research

Author
item MEI, HUI - Texas A&M University Health Science Center
item SHIGAKI, TOSHIRO - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item HIRSCHI, KENDAL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Current Topics in Plant Biology
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2008
Publication Date: 12/1/2008
Citation: Mei, H., Shigaki, T., Hirschi, K.D. 2008. Yeast as a tool for plant Ca(2+) transporter research. Current Topics in Plant Biology-Research Trends. 9:79-86.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: To maintain optimal cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations, cells employ three distinct strategies: 1) tightly regulated influx of Ca(2+); 2) efficient efflux of Ca(2+) from the cell; and 3) sequestration of Ca(2+) in organelles. Ca(2+)efflux and influx are mediated by diverse transporter systems, such as pumps, channels and antiporters. Yeast ("Saccharomyces cerevisiae") are unicellular fungi that have a relatively small genome but complex internal cell structures, which are similar to those of plant cells. The availability of mutant yeast strains lacking endogenous transport systems provides an efficient tool to study Ca(2+) transporters from higher eukaryotes upon their expression in yeast cells. The discovery, biochemical characterization, and protein designing of plant transporters have been aided by yeast systems. Of special note, yeast played an indispensable role in the study of CAX-type cation/H(+) exchangers. Therefore, yeast is a tractable model for studying the biochemical properties and physiological functions of Ca(2+) transporters from plants.