Functional characterization of Iron Regulator Sensor (IRS) proteins in plants

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Iron (Fe) is needed for virtually all living organisms but in high concentrations it is toxic, therefore the intracellular iron levels are tightly controlled. Iron-sensing mechanisms have been described for a wide variety of organisms, from bacteria to mammals, however it is still not known how plants sense iron. Whether or not iron is sensed in roots or in shoots or in both, which chemical form of iron is sensed, or the identity of the sensing protein, remain unknown. Using transcriptomics network analysis on iron-deficient plants, we have identified two related genes, which we named IRON REGULATOR SENSOR (IRS) 1 and 2 that are co-expressed with Fe-responsive genes in the
roots. IRS1 and IRS2 have significant homology to a recently characterized iron-sensing protein in mammals, FBXL5. The overall aim is to study the Fe-binding properties of the predicted Fe-binding domains and dissect the iron sensing mechanism in plants. We will do this using a combination of biochemical approaches, advanced spectroscopy in collaboration with Professor Nick Le Brun at UEA, and plant mutant studies. In the long term this will allow us to manipulate iron levels in crops for both higher yields and increased nutritional value.

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