Iron is an essential element for all animals and plants. However, iron availability for plants is limited because of extremely low solubility in soil. Consequently, plants often suffer from iron deficiency, leading to growth defect. Kobayashi et al. searched for iron-binding proteins and identified novel rice proteins OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2. Transgenic rice with reduced amounts of these proteins showed better growth under iron-limiting conditions and accumulated about 2-4 times more iron in seeds and leaves compared to normal rice. This achievement paves the way for improvement in plant productivity in problem soils and creation of crops accumulating high iron in edible parts.
Researcher Information
JST PRESTO
Research Area : "Plant Sicences for CO2 Utilization"
Research Theme : "Reinforcement of bioproductivity by uncovering plant iron sensing mechanism"
Journal Information
Takanori Kobayashi, Seiji Nagasaka, Takeshi Senoura, Reiko Nakanishi Itai, Hiromi Nakanishi, Naoko K. Nishizawa.
“Iron-binding haemerythrin RING ubiquitin ligases regulate plant iron responses and accumulation“
Nature Communications, Published online 20 November 2013
doi: 10.1038/ncomms3792
Contact
[About Research]
Takanori Kobayashi, Ph.D.
PRESTO researcher, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Associate Professor, Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University
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[About Program]
Masashi Furukawa
Green Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research, JST
E-mail: 