Sulfur in Dialogue with Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Iron: Regulatory Networks in Plant Nutrient Homeostasis
Afm Mohabubul Haque, Hideki Takahashi, Hatem Rouached
AI summary
75% confidenceSulfur homeostasis in plants is intricately linked with phosphorus, nitrogen, and iron through complex regulatory networks, influencing membrane lipid composition, amino acid biosynthesis, and cofactor assembly. Plants have evolved shared regulatory circuits and specific transcription factors to orchestrate these interactions. This interplay is crucial for plant growth, resilience, and adaptation to varying nutrient conditions.
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Abstract
Abstract Sulfur (S) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and resilience. The S-amino acids cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met) are indispensable for protein synthesis and structural integrity, as well as redox homeostasis and cofactor assembly. Over the past several decades, biochemical and molecular genetic studies demonstrated the core steps in sulfate (SO42-) uptake and assimilation pathways, while it has become increasingly evident that S homeostasis in plants cannot be understood in isolation. Robust and reciprocal regulatory interactions link S with phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and iron (Fe). Plants remodel membrane lipid compositions, replacing the phospholipids with sulfolipids under P deficiency. Cys/Met biosynthesis is coordinated with N metabolism. The Fe-S cluster assembly requires a balanced supply of Fe and S. These interactions are orchestrated through shared regulatory circuits and specific hub-regulatory transcription factors, including SULFUR LIMITATION 1 (SLIM1), PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 1 (PHR1), NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 7 (NLP7), and FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY-INDUCED FACTOR (FIT). Comparative studies reveal both species-specific and evolutionarily conserved regulatory networks. This review deliberately focuses on mechanistic insights into the regulatory circuits revealed from studies with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, where the genetic and molecular resolution enabled detailed dissection of the signaling and regulatory networks. This review also highlights unresolved mechanistic gaps and provides insights into systems-level understanding and potential translational approaches that can be implemented to improve crop nutrient use efficiency and stress resilience.
Key findings
- Sulfur limitation triggers the replacement of phospholipids with sulfolipids in membrane lipids under phosphorus deficiency
- Cysteine and methionine biosynthesis is coordinated with nitrogen metabolism
- Iron-sulfur cluster assembly requires a balanced supply of iron and sulfur
Keywords
Identifiers
- Journal
- Journal of Experimental Botany
- Year
- 2026