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Science 24 November 2006:
Vol. 314. no. 5803, p. 1213
DOI: 10.1126/science.314.5803.1213i
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This Week in Science

Iron is a critical nutrient for plants as much as for the humans who eat them. In plants, iron is required for photosynthesis and respiration, but too much iron can be toxic (see the Perspective by Gitlin). Kim et al. (p. 1295, published online 2 November) provide insight into how plants collect and store iron while avoiding its toxic effects. Analysis of the vacuolar iron transport gene in Arabidopsis shows that the cellular vacuole is used for storage of iron. Uauy et al. (p. 1298) have identified the TaNAM gene, which regulates senescence, as well as the mobilization of nitrogen, zinc, and iron, from leaves to the developing grain. Cultivated wheat varieties have a nonfunctional copy of the TaNAM-B1 gene. Introduction of the functional allele increases grain protein, Zn, and Fe, potentially improving the nutritional content of wheat.




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