Phosphate deficiency response and membrane lipid remodeling in plants

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) deficiency represents one of the significant constraints affecting plants growth and development. Plants have evolved with various adaptations to maximise the uptake of soil P and its distribution in the different organs. Membrane phospholipids store a significant amount of P as the cellular resource that is remobilised under the P deficiency condition. To utilise this P resource, plants initiate membrane lipid remodeling in which metabolic pathways are activated to allow Pi extraction from the phospholipids and reduce the P demand by increasing the synthesis of P-free lipids for replacing the phospholipids in the membrane. Many organisms, including non-photosynthetic/photosynthetic bacterium to plants employ this adaptation to survive under P deficiency conditions. The candidate genes and encoded enzymes seem to be broadly conserved among the different organisms; however, there are variations in a spatiotemporal manner. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of membrane lipid remodelling and its regulation crucial for plants adaption to Pi deficiency.