{
  "abstract": "Balancing the acquisition of the macronutrients nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) is critical for plant growth, yet the mechanisms that balance N and K acquisition remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the NIN-LIKE PROTEIN7 (NLP7) transcription factor, which mediates nitrate signaling, plays a crucial role in promoting K acquisition in Arabidopsis. K⁺ uptake activity was reduced in the nlp7 mutant and nlp6nlp7 double mutant but enhanced in the NLP7-overexpressing line. Consistently, these mutants were hypersensitive to K deficiency, whereas the NLP7-overexpressing line displayed increased tolerance. Transcriptome analysis of the nlp6nlp7 mutant suggested that NLP7 activates several critical K-related genes, including HAK5, a transporter gene essential for K⁺ uptake from soil, and SKOR, a channel gene critical for root-to-shoot transport of K⁺. Using co-transfection assays, gel electrophoresis mobility shift assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we demonstrate that NLP7 directly interacts with and activates the promoters of these two genes. Furthermore, the enhanced K⁺ uptake and improved K deficiency responses driven by NLP7 overexpression were mitigated in the hak5 and skor mutants, demonstrating the significant physiological role of NLP7-induced activation of these genes. Although HAK5 and SKOR responded differently to K deficiency, both genes were activated similarly by NLP7 under K-sufficient and K-deficient conditions. Together, these findings suggest that K deficiency-induced regulation and nitrate-responsive regulation operate through independent transcriptional mechanisms but collaborate to ensure appropriate K acquisition under diverse N and K conditions, especially when K availability is limiting.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Plant Functional Biotechnology, Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kosuke Usuda"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mailun Yang",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-3536-006X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Namie Ohtsuki"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nana Sugimura"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Daiki Teshima"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yasuhito Sakuraba",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0432-6767"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shuichi Yanagisawa",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3758-5933"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8has0v480c0g0.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1111/tpj.71172",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13669645",
  "id": "8has0v480c0g0",
  "issns": [
    "0960-7412",
    "1365-313X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42876078",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1110|Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222307820",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13669645?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13669645",
  "pmid": "42876078",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8has0v480c0g0.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42876078",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42876078"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1110|Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "NLP6/7-mediated nitrate signaling facilitates high-affinity potassium uptake and enhances tolerance to low potassium environments in Arabidopsis.",
  "title_text": "NLP6/7-mediated nitrate signaling facilitates high-affinity potassium uptake and enhances tolerance to low potassium environments in Arabidopsis.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8has0v480c0g0",
  "venue": "The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology",
  "versions": []
}