A C-Terminally Encoded Peptide, MeCEP6, Promotes Nitrate Uptake in Cassava Roots.

ABSTRACT: Cassava, an essential food crop, is valued for its tolerance to infertile soils. This study explores the role of C-terminally encoded peptides (CEPs) in cassava, mainly focusing on MeCEP6 and its function in nitrate uptake and plant growth. A comprehensive search on the UniProt website identified 12 CEP genes in cassava, predominantly located on chromosomes 12 and 13. Notably, MeCEP6 demonstrated high expression levels in root tips and exhibited a significant response to low nitrate stress. Exogenous MeCEP6 and its overexpression enhanced NRT2 transporter expression while suppressing auxin-related genes, promoting nitrate uptake and inhibiting seedling growth under nitrogen limitation. This growth inhibition likely represents an adaptive mechanism, enhancing cassava's

SUBMITTER: Lu F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12030203 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature