Insciences J. 2011, 1(2), 90-101;doi:10.5640/insc.010290

Review Paper, Section: Climate Change

NO₂-drived NO₃^– metabolism in leaves

Yanbo Hu^{1 *}

¹ College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P.R. China

^* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Published: June 22, 2011

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Abstract

Atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can be dry/wet deposited into plant leaves mainly through stomata, with a small fraction of cuticle deposition. Plants in nature present a wide variation in NO₂ assimilation and the resistance. The ability of leaf NO₂ uptake and efficient remobilization of NO₂-derived NO₃^–/NO₂^– is important for normal plant growth and to withstand nitrogen deprivation. Moreover, leaf- and root-derived NO₃^– metabolisms have both links and differences. This review emphasizes on the fates of NO₂-drived NO₃^–, including i) the assimilation into amino acids, ii) accumulation in vacuoles, and iii) reemission by NO_x (NO and/or NO₂), and discuss metabolic differences of NO₂-drived and root-derived NO₃^–. Special attention is drawn to NO_x evolution in apoplast and symplast of leaves and its control to stomatal dynamics. Moreover, further progress is proposed to get a better understanding of the dynamic uptake of NO₂ and NO₃^– transporters in leaves.

nitrate metabolism, nitrate reductase, nitrogen dioxide, NOx evolution, photorespiration, stomatal dynamics