Summary
Transporters are at the center of regulatory modules allowing the optimal assimilation, distribution or efflux of substrate molecules. The IRT1 root metal transporter represents a textbook example where detailed regulatory networks have been shown to integrate several endogenous and exogenous cues at various levels to regulate its expression and to fine tune iron uptake. Here, we summarize recent advances in the dissection of the transcriptional and post?translational control of IRT1 by its various metals substrates and discuss the emerging role of IRT1 in the direct sensing of non?iron metals flowing through IRT1 to drive its metal?triggered degradation. We propose that transceptors are likely a common theme in the regulation of nutrient transport by sensing local nutrient concentrations.
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