Isolation and characterization of three maize aquaporin genes, ZmNIP2;1, ZmNIP2;4 and ZmTIP4;4 involved in urea transport.

Urea-based nitrogen fertilizer was widely utilized in maize production, but transporters involved in urea uptake, translocation and cellular homeostasis have not been identified. Here, we isolated three maize aquapoin genes, ZmNIP2;1, ZmNIP2;4 and ZmTIP4;4, from a cDNA library by heterogous complementation of a urea uptake-defective yeast. ZmNIP2;1 and ZmNIP2;4 belonged to the nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) localized at plasma membrane, and ZmTIP4;4 belonged to the tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIPs) at vacuolar membrane. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that ZmNIP2;1 was expressed constitutively in various organs while ZmNIP2;4 and ZmTIP4;4 transcripts were abundant in reproductive organs and roots. Expression of ZmTIP4;4 was significantly increased in roots and expanded leaves under nitrogen starvation, while those of ZmNIP2;1 and ZmNIP2;4 remained unaffected. Functions of maize aquapoin genes in urea transport together with their distinct expression manners suggested that they might play diverse roles on urea uptake and translocation, or equilibrating urea concentration across tonoplast.