Plasma membrane proteomics reveals mechanism of low potassium tolerance in two contrasting maize genotypes
Ming Zhong, Shuisen Chen, Xudong Yang, Xiaojie Wang, Silu Li, Dian Jiao, Fei Zou, Jing Li, Yanye Ruan, Zhifu Guo, Pedro Garcia-Caparros · 2026
Read Plasma membrane proteomics reveals mechanism of low potassium tolerance in two contrasting maize genotypes by Ming Zhong, Shuisen Chen, Xudong Yang, Xiaojie Wang, Silu Li, Dian Jiao, Fei Zou, Jing Li, Yanye Ruan, Zhifu Guo, Pedro Garcia-Caparros (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/PMC13645587.txt.
Description
Ming Zhong and ten colleagues compare two maize types that handle low potassium soil very differently, looking at proteins in the root cell membrane. Potassium shortage is a major limit on crop growth worldwide. One maize type stays efficient under low potassium, while the other struggles. The team measured plant growth and root health, then catalogued membrane proteins in both types.
The efficient type kept growing better and held more potassium in its tissues. Protein patterns differed in ways tied to transport, signaling, and defense against cell damage. The authors read the efficient type as following an energy-saving plan, putting resources into potassium uptake and protection. The weaker type seemed to waste energy on a broad, unfocused stress response. Their findings may guide breeding of crops that need less potassium fertilizer.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Ming Zhong, Shuisen Chen, Xudong Yang, Xiaojie Wang, Silu Li, Dian Jiao, Fei Zou, Jing Li, Yanye Ruan, Zhifu Guo, Pedro Garcia-Caparros |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 34 KB |
| LICENSE | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |