Na+/H+ antiporters in plants and cyanobacteria

Abstract

Under salt stress, plants protect the deleterious effects of Na+ by maintenance a high cytosolic K+ to Na+ ratio. Intracellular K+ and Na+ homeostasis is important for the activities of many cytosolic enzymes, maintaining membrane potential, and for the synthesis of osmoticum. Although salt-stress sensors remain elusive, some of components important for salt stress have been identified. Understanding how plants cope with excessive Na+ in the environment is of great agricultural importance as soil salinity accounts for large yield losses in crops worldwide. This review focuses on the recent progresses in understanding of sodium ion homeostasis in plants and cyanobacteria and their applications to construct the salt-tolerant crop. © 2006 Springer. All Rights Reserved.