A genome-wide transcriptional analysis using Arabidopsis thaliana Affymetrix gene chips determined plant responses to phosphate deprivation

Phosphorus, one of the essential elements for plants, is often a limiting nutrient because of its low availability and mobility in soils. Significant changes in plant morphology and biochemical processes are associated with phosphate (Pi) deficiency. However, the molecular bases of these responses to Pi deficiency are not thoroughly elucidated. Therefore, a comprehensive survey of global gene expression in response to Pi deprivation was done by using Arabidopsis thaliana whole genome Affymetrix gene chip (ATH1) to quantify the spatio-temporal variations in transcript abundance of 22,810 genes. The analysis revealed a coordinated induction and suppression of 612 and 254 Pi-responsive genes, respectively. The functional classification of some of these genes indicated their involvement in various metabolic pathways, ion transport, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and other processes related to growth and development. This study is a detailed analysis of Pi starvation-induced changes in gene expression of the entire genome of Arabidopsis correlated with biochemical processes. The results not only enhance our knowledge about molecular processes associated with Pi deficiency, but also facilitate the identification of key molecular determinants for improving Pi use by crop species.