Advance of plant phosphate transporter genes and their regulated expression

Phosphorus(P) is considered to be one of the least available plant nutrients in the soil.The deficit of available P in soil is one of the major factors restraining the growth and development of crop.Inorganic phosphate(Pi) transport through plant membranes is mediated by a number of Pi transporter proteins.Plants regulate the expression of Pi transporter genes to adapt low available P environment by enhancing their ability to acquire and transfer Pi.Over the past years,a significant advance has been obtained on the gene cloning,expression regulation and functional characterization of Pi transporters in plants.In this article,the research progresses on molecular level of known plant Pi transporters in last decade were reviewed.