LbCDF-B encodes a vacuolar Zn transporter in Laccaria bicolor with function at the ectomycorrhizal root tips
Mycorrhizal Networks
Every oak, pine, and beech in your local forest survives partly because fungi wrapped around their roots act as mineral brokers — and this discovery reveals one of the molecular locks controlling how much zinc flows through that partnership.
Many trees depend on underground fungal partners to absorb minerals from the soil. Scientists discovered a special protein in one of these fungi that controls how zinc is stored inside the fungal cells. This protein is turned on specifically where the fungus physically meets the tree root, hinting that the two organisms are carefully negotiating how much zinc gets passed along.
Key Findings
LbCDF-B localizes to the vacuolar membrane of Laccaria bicolor, functioning as a zinc transporter that sequesters zinc inside intracellular storage compartments
Expression of LbCDF-B is enriched at ectomycorrhizal root tips compared to free-living mycelium, indicating tissue-specific regulation during symbiosis
The gene belongs to the Cation Diffusion Facilitator (CDF) family, linking it to a conserved class of metal tolerance and homeostasis proteins found across fungi and plants
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers identified a protein called LbCDF-B in a common tree-partnering fungus (Laccaria bicolor) that moves zinc into storage compartments within fungal cells. This transporter is active specifically at the junction where the fungus connects with tree roots, suggesting it helps regulate zinc exchange between fungi and their host trees.
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Ancient DNA Reveals Pre-Columbian Amazonian Forest Management at Scale
Forests and fruits we romanticize as wild — including many plants now in our kitchens and gardens — may exist in their current abundance precisely because an...
Soil health is the capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem, supporting complex interactions between microorganisms, soil fauna, and plant communities. For plant science, soil health is critical because these biological and chemical soil properties directly control nutrient availability,
arrow_forward Explore topic