NYU researchers identify HHO5 protein that signals nitrogen satiety in plants
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New York University scientists identify a protein that signals plants to stop absorbing nitrogen when they are full. The HHO5 transcription factor regulates genome-wide nitrogen satiety, according to a study in The Plant Cell. The finding may lead to crops that use fertilizer more efficiently, reducing runoff and greenhouse gas emissions.
The HHO5 Transcription Factor
NYU’s Gloria Coruzzi and Mariana Obertello of INGEBI in Buenos Aires led the study, with doctoral student Will Hinckley as lead author. They screened plant genes responding to nitrogen dose, identifying HHO5 as a master regulator of nitrogen satiety. HHO5 expression is modulated by different nitrogen types and controls gene expression and growth in a dose-dependent manner. The protein acts as a transcription factor, triggering genome-wide responses that halt nitrogen uptake when sufficient nutrients have been absorbed. The research, published in The Plant Cell, clarifies a long-sought mechanism behind plants’ ability to ‘feel full.’
Nitrogen Fertilizer Waste
Globally, plants absorb only around 50% of applied nitrogen fertilizers; the rest leaches into waterways or volatilizes into the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide released from unused fertilizer is 273 times more potent than CO2 over a century. Fertilizer runoff also fuels harmful algal blooms that devastate aquatic ecosystems. Beyond environmental harm, fertilizer production and transport are costly and susceptible to geopolitical disruptions. The storage of ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer component, poses explosion risks, as seen in the 2020 Beirut blast.
Engineering More Efficient Crops
The NYU team suggests that manipulating HHO5 could create ‘gluttonous’ plant varieties that take up more nitrogen from soil. Such crops would require lower fertilizer inputs, saving farmers billions of dollars annually and reducing nitrogen pollution. Coruzzi noted that improving nitrogen use efficiency would have significant environmental, economic and geopolitical benefits. The partners at INGEBI will continue exploring HHO5’s role in diverse plant species to translate the findings into practical applications.
What's Next
The researchers are now investigating how HHO5 interacts with other genetic pathways in wheat and maize. It remains uncertain whether field trials will confirm the lab results under varying soil conditions and climate regimes.
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NYU researchers identify HHO5 protein that signals nitrogen satiety in plants
