Résumé
Zinc (Zn) biofortification is considered to be a valuable economical solution to ameliorate Zn malnutrition. Metal Tolerance Protein 1 (MTP1) based on its role in Zn accumulation is considered to be a potential candidate to be expressed in cereals for their Zn biofortification. However, oligomer formation has been shown to be possible for MTP1s which could be a limiting step for successfully manipulating their expression in cereals. In the present study, interaction between different AhMTP1s when present in the same cell was explored. AhMTP1-A2 that displays the highest ability to complement Zn hypersensitivity of zrc1 cot1 yeast mutant was co-expressed with other lesser competent AhMTP1s. Zn assays in yeast indicated the occurrence of an interaction between different AhMTP1s and AhMTP1-A2 could have a positive effect on the functioning of other co-expressed AhMTP1. Our results provide additional argument to use AhMTP1 for Zn biofortification of cereals. (C) 2012 Friends Science Publishers