Membrane glycerolipidome of soybean root hairs and its response to nitrogen and phosphate availability

Root hairs are tubular extensions of specific root epidermal cells important in plant nutrition and water absorption. To determine membrane glycerolipids in root hairs and roots may differ, as well as their respective response to nutrient availability, this study analyzed the membrane glycerolipid species in soybean root hairs and in roots stripped of root hairs, and their response to nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P(i)) supplementation. The ratio of phospholipids to galactolipids was 1.5 fold higher in root hairs than in stripped roots. Under P(i) deficiency, the ratio of phospholipids to galactolipids in stripped roots decreased with the greatest decrease found in the level of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in root hairs and stripped roots, and root hairs had an increased level of phosphatidic acid (PA). When seedlings were not supplied with N, the level of the N-containing lipids PE and phosphatidylserine in root hairs decreased whereas the level of non-N-containing lipids galactolipids and PA increased compared to N-supplied conditions. In stripped roots, the level of major membrane lipids was not different between N-sufficient and -deficient conditions. The results indicate that the membrane glycerolipidomes in root hairs are more responsive to nutrient availability than are the rest of roots.