Selenite Serves as a Versatile Proxy for Phosphate Homeostasis Studies

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Abstract

Phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is essential for energy metabolism, signaling, and structural integrity across eukaryotes and prokaryotes, yet current methods for studying Pi dynamics remain limited. Here, we demonstrate that selenite serves as a versatile tool to address three major challenges: assessing Pi status, quantifying Pi uptake capacity, and enabling high-throughput screening of Pi regulators. Selenite-induced growth responses exhibit superior specificity for Pi availability compared to other nutrients, permitting rapid evaluation of Pi uptake efficiency and visual phenotyping of Pi-deficient organisms through growth differentials. This approach circumvents the need for conventional platforms while bypassing safety and regulatory constraints. As proof of concept, we identified HPA6/SPS11—a previously uncharacterized Pi regulator that functionally integrates sucrose biosynthesis, Pi homeostasis, and Pi-associated immune responses in rice. By combining quantitative accuracy with phenotypic simplicity, selenite will emerge as a transformative reagent for elucidating Pi regulatory networks across biological systems.

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