[Yuki Nakamura] Why is phospholipid biosynthesis pathway induced while phosphorus is starved?

Under phosphate starvation, plants hydrolyze membrane phospholipids to retrieve scarce phosphate source for survival. However, certain steps of phospholipid biosynthesis pathway are induced by phosphate starvation - do they still synthesize phospholipids under phosphate starvation? The research team led by Dr. Nakamura found that the induction is to produce phosphocholine, an intermediate of phospholipid biosynthesis, that has a distinct role in promoting root growth under phosphate starvation. The finding provides an important clue in improving agriculture under nutrient-poor soil.

Website:

https://academic.oup.com/jxb/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jxb/erab436/6406261