Physiological role of P4-ATPases in plant health and development

P4-ATPases (also known as lipid flippases) are lipid-translocating ATP-driven transporters involved in formation of vesicles in the secretory and endocytic pathways. Our work has revealed that several flippases in the model plant Arabidopsis are involved signaling responses to abiotic stress (temperature, nutritional conditions), uptake of nutrients from the roots, and the progression of viral infections. Database searches suggest that a number of these proteins are important for defence responses during pathogen attack. While increasing evidence points to the importance of flippases in different cellular processes, the mechanisms underlying these phenotypes are not totally clear.


In this line of research, we are aiming at answering the following questions: What is the physiological relevance of P4-ATPase flippases in plants? Do they have specialized functions or do they all serve a common role? Are flippases directly influencing specific cellular processes or is their effect an indirect consequence of their role in establishing and maintaining core properties of cellular membranes?

Wild-type plants containing flippases respond and adapt to a number of biotic and abiotic stresses (cold, viral and microbe attack, draught, nutrient deficiency, draught). In contrast, plants lacking flippases are severely sensitive to environmental stress.

Wild-type plants containing flippases respond and adapt to a number of biotic and abiotic stresses (cold, viral and microbe attack, draught, nutrient deficiency, draught). In contrast, plants lacking flippases are severely sensitive to environmental stress.

 Selected publications

  • Davis, JA, Pares RB, Bernstein T, McDowell SC, Brown E, Stubrich J, Rosenberg A, Cahoon E.B, Cahoon RE, Poulsen LR, Palmgren M, López-Marqués RL, Harper JF. Two lipid flippases, ALA4 and ALA5, are critical to cell expansion and plant growth in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology (2019), accepted.
  • Nintemann SJ, Palmgren M, López-Marqués RL. Catch You on the Flip Side: A Critical Review of Flippase Mutant Phenotypes. Trends Plant Sci., 24 (2019) 468-478.
  • Poulsen LR, López-Marqués RL, Pedas PR, Mcdowell SC, Kunze R, Harper JF, Pomorski TG and Palmgren MG, A phospholipid uptake system in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Nat Commun, 6 (2015), 7649.
  • McDowell SC, López-Marqués RL, Cohen T, Brown E, Rosenberg A, Palmgren MG, Harper JF, Loss of the Arabidopsis thaliana P4-ATPases ALA6 and ALA7 Impairs Pollen Fitness and Alters the Pollen Tube Plasma Membrane, Frontiers in Plant Science, section Plant Evolution and Development 6 (2015), doi 10.3389/fpls.2015.00197.