Editorial: pyrophosphates and polyphosphates in plants and microorganisms

Abstract

Phosphorus is the fifth most abundant chemical element in living cells. Microorganisms and plants take up phosphorus as dissolved (ortho)phosphate (Pi), that is often limited due to the formation of sparingly soluble complexes in soil; on the other hand, overapplication of phosphate fertilizer generally leads to the problems of eutrophication (diCenzo et al., 2017). Phosphorus usually occurs in vivo as free Pi or forming esters or diesters in metabolites and macromolecules. Protein phosphorylation also controls major metabolic pathways and cell division cycle (Li et al., 2016). Phosphate anion can react with another, releasing a molecule of water and producing a dimer, pyrophosphate (PPi, P2O 4− 7 ). More Pi residues may be added to PPi by means of this linkage, known as a “phosphoanhydride bond,” thus producing polyphosphate (polyP). Hydrolysis of phosphoanhydride bonds is thermodynamically favorable and kinetically slow, consequently, PPi and polyP are used for energy transfer and storage in many organisms. PPi and polyP also participate in metabolites like nucleoside triphosphate, inositol pyrophosphate, or activated isoprene.