HKT transporters and their involvement in plant salt tolerance

Salinity stress is one of the major factors influencing plant growth, during the longterm natural selection. Plants have formed various mechanisms to cope with salinity stress. Highaffinity K+ transporters (HKT) wildly exist in plants. They might make a significant contribution to Na+ recycle in higher plants and play an important role in maintaining lower Na+ concentration, higher K+/Na+ ratio in higher plant, especially in leaves. Subjects regarding molecular feature, structure and function of HKT transporter, and its relationship with plant salt tolerance are summarized in this review.