Coleto I de la Peña M Rodríguez-Escalante J Bejarano I Glauser G Aparicio-Tejo PM González-Moro MB Marino D 2017 BACKGROUND The coordination between nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) assimilation is required to suitably provide plants with organic compounds essential for their development and growth. The N source induces the adaptation of many metabolic processes in plants; however, there is scarce information about the influence that it may exert on the functioning of S metabolism. The aim of this work was to provide an overview of N and S metabolism in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) when exposed to different N sources. To do so, plants were grown in hydroponic conditions with nitrate or ammonium as N source at two concentrations (0.5 and 1 mM). RESULTS Metabolic changes mainly occurred in leaves, where ammonium caused the up-regulation of enzymes involved in the primary assimilation of N and a general increase in the concentration of N-compounds (NH4+, amino acids and proteins). Similarly, the activity of key enzymes of primary S assimilation and the content of S-compounds (glutathione and glucosinolates) were also higher in leaves of ammonium-fed plants. Interestingly, sulfate level was lower in leaves of ammonium-fed plants, which was accompanied by the down-regulation of SULTR1 transporters gene expression. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight the impact of the N source on different steps of N and S metabolism in oilseed rape, notably inducing N and S assimilation in leaves, and put forward the potential of N source management to modulate the synthesis of compounds with biotechnological interest, such as glucosinolates. https://sonar.ch/global/documents/278140 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1186/s12870-017-1100-9 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/28931380 BMC plant biology. - 2017 Ammonium Brassica napus Glucosinolates Nitrate Nitrogen Oilseed rape Sulfur Acclimatization Ammonium Compounds Brassica napus Nitrogen Plant Leaves Plant Proteins Sulfur Leaves play a central role in the adaptation of nitrogen and sulfur metabolism to ammonium nutrition in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501