Expression and functional characterisation of TNC, a high-affinity nickel transporter from Neurospora crassa

► TNC is necessary and sufficient for uptake of physiological requirement of nickel. ► The nickel uptake by TNC is essential for urease activity. ► TNC is down-regulated by increasing concentrations of nickel, but not cobalt. ► The tnc gene expression remains unchanged under these conditions. ► TNC is localised to the plasma-membrane.