The effect of a genetically reduced plasma membrane protonmotive force on vegetative growth of Arabidopsis

Ectomycorrhizas with Paxillus involutus enhance cadmium uptake and tolerance in Populus × canescens

Ectomycorrhizas (EMs), which are symbiotic organs formed between tree roots and certain fungi, can mediate cadmium (Cd) tolerance of host plants, but the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. To investigate EMs mediated Cd tolerance in woody plants, Populus × canescens was inoculated with Paxillus involutus (strain MAJ) to establish mycorrhizal roots. Mycorrhizal poplars and non-mycorrhizal controls were exposed to 0 or 50 μM CdSO4 . EMs displayed higher net Cd(2+) influx than non-mycorrhizal roots. Net Cd(2+) influx was coupled with net H(+) efflux and inactivation of plasma membrane (PM) H(+) -ATPases reduced Cd(2+) uptake of EMs less than of non-mycorrhizal roots. Consistent with higher Cd(2+) uptake in EMs, in most cases, transcript levels of genes involved in Cd(2+) uptake, transport and detoxification processes were increased in EMs compared to non-mycorrhizal roots. Higher CO2 assimilation, improved nutrient and carbohydrate status, and alleviated oxidative stress were found in mycorrhizal compared to non-mycorrhizal poplars despite higher Cd(2+) accumulation. These results indicate that mycorrhizas increase Cd(2+) uptake, probably by an enlarged root volume and overexpression of genes involved in Cd(2+) uptake and transport, and concurrently enhance Po. × canescens Cd tolerance by increased detoxification, improved nutrient and carbohydrate status and defence preparedness.

Arabidopsis JAGGED links floral organ patterning to tissue growth by repressing Kip-related cell cycle inhibitors

Plant morphogenesis requires coordinated cytoplasmic growth, oriented cell wall extension, and cell cycle progression, but it is debated which of these processes are primary drivers for tissue growth and directly targeted by developmental genes. Here, we used ChIP high-throughput sequencing combined with transcriptome analysis to identify global target genes of the Arabidopsis transcription factor JAGGED (JAG), which promotes growth of the distal region of floral organs. Consistent with the roles of JAG during organ initiation and subsequent distal organ growth, we found that JAG directly repressed genes involved in meristem development, such as CLAVATA1 and HANABA TARANU, and genes involved in the development of the basal region of shoot organs, such as BLADE ON PETIOLE 2 and the GROWTH REGULATORY FACTOR pathway. At the same time, JAG regulated genes involved in tissue polarity, cell wall modification, and cell cycle progression. In particular, JAG directly repressed KIP RELATED PROTEIN 4 (KRP4) and KRP2, which control the transition to the DNA synthesis phase (S-phase) of the cell cycle. The krp2 and krp4 mutations suppressed jag defects in organ growth and in the morphology of petal epidermal cells, showing that the interaction between JAG and KRP genes is functionally relevant. Our work reveals that JAG is a direct mediator between genetic pathways involved in organ patterning and cellular functions required for tissue growth, and it shows that a regulatory gene shapes plant organs by releasing a constraint on S-phase entry.

Expression of a translationally fused TAP-tagged plasma membrane proton pump in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Arabidopsis thaliana plasma membrane proton ATPase genes, AHA1 and AHA2, are the two most highly expressed isoforms of an 11 gene family and are collectively essential for embryo development. We report the translational fusion of a tandem affinity-purification tag to the 5′ end of the AHA1 open reading frame in a genomic clone. Stable expression of TAP-tagged AHA1 in Arabidopsis rescues the embryonic lethal phenotype of endogenous double aha1/aha2 knockdowns. Western blots of SDS-PAGE and Blue Native gels show enrichment of AHA1 in plasma membrane fractions and indicate a hexameric quaternary structure. TAP-tagged AHA1 rescue lines exhibited reduced vertical root growth. Analysis of the plasma membrane and soluble proteomes identified several plasma membrane-localized proteins with alterred abundance in TAP-tagged AHA1 rescue lines compared to wild type. Using affinity-purification mass spectrometry, we uniquely identified two additional AHA isoforms, AHA9 and AHA11, which copurified with TAP-tagged AHA1. In conclusion, we have generated transgenic Arabidopsis lines in which a TAP-tagged AHA1 transgene has complemented all essential endogenous AHA1 and AHA2 functions and have shown that these plants can be used to purify AHA1 protein and to identify in planta interacting proteins by mass spectrometry.

Multiple Roles of the Plasma Membrane H(+)-ATPase and Its Regulation

The plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase is the pump that provides the driving force for transport of numerous solutes in plant cells, and plays an essential role for the growth and maintenance of cell homeostasis. Recent investigations using guard cells with respect to blue-light-induced stomatal opening uncovered the regulatory mechanisms of the H(+)-ATPase, and revealed that the phosphorylation status of penultimate threonine in the C-terminus of H(+)-ATPase is key step for the activity regulation. The same regulatory mechanisms for the H(+)-ATPase were evidenced in hypocotyl elongation in response to ABA and auxin, suggesting that the phosphorylation of the penultimate threonine is a common regulatory mechanism for the H(+)-ATPase. We also present the data that the activity of the H(+)-ATPase limits the plant growth. Typical structure of the H(+)-ATPase in the C-terminus was acquired in the transition of plants from water to the terrestrial land.

The Tomato 14-3-3 protein TFT4 modulates H+ efflux, basipetal auxin transport, and the PKS5-J3 pathway in the root growth response to alkaline stress

Alkaline stress is a common environmental stress, in particular in salinized soils. Plant roots respond to a variety of soil stresses by regulating their growth, but the nature of the regulatory pathways engaged in the alkaline stress response (ASR) is not yet understood. Previous studies show that PIN-FORMED2, an auxin (indole-3-acetic acid [IAA]) efflux transporter, PKS5, a protein kinase, and DNAJ HOMOLOG3 (J3), a chaperone, play key roles in root H(+) secretion by regulating plasma membrane (PM) H(+)-ATPases directly or by targeting 14-3-3 proteins. Here, we investigated the expression of all 14-3-3 gene family members (TOMATO 14-3-3 PROTEIN1 [TFT1]-TFT12) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under ASR, showing the involvement of four of them, TFT1, TFT4, TFT6, and TFT7. When these genes were separately introduced into Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and overexpressed, only the growth of TFT4 overexpressors was significantly enhanced when compared with the wild type under stress. H(+) efflux and the activity of PM H(+)-ATPase were significantly enhanced in the root tips of TFT4 overexpressors. Microarray analysis and pharmacological examination of the overexpressor and mutant plants revealed that overexpression of TFT4 maintains primary root elongation by modulating PM H(+)-ATPase-mediated H(+) efflux and basipetal IAA transport in root tips under alkaline stress. TFT4 further plays important roles in the PKS5-J3 signaling pathway. Our study demonstrates that TFT4 acts as a regulator in the integration of H(+) efflux, basipetal IAA transport, and the PKS5-J3 pathway in the ASR of roots and coordinates root apex responses to alkaline stress for the maintenance of primary root elongation.

Energization of vacuolar transport in plant cells and its significance under stress

The plant vacuole is of prime importance in buffering environmental perturbations and in coping with abiotic stress caused by, for example, drought, salinity, cold, or UV. The large volume, the efficient integration in anterograde and retrograde vesicular trafficking, and the dynamic equipment with tonoplast transporters enable the vacuole to fulfill indispensible functions in cell biology, for example, transient and permanent storage, detoxification, recycling, pH and redox homeostasis, cell expansion, biotic defence, and cell death. This review first focuses on endomembrane dynamics and then summarizes the functions, assembly, and regulation of secretory and vacuolar proton pumps: (i) the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) which represents a multimeric complex of approximately 800 kDa, (ii) the vacuolar H(+)-pyrophosphatase, and (iii) the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. These primary proton pumps regulate the cytosolic pH and provide the driving force for secondary active transport. Carriers and ion channels modulate the proton motif force and catalyze uptake and vacuolar compartmentation of solutes and deposition of xenobiotics or secondary compounds such as flavonoids. ABC-type transporters directly energized by MgATP complement the transport portfolio that realizes the multiple functions in stress tolerance of plants.

Abscisic acid accumulation modulates auxin transport in the root tip to enhance proton secretion for maintaining root growth under moderate water stress

Maintenance of root growth is essential for plant adaptation to soil drying. Here, we tested the hypothesis that auxin transport is involved in mediating ABA's modulation by activating proton secretion in the root tip to maintain root growth under moderate water stress. Rice and Arabidopsis plants were raised under a hydroponic system and subjected to moderate water stress (-0.47 MPa) with polyethylene glycol (PEG). ABA accumulation, auxin transport and plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase activity at the root tip were monitored in addition to the primary root elongation and root hair density. We found that moderate water stress increases ABA accumulation and auxin transport in the root apex. Additionally, ABA modulation is involved in the regulation of auxin transport in the root tip. The transported auxin activates the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase to release more protons along the root tip in its adaption to moderate water stress. The proton secretion in the root tip is essential in maintaining or promoting primary root elongation and root hair development under moderate water stress. These results suggest that ABA accumulation modulates auxin transport in the root tip, which enhances proton secretion for maintaining root growth under moderate water stress.

Systems dynamic modeling of a guard cell Cl- channel mutant uncovers an emergent homeostatic network regulating stomatal transpiration

Stomata account for much of the 70% of global water usage associated with agriculture and have a profound impact on the water and carbon cycles of the world. Stomata have long been modeled mathematically, but until now, no systems analysis of a plant cell has yielded detail sufficient to guide phenotypic and mutational analysis. Here, we demonstrate the predictive power of a systems dynamic model in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to explain the paradoxical suppression of channels that facilitate K(+) uptake, slowing stomatal opening, by mutation of the SLAC1 anion channel, which mediates solute loss for closure. The model showed how anion accumulation in the mutant suppressed the H(+) load on the cytosol and promoted Ca(2+) influx to elevate cytosolic pH (pH(i)) and free cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), in turn regulating the K(+) channels. We have confirmed these predictions, measuring pH(i) and [Ca(2+)](i) in vivo, and report that experimental manipulation of pH(i) and [Ca(2+)](i) is sufficient to recover K(+) channel activities and accelerate stomatal opening in the slac1 mutant. Thus, we uncover a previously unrecognized signaling network that ameliorates the effects of the slac1 mutant on transpiration by regulating the K(+) channels. Additionally, these findings underscore the importance of H(+)-coupled anion transport for pH(i) homeostasis.