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Wang K, Chen S, Bao G, Sun T, Zhang J, Chen D, Sun L, Han Z, Liu C, Wang Q. Biomechanics on Ultra-Sensitivity of Venus Flytrap's Micronewton Trigger Hairs. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2405544. [PMID: 39258595 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Numerous plants evolve ingeniously microcantilever-based hairs to ultra-sensitively detect out-of-plane quasi-static tactile loads, providing a natural blueprint for upgrading the industrial static mode microcantilever sensors, but how do the biological sensory hairs work mechanically? Here, the action potential-producing trigger hairs of carnivorous Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) are investigated in detail from biomechanical perspective. Under tiny mechanical stimulation, the deformable trigger hair, composed of distal stiff lever and proximal flexible podium, will lead to rapid trap closure and prey capture. The multiple features determining the sensitivity such as conical morphology, multi-scale functional structures, kidney-shaped sensory cells, and combined deformation under tiny mechanical stimulation are comprehensively researched. Based on materials mechanics, finite element simulation, and bio-inspired original artificial sensors, it is verified that the omnidirectional ultra-sensitivity of trigger hair is attributed to the stiff-flexible coupling of material, the double stress concentration, the circular distribution of sensory cells, and the positive local buckling. Also, the balance strategy of slender hair between sensitivity and structural stability (i.e., avoiding disastrous collapse) is detailed revealed. The unique basic biomechanical mechanism underlying trigger hairs is essential for significantly enhancing the performance of the traditional industrial static mode microcantilever sensors, and ensure the stability of arbitrary load perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejun Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Siyuan Chen
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Guanyu Bao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Tao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China
| | - Junqiu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China
| | - Daobing Chen
- The Institute of Technological Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Lining Sun
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwu Han
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, P. R. China
| | - Chao Liu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Qian Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
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2
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Jiang Y, Li Y, Tong X, Wang Z, Zhou Y, He B. Robotic flytrap with an ultra-sensitive 'trichome' and fast-response 'lobes'. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2024; 19:056017. [PMID: 39094623 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad6abf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Nature abounds with examples of ultra-sensitive perception and agile body transformation for highly efficient predation as well as extraordinary adaptation to complex environments. Flytraps, as a representative example, could effectively detect the most minute physical stimulation of insects and respond instantly, inspiring numerous robotic designs and applications. However, current robotic flytraps face challenges in reproducing the ultra-sensitive insect-touch perception. In addition, fast and fully-covered capture of live insects with robotic flytraps remains elusive. Here we report a novel design of a robotic flytrap with an ultra-sensitive 'trichome' and bistable fast-response 'lobes'. Our results show that the 'trichome' of the proposed robotic flytrap could detect and respond to both the external stimulation of 0.45 mN and a tiny touch of a flying bee with a weight of 0.12 g. Besides, once the 'trichome' is triggered, the bistable 'lobes' could instantly close themselves in 0.2 s to form a fully-covered cage to trap the bees, and reopen to set them free after the tests. We introduce the design, modeling, optimization, and verification of the robotic flytrap, and envision broader applications of this technology in ultra-sensitive perception, fast-response grasping, and biomedical engineering studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkang Jiang
- College of Electronic and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Autonomous Intelligent Unmanned Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai 201210, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingtian Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Tong
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhipeng Wang
- College of Electronic and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Autonomous Intelligent Unmanned Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai 201210, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanmin Zhou
- College of Electronic and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Autonomous Intelligent Unmanned Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai 201210, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin He
- College of Electronic and Information Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Autonomous Intelligent Unmanned Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
- Frontiers Science Center for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai 201210, People's Republic of China
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3
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Watanabe K, Hashimoto K, Hasegawa K, Shindo H, Tsuruda Y, Kupisz K, Koselski M, Wasko P, Trebacz K, Kuchitsu K. Rapid Propagation of Ca2+ Waves and Electrical Signals in the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 65:660-670. [PMID: 38195149 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
In response to both biotic and abiotic stresses, vascular plants transmit long-distance Ca2+ and electrical signals from localized stress sites to distant tissues through their vasculature. Various models have been proposed for the mechanisms underlying the long-distance signaling, primarily centered around the presence of vascular bundles. We here demonstrate that the non-vascular liverwort Marchantia polymorpha possesses a mechanism for propagating Ca2+ waves and electrical signals in response to wounding. The propagation velocity of these signals was approximately 1-2 mm s-1, equivalent to that observed in vascular plants. Both Ca2+ waves and electrical signals were inhibited by La3+ as well as tetraethylammonium chloride, suggesting the crucial importance of both Ca2+ channel(s) and K+ channel(s) in wound-induced membrane depolarization as well as the subsequent long-distance signal propagation. Simultaneous recordings of Ca2+ and electrical signals indicated a tight coupling between the dynamics of these two signaling modalities. Furthermore, molecular genetic studies revealed that a GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE (GLR) channel plays a central role in the propagation of both Ca2+ waves and electrical signals. Conversely, none of the three two-pore channels were implicated in either signal propagation. These findings shed light on the evolutionary conservation of rapid long-distance Ca2+ wave and electrical signal propagation involving GLRs in land plants, even in the absence of vascular tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenshiro Watanabe
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Kenji Hashimoto
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Kota Hasegawa
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroki Shindo
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Yushin Tsuruda
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Kamila Kupisz
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin 20-033, Poland
| | - Mateusz Koselski
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin 20-033, Poland
| | - Piotr Wasko
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin 20-033, Poland
| | - Kazimierz Trebacz
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin 20-033, Poland
| | - Kazuyuki Kuchitsu
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
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Byun J, Pal A, Ko J, Sitti M. Integrated mechanical computing for autonomous soft machines. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2933. [PMID: 38575563 PMCID: PMC10995184 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47201-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical computing offers a new modality to formulate computational autonomy in intelligent matter or machines without any external powering or active elements. Transition (or solitary) waves, induced by nonreciprocity in mechanical metamaterials comprising a chain of bistable elements, have proven to be a key ingredient for dissipation-free transmission and computation of mechanical information. However, advanced processing of mechanical information in existing designs is hindered by its dissipation when interacting with networked logic gates. Here, we present a metamaterial design strategy that allows non-dispersive mechanical solitary waves to compute multi-level cascaded logic functions, termed 'integrated mechanical computing', by propagating through a network of structurally heterogeneous computing units. From a perspective of characteristic potential energy, we establish an analytical framework that helps in understanding the solitary wave-based mechanical computation, and governs the mechanical design of key determinants for realizing cascaded logic computation, such as soliton profile and logic elements. The developed integrated mechanical computing systems are shown to receive, transmit and compute mechanical information to actuate intelligent soft machine prototypes in a seamless and integrated manner. These findings would pave the way for future intelligent robots and machines that perform computational operations between various non-electrical environmental inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junghwan Byun
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Soft Hybrid Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 02792, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Aniket Pal
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, University of Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jongkuk Ko
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Gachon University, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
- School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey.
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5
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Wang Q, Lu Z, Wang D, Wang K. Mechanosensor for Proprioception Inspired by Ultrasensitive Trigger Hairs of Venus Flytrap. CYBORG AND BIONIC SYSTEMS 2024; 5:0065. [PMID: 38268766 PMCID: PMC10807870 DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanosensors, as the core component of a proprioceptive system, can detect many types of mechanical signals in their surroundings, such as force signals, displacement signals, and vibration signals. It is understandable that the development of an all-new mechanosensory structure that can be widely used is highly desirable. This is because it can markedly improve the detection performance of mechanosensors. Coincidentally, in nature, optimized microscale trigger hairs of Venus flytrap are ingeniously used as a mechanosensory structure. These trigger hairs are utilized for tactile mechanosensilla to efficiently detect external mechanical stimuli. Biological trigger hair-based mechanosensilla offer an all-new bio-inspired strategy. This strategy utilizes the notch structure and variable stiffness to enhance the perceptual performance of mechanosensors. In this study, the structure-performance-application coupling relationship of trigger hair-based mechanosensors is explored through experiment and analysis. An artificial trigger hair-based mechanosensor is developed by mimicking the deformation properties of the Venus flytrap trigger hair. This bio-inspired mechanosensor shows excellent performance in terms of mechanical stability, response time, and sensitivity to mechanical signals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kejun Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics,
Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, P.R. China
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6
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Mylo MD, Poppinga S. Digital image correlation techniques for motion analysis and biomechanical characterization of plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1335445. [PMID: 38273955 PMCID: PMC10808816 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1335445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Temporally and spatially complex 3D deformation processes appear in plants in a variety of ways and are difficult to quantify in detail by classical cinematographic methods. Furthermore, many biomechanical test methods, e.g. regarding compression or tension, result in quasi-2D deformations of the tested structure, which are very time-consuming to analyze manually regarding strain fields. In materials testing, the contact-free optical 2D- or 3D-digital image correlation method (2D/3D-DIC) is common practice for similar tasks, but is still rather seldom used in the fundamental biological sciences. The present review aims to highlight the possibilities of 2D/3D-DIC for the plant sciences. The equipment, software, and preparative prerequisites are introduced in detail and advantages and disadvantages are discussed. In addition to the analysis of wood and trees, where DIC has been used since the 1990s, this is demonstrated by numerous recent approaches in the contexts of parasite-host attachment, cactus joint biomechanics, fruit peel impact resistance, and slow as well as fast movement phenomena in cones and traps of carnivorous plants. Despite some technical and preparative efforts, DIC is a very powerful tool for full-field 2D/3D displacement and strain analyses of plant structures, which is suitable for numerous in-depth research questions in the fields of plant biomechanics and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max D. Mylo
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Botanical Garden, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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7
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Wang B, Hou Y, Zhong S, Zhu J, Guan C. Biomimetic Venus Flytrap Structures Using Smart Composites: A Review. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:6702. [PMID: 37895684 PMCID: PMC10608135 DOI: 10.3390/ma16206702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Biomimetic structures are inspired by elegant and complex architectures of natural creatures, drawing inspiration from biological structures to achieve specific functions or improve specific strength and modulus to reduce weight. In particular, the rapid closure of a Venus flytrap leaf is one of the fastest motions in plants, its biomechanics does not rely on muscle tissues to produce rapid shape-changing, which is significant for engineering applications. Composites are ubiquitous in nature and are used for biomimetic design due to their superior overall performance and programmability. Here, we focus on reviewing the most recent progress on biomimetic Venus flytrap structures based on smart composite technology. An overview of the biomechanics of Venus flytrap is first introduced, in order to reveal the underlying mechanisms. The smart composite technology was then discussed by covering mainly the principles and driving mechanics of various types of bistable composite structures, followed by research progress on the smart composite-based biomimetic flytrap structures, with a focus on the bionic strategies in terms of sensing, responding and actuation, as well as the rapid snap-trapping, aiming to enrich the diversities and reveal the fundamentals in order to further advance the multidisciplinary science and technological development into composite bionics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 362251, China; (B.W.)
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Functional Devices and Intelligent Sensing, School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China;
| | - Yi Hou
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 362251, China; (B.W.)
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Functional Devices and Intelligent Sensing, School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China;
| | - Shuncong Zhong
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Functional Devices and Intelligent Sensing, School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China;
| | - Juncheng Zhu
- School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 362251, China; (B.W.)
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Functional Devices and Intelligent Sensing, School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China;
| | - Chenglong Guan
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Terahertz Functional Devices and Intelligent Sensing, School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China;
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8
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Razzaq MY, Balk M, Mazurek-Budzyńska M, Schadewald A. From Nature to Technology: Exploring Bioinspired Polymer Actuators via Electrospinning. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4029. [PMID: 37836078 PMCID: PMC10574948 DOI: 10.3390/polym15194029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nature has always been a source of inspiration for the development of novel materials and devices. In particular, polymer actuators that mimic the movements and functions of natural organisms have been of great interest due to their potential applications in various fields, such as biomedical engineering, soft robotics, and energy harvesting. During recent years, the development and actuation performance of electrospun fibrous meshes with the advantages of high permeability, surface area, and easy functional modification, has received extensive attention from researchers. This review covers the recent progress in the state-of-the-art electrospun actuators based on commonly used polymers such as stimuli-sensitive hydrogels, shape-memory polymers (SMPs), and electroactive polymers. The design strategies inspired by nature such as hierarchical systems, layered structures, and responsive interfaces to enhance the performance and functionality of these actuators, including the role of biomimicry to create devices that mimic the behavior of natural organisms, are discussed. Finally, the challenges and future directions in the field, with a focus on the development of more efficient and versatile electrospun polymer actuators which can be used in a wide range of applications, are addressed. The insights gained from this review can contribute to the development of advanced and multifunctional actuators with improved performance and expanded application possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Yasar Razzaq
- Institut für Kunststofftechnologie und Recycling e. V., Gewerbepark 3, D-6369 Südliches Anhalt, Germany
| | - Maria Balk
- Institute of Active Polymers, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Kantstraße 55, D-14513 Teltow, Germany
| | | | - Anke Schadewald
- Institut für Kunststofftechnologie und Recycling e. V., Gewerbepark 3, D-6369 Südliches Anhalt, Germany
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9
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Huang S, Hedrich R. Trigger hair thermoreceptors provide for heat-induced calcium-electrical excitability in Venus flytrap. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3962-3968.e2. [PMID: 37611589 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Most plants suffer greatly from heat in general and fire in particular, but some can profit from what is called fire ecology.1Dionaea muscipula, the Venus flytrap, is one such plant. In its natural habitat in the Green Swamps, Dionaea often faces challenges from excessive growth of grass and evergreen shrubs that overshadow the plant.2 Without natural fire, the Dionaea populations would decline.3 How does Dionaea survive and even thrive after swamp fires? Here, we ask whether flytraps recognize heat waves at the forefront of swamp fires and demonstrate that a heat-sensor-based alarm may provide a fire survival strategy for them. In this study, we show that flytraps become electrically excited and close in response to a heat wave. Over a critical temperature of 38°C, traps fire action potentials (APs), which are interconnected with cytosolic Ca2+ transients. The heat-induced Ca2+-AP has a 3-min refractory period, yet traps still respond to cold, voltage, and glutamate. The heat responses were trap specific, emerging only when the trap became excitable. Upon heat stimulation, the Ca2+ wave originates in the trigger hair podium, indicating that the mechanosensory zone serves as a heat receptor organ. In contrast to the human heat receptor, the flytrap sensor detects temperature change rather than the absolute body temperature. We propose that by sensing the temperature differential, flytraps can recognize the heat of an approaching fire, thus closing before the trigger hairs are burned, while they can continue to catch prey throughout hot summers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouguang Huang
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Würzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Rainer Hedrich
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Würzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany.
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10
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Yang TH, Che´telat A, Kurenda A, Farmer EE. Mechanosensation in leaf veins. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh5078. [PMID: 37729418 PMCID: PMC10511200 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh5078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Whether the plant vasculature has the capacity to sense touch is unknown. We developed a quantitative assay to investigate touch-response electrical signals in the leaves and veins of Arabidopsis thaliana. Mechanostimulated electrical signaling in leaves displayed strong diel regulation. Signals of full amplitude could be generated by repeated stimulation at the same site after approximately 90 minutes. However, the signals showed intermediate amplitudes when repeatedly stimulated in shorter timeframes. Using intracellular electrodes, we detected touch-response membrane depolarizations in the phloem. On the basis of this, we mutated multiple Arabidopsis H+-ATPase (AHA) genes expressed in companion cells. We found that aha1 aha3 double mutants attenuated touch-responses, and this was coupled to growth rate reduction. Moreover, propagating membrane depolarizations could be triggered by mechanostimulating the exposed primary vasculature of wild-type plants but not of aha1 aha3 mutants. Primary veins have autonomous mechanosensory properties which depend on P-type proton pumps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsu-Hao Yang
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aurore Che´telat
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Edward E. Farmer
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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11
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Hedrich R, Kreuzer I. Demystifying the Venus flytrap action potential. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 239:2108-2112. [PMID: 37424515 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
All plants are electrically excitable, but only few are known to fire a well-defined, all-or-nothing action potential (AP). The Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula displays APs with an extraordinarily high firing frequency and speed, enabling the capture organ of this carnivorous plant to catch small animals as fast as flies. The number of APs triggered by the prey is counted and serves as the basis for decisions within the flytrap's hunting cycle. The archetypical Dionaea AP lasts 1 s and consists of five phases: Starting from the resting state, an initial cytosolic Ca2+ transient is followed by depolarization, repolarization and a transient hyperpolarization (overshoot) before the original membrane potential is finally recovered. When the flytrap matures and becomes excitable, a distinct set of ion channels, pumps and carriers is expressed, each mastering a distinct AP phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Hedrich
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Würzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, D-97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ines Kreuzer
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Würzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, D-97082, Würzburg, Germany
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12
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Procko C, Wong WM, Patel J, Mousavi SAR, Dabi T, Duque M, Baird L, Chalasani SH, Chory J. Mutational analysis of mechanosensitive ion channels in the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3257-3264.e4. [PMID: 37437572 PMCID: PMC10528943 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
How the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) evolved the remarkable ability to sense, capture, and digest animal prey for nutrients has long puzzled the scientific community.1 Recent genome and transcriptome sequencing studies have provided clues to the genes thought to play a role in these tasks.2,3,4,5 However, proving a causal link between these and any aspect of the plant's hunting behavior has been challenging due to the genetic intractability of this non-model organism. Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9 methods to generate targeted modifications in the Venus flytrap genome. The plant detects prey using touch-sensitive trigger hairs located on its bilobed leaves.6 Upon bending, these hairs convert mechanical touch signals into changes in the membrane potential of sensory cells, leading to rapid closure of the leaf lobes to ensnare the animal.7 Here, we generate mutations in trigger-hair-expressed MscS-like (MSL)-family mechanosensitive ion channel genes FLYCATCHER1 (FLYC1) and FLYCATCHER2 (FLYC2)5 and find that double-mutant plants have a reduced leaf-closing response to mechanical ultrasound stimulation. While we cannot exclude off-target effects of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, our genetic analysis is consistent with these and other functionally redundant mechanosensitive ion channels acting together to generate the sensory system necessary for prey detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Procko
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Wen Mai Wong
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Janki Patel
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Seyed Ali Reza Mousavi
- Department of Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, Scripps Research, 3528 General Atomics Ct., San Diego, CA 92121, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
| | - Tsegaye Dabi
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
| | - Marc Duque
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lisa Baird
- Department of Biology, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
| | - Sreekanth H Chalasani
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Joanne Chory
- Plant Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
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13
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Armada-Moreira A, Dar AM, Zhao Z, Cea C, Gelinas J, Berggren M, Costa A, Khodagholy D, Stavrinidou E. Plant electrophysiology with conformable organic electronics: Deciphering the propagation of Venus flytrap action potentials. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh4443. [PMID: 37494449 PMCID: PMC10371018 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh4443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Electrical signals in plants are mediators of long-distance signaling and correlate with plant movements and responses to stress. These signals are studied with single surface electrodes that cannot resolve signal propagation and integration, thus impeding their decoding and link to function. Here, we developed a conformable multielectrode array based on organic electronics for large-scale and high-resolution plant electrophysiology. We performed precise spatiotemporal mapping of the action potential (AP) in Venus flytrap and found that the AP actively propagates through the tissue with constant speed and without strong directionality. We also found that spontaneously generated APs can originate from unstimulated hairs and that they correlate with trap movement. Last, we demonstrate that the Venus flytrap circuitry can be activated by cells other than the sensory hairs. Our work reveals key properties of the AP and establishes the capacity of organic bioelectronics for resolving electrical signaling in plants contributing to the mechanistic understanding of long-distance responses in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Armada-Moreira
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrköping, Sweden
- Neuronal Dynamics Lab, International School for Advanced Studies, 34136 Trieste TS, Italy
| | - Abdul Manan Dar
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Zifang Zhao
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Claudia Cea
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jennifer Gelinas
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Magnus Berggren
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrköping, Sweden
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Alex Costa
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Dion Khodagholy
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Eleni Stavrinidou
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrköping, Sweden
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, SE-601 74 Norrköping, Sweden
- Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
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14
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Ohlendorf R, Tan NYH, Nakayama N. Engineering Themes in Plant Forms and Functions. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 74:777-801. [PMID: 37216204 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-061422-094751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Living structures constantly interact with the biotic and abiotic environment by sensing and responding via specialized functional parts. In other words, biological bodies embody highly functional machines and actuators. What are the signatures of engineering mechanisms in biology? In this review, we connect the dots in the literature to seek engineering principles in plant structures. We identify three thematic motifs-bilayer actuator, slender-bodied functional surface, and self-similarity-and provide an overview of their structure-function relationships. Unlike human-engineered machines and actuators, biological counterparts may appear suboptimal in design, loosely complying with physical theories or engineering principles. We postulate what factors may influence the evolution of functional morphology and anatomy to dissect and comprehend better the why behind the biological forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel Ohlendorf
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom;
| | | | - Naomi Nakayama
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom;
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15
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Scherzer S, Böhm J, Huang S, Iosip AL, Kreuzer I, Becker D, Heckmann M, Al-Rasheid KAS, Dreyer I, Hedrich R. A unique inventory of ion transporters poises the Venus flytrap to fast-propagating action potentials and calcium waves. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4255-4263.e5. [PMID: 36087579 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Since the 19th century, it has been known that the carnivorous Venus flytrap is electrically excitable. Nevertheless, the mechanism and the molecular entities of the flytrap action potential (AP) remain unknown. When entering the electrically excitable stage, the trap expressed a characteristic inventory of ion transporters, among which the increase in glutamate receptor GLR3.6 RNA was most pronounced. Trigger hair stimulation or glutamate application evoked an AP and a cytoplasmic Ca2+ transient that both propagated at the same speed from the site of induction along the entire trap lobe surface. A priming Ca2+ moiety entering the cytoplasm in the context of the AP was further potentiated by an organelle-localized calcium-induced calcium release (CICR)-like system prolonging the Ca2+ signal. While the Ca2+ transient persisted, SKOR K+ channels and AHA H+-ATPases repolarized the AP already. By counting the number of APs and long-lasting Ca2+ transients, the trap directs the different steps in the carnivorous plant's hunting cycle. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sönke Scherzer
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Wuerzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Jennifer Böhm
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Wuerzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Shouguang Huang
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Wuerzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Anda L Iosip
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Wuerzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ines Kreuzer
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Wuerzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Becker
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Wuerzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Heckmann
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Wuerzburg University, Röntgenring 9, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Khaled A S Al-Rasheid
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ingo Dreyer
- Center of Bioinformatics, Simulation and Modeling (CBSM), Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Rainer Hedrich
- Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, Biocenter, Wuerzburg University, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany.
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16
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Durak GM, Speck T, Poppinga S. Shapeshifting in the Venus flytrap ( Dionaea muscipula): Morphological and biomechanical adaptations and the potential costs of a failed hunting cycle. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:970320. [PMID: 36119615 PMCID: PMC9478607 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.970320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary roots of carnivory in the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) stem from a defense response to plant injury caused by, e.g., herbivores. Dionaea muscipula aka. Darwin's most wonderful plant underwent extensive modification of leaves into snap-traps specialized for prey capture. Even the tiny seedlings of the Venus flytrap already produce fully functional, millimeter-sized traps. The trap size increases as the plant matures, enabling capture of larger prey. The movement of snap-traps is very fast (~100-300 ms) and is actuated by a combination of changes in the hydrostatic pressure of the leaf tissue with the release of prestress (embedded energy), triggering a snap-through of the trap lobes. This instability phenomenon is facilitated by the double curvature of the trap lobes. In contrast, trap reopening is a slower process dependent on trap size and morphology, heavily reliant on turgor and/or cell growth. Once a prey item is caught, the trap reconfigures its shape, seals itself off and forms a digestive cavity allowing the plant to release an enzymatic cocktail to draw nutrition from its captive. Interestingly, a failed attempt to capture prey can come at a heavy cost: the trap can break during reopening, thus losing its functionality. In this mini-review, we provide a detailed account of morphological adaptations and biomechanical processes involved in the trap movement during D. muscipula hunting cycle, and discuss possible reasons for and consequences of trap breakage. We also provide a brief introduction to the biological aspects underlying plant motion and their evolutionary background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grażyna M. Durak
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanical Garden, Department of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanical Garden, Department of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT, Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Botanical Garden, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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17
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Mechanosensory trichome cells evoke a mechanical stimuli-induced immune response in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1216. [PMID: 35260555 PMCID: PMC8904797 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28813-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Perception of pathogen-derived ligands by corresponding host receptors is a pivotal strategy in eukaryotic innate immunity. In plants, this is complemented by circadian anticipation of infection timing, promoting basal resistance even in the absence of pathogen threat. Here, we report that trichomes, hair-like structures on the epidermis, directly sense external mechanical forces, including raindrops, to anticipate pathogen infections in Arabidopsis thaliana. Exposure of leaf surfaces to mechanical stimuli initiates the concentric propagation of intercellular calcium waves away from trichomes to induce defence-related genes. Propagating calcium waves enable effective immunity against pathogenic microbes through the CALMODULIN-BINDING TRANSCRIPTION ACTIVATOR 3 (CAMTA3) and mitogen-activated protein kinases. We propose an early layer of plant immunity in which trichomes function as mechanosensory cells that detect potential risks.
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18
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Scherzer S, Huang S, Iosip A, Kreuzer I, Yokawa K, Al-Rasheid KAS, Heckmann M, Hedrich R. Ether anesthetics prevents touch-induced trigger hair calcium-electrical signals excite the Venus flytrap. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2851. [PMID: 35181728 PMCID: PMC8857258 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06915-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants do not have neurons but operate transmembrane ion channels and can get electrical excited by physical and chemical clues. Among them the Venus flytrap is characterized by its peculiar hapto-electric signaling. When insects collide with trigger hairs emerging the trap inner surface, the mechanical stimulus within the mechanosensory organ is translated into a calcium signal and an action potential (AP). Here we asked how the Ca2+ wave and AP is initiated in the trigger hair and how it is feed into systemic trap calcium-electrical networks. When Dionaea muscipula trigger hairs matures and develop hapto-electric excitability the mechanosensitive anion channel DmMSL10/FLYC1 and voltage dependent SKOR type Shaker K+ channel are expressed in the sheering stress sensitive podium. The podium of the trigger hair is interface to the flytrap's prey capture and processing networks. In the excitable state touch stimulation of the trigger hair evokes a rise in the podium Ca2+ first and before the calcium signal together with an action potential travel all over the trap surface. In search for podium ion channels and pumps mediating touch induced Ca2+ transients, we, in mature trigger hairs firing fast Ca2+ signals and APs, found OSCA1.7 and GLR3.6 type Ca2+ channels and ACA2/10 Ca2+ pumps specifically expressed in the podium. Like trigger hair stimulation, glutamate application to the trap directly evoked a propagating Ca2+ and electrical event. Given that anesthetics affect K+ channels and glutamate receptors in the animal system we exposed flytraps to an ether atmosphere. As result propagation of touch and glutamate induced Ca2+ and AP long-distance signaling got suppressed, while the trap completely recovered excitability when ether was replaced by fresh air. In line with ether targeting a calcium channel addressing a Ca2+ activated anion channel the AP amplitude declined before the electrical signal ceased completely. Ether in the mechanosensory organ did neither prevent the touch induction of a calcium signal nor this post stimulus decay. This finding indicates that ether prevents the touch activated, glr3.6 expressing base of the trigger hair to excite the capture organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sönke Scherzer
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Shouguang Huang
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anda Iosip
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ines Kreuzer
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ken Yokawa
- School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kitami Institute of Technology, Hokkaido, 090-8507, Japan
| | - Khaled A S Al-Rasheid
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manfred Heckmann
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, Röntgenring 9, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Hedrich
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082, Würzburg, Germany.
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19
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Structural insights into the Venus flytrap mechanosensitive ion channel Flycatcher1. Nat Commun 2022; 13:850. [PMID: 35165281 PMCID: PMC8844309 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28511-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Flycatcher1 (FLYC1), a MscS homolog, has recently been identified as a candidate mechanosensitive (MS) ion channel involved in Venus flytrap prey recognition. FLYC1 is a larger protein and its sequence diverges from previously studied MscS homologs, suggesting it has unique structural features that contribute to its function. Here, we characterize FLYC1 by cryo-electron microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and electrophysiology. Akin to bacterial MscS and plant MSL1 channels, we find that FLYC1 central core includes side portals in the cytoplasmic cage that regulate ion preference and conduction, by identifying critical residues that modulate channel conductance. Topologically unique cytoplasmic flanking regions can adopt ‘up’ or ‘down’ conformations, making the channel asymmetric. Disruption of an up conformation-specific interaction severely delays channel deactivation by 40-fold likely due to stabilization of the channel open state. Our results illustrate novel structural features and likely conformational transitions that regulate mechano-gating of FLYC1. Flycatcher1 (FLYC1) is a candidate mechanosensitive channel involved in Venus flytrap touch-induced prey capture. Here, the authors report structural and functional details of FLYC1, with insights into gating conformational transitions.
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20
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Płachno BJ, Kapusta M, Stolarczyk P, Świątek P. Arabinogalactan Proteins in the Digestive Glands of Dionaea muscipula J.Ellis Traps. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030586. [PMID: 35159395 PMCID: PMC8833951 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The arabinogalactan proteins (AGP) play important roles in plant growth and developmental processes. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no information on the spatial distribution of AGP in the plant organs and tissues of carnivorous plants during their carnivorous cycle. The Dionaea muscipula trap forms an "external stomach" and is equipped with an effective digestive-absorbing system. Because its digestive glands are composed of specialized cells, the hypothesis that their cell walls are also very specialized in terms of their composition (AGP) compared to the cell wall of the trap epidermal and parenchyma cells was tested. Another aim of this study was to determine whether there is a spatio-temporal distribution of the AGP in the digestive glands during the secretory cycle of D. muscipula. Antibodies that act against AGPs, including JIM8, JIM13 and JIM14, were used. The localization of the examined compounds was determined using immunohistochemistry techniques and immunogold labeling. In both the un-fed and fed traps, there was an accumulation of AGP in the cell walls of the gland secretory cells. The epitope, which is recognized by JIM14, was a useful marker of the digestive glands. The secretory cells of the D. muscipula digestive glands are transfer cells and an accumulation of specific AGP was at the site where the cell wall labyrinth occurred. Immunogold labeling confirmed an occurrence of AGP in the cell wall ingrowths. There were differences in the AGP occurrence (labeled with JIM8 and JIM13) in the cell walls of the gland secretory cells between the unfed and fed traps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz J. Płachno
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 9 Gronostajowa St., 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-12-664-60-39
| | - Małgorzata Kapusta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St., 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland;
| | - Piotr Stolarczyk
- Department of Botany, Physiology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 29 Listopada 54 Ave., 31-425 Kraków, Poland;
| | - Piotr Świątek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 9 Bankowa St., 40-007 Katowice, Poland;
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21
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Dreyer I. Nutrient cycling is an important mechanism for homeostasis in plant cells. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:2246-2261. [PMID: 34890457 PMCID: PMC8644529 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Homeostasis in living cells refers to the steady state of internal, physical, and chemical conditions. It is sustained by self-regulation of the dynamic cellular system. To gain insight into the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain cytosolic nutrient concentrations in plant cells within a homeostatic range, we performed computational cell biology experiments. We mathematically modeled membrane transporter systems and simulated their dynamics. Detailed analyses of 'what-if' scenarios demonstrated that a single transporter type for a nutrient, irrespective of whether it is a channel or a cotransporter, is not sufficient to calibrate a desired cytosolic concentration. A cell cannot flexibly react to different external conditions. Rather, at least two different transporter types for the same nutrient, which are energized differently, are required. The gain of flexibility in adjusting a cytosolic concentration was accompanied by the establishment of energy-consuming cycles at the membrane, suggesting that these putatively "futile" cycles are not as futile as they appear. Accounting for the complex interplay of transporter networks at the cellular level may help design strategies for increasing nutrient use efficiency of crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Dreyer
- Center of Bioinformatics, Simulation and Modeling (CBSM), Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Talca, Talca CL-3460000, Chile
- Author for communication:
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22
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Böhm J, Scherzer S. Signaling and transport processes related to the carnivorous lifestyle of plants living on nutrient-poor soil. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:2017-2031. [PMID: 35235668 PMCID: PMC8890503 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
In Eukaryotes, long-distance and rapid signal transmission is required in order to be able to react fast and flexibly to external stimuli. This long-distance signal transmission cannot take place by diffusion of signal molecules from the site of perception to the target tissue, as their speed is insufficient. Therefore, for adequate stimulus transmission, plants as well as animals make use of electrical signal transmission, as this can quickly cover long distances. This update summarises the most important advances in plant electrical signal transduction with a focus on the carnivorous Venus flytrap. It highlights the different types of electrical signals, examines their underlying ion fluxes and summarises the carnivorous processes downstream of the electrical signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Böhm
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sönke Scherzer
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
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23
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Saikia E, Läubli NF, Vogler H, Rüggeberg M, Herrmann HJ, Burgert I, Burri JT, Nelson BJ, Grossniklaus U, Wittel FK. Mechanical factors contributing to the Venus flytrap's rate-dependent response to stimuli. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:2287-2297. [PMID: 34431032 PMCID: PMC8595191 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01507-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The sensory hairs of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) detect mechanical stimuli imparted by their prey and fire bursts of electrical signals called action potentials (APs). APs are elicited when the hairs are sufficiently stimulated and two consecutive APs can trigger closure of the trap. Earlier experiments have identified thresholds for the relevant stimulus parameters, namely the angular displacement [Formula: see text] and angular velocity [Formula: see text]. However, these experiments could not trace the deformation of the trigger hair's sensory cells, which are known to transduce the mechanical stimulus. To understand the kinematics at the cellular level, we investigate the role of two relevant mechanical phenomena: viscoelasticity and intercellular fluid transport using a multi-scale numerical model of the sensory hair. We hypothesize that the combined influence of these two phenomena and [Formula: see text] contribute to the flytrap's rate-dependent response to stimuli. In this study, we firstly perform sustained deflection tests on the hair to estimate the viscoelastic material properties of the tissue. Thereafter, through simulations of hair deflection tests at different loading rates, we were able to establish a multi-scale kinematic link between [Formula: see text] and the cell wall stretch [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we find that the rate at which [Formula: see text] evolves during a stimulus is also proportional to [Formula: see text]. This suggests that mechanosensitive ion channels, expected to be stretch-activated and localized in the plasma membrane of the sensory cells, could be additionally sensitive to the rate at which stretch is applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eashan Saikia
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093 Switzerland
| | - Nino F. Läubli
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092 Switzerland
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS United Kingdom
| | - Hannes Vogler
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8008 Switzerland
| | | | - Hans J. Herrmann
- Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, École Supérieur de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ingo Burgert
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093 Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology-EMPA, Cellulose and Wood Materials Laboratory, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Jan T. Burri
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092 Switzerland
| | - Bradley J. Nelson
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092 Switzerland
| | - Ueli Grossniklaus
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8008 Switzerland
| | - Falk K. Wittel
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093 Switzerland
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24
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Tran D, Petitjean H, Chebli Y, Geitmann A, Sharif-Naeini R. Mechanosensitive ion channels contribute to mechanically evoked rapid leaflet movement in Mimosa pudica. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:1704-1712. [PMID: 34734277 PMCID: PMC8566232 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Mechanoperception, the ability to perceive and respond to mechanical stimuli, is a common and fundamental property of all forms of life. Vascular plants such as Mimosa pudica use this function to protect themselves against herbivory. The mechanical stimulus caused by a landing insect triggers a rapid closing of the leaflets that drives the potential pest away. While this thigmonastic movement is caused by ion fluxes accompanied by a rapid change of volume in the pulvini, the mechanism responsible for the detection of the mechanical stimulus remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the role of mechanosensitive ion channels in the first step of this evolutionarily conserved defense mechanism: the mechanically evoked closing of the leaflet. Our results demonstrate that the key site of mechanosensation in the Mimosa leaflets is the pulvinule, which expresses a stretch-activated chloride-permeable mechanosensitive ion channel. Blocking these channels partially prevents the closure of the leaflets following mechanical stimulation. These results demonstrate a direct relation between the activity of mechanosensitive ion channels and a central defense mechanism of M. pudica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Tran
- Department of Physiology and Cell Information Systems, McGill University, Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G0B1
| | - Hugues Petitjean
- Department of Physiology and Cell Information Systems, McGill University, Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G0B1
| | - Youssef Chebli
- Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X3V9
| | - Anja Geitmann
- Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X3V9
| | - Reza Sharif-Naeini
- Department of Physiology and Cell Information Systems, McGill University, Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G0B1
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25
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Miguel-Tomé S, Llinás RR. Broadening the definition of a nervous system to better understand the evolution of plants and animals. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2021; 16:1927562. [PMID: 34120565 PMCID: PMC8331040 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2021.1927562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Most textbook definitions recognize only animals as having nervous systems. However, for the past couple decades, botanists have been meticulously studying long-distance signaling systems in plants, and some researchers have stated that plants have a simple nervous system. Thus, an academic conflict has emerged between those who defend and those who deny the existence of a nervous system in plants. This article analyses that debate, and we propose an alternative to answering yes or no: broadening the definition of a nervous system to include plants. We claim that a definition broader than the current one, which is based only on a phylogenetic viewpoint, would be helpful in obtaining a deeper understanding of how evolution has driven the features of signal generation, transmission and processing in multicellular beings. Also, we propose two possible definitions and exemplify how broader a definition allows for new viewpoints on the evolution of plants, animals and the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Miguel-Tomé
- Grupo De Investigación En Minería De Datos (Mida), Universidad De Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rodolfo R. Llinás
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
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26
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Robinson DG, Draguhn A. Plants have neither synapses nor a nervous system. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 263:153467. [PMID: 34247030 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The alleged existence of so-called synapses or equivalent structures in plants provided the basis for the concept of Plant Neurobiology (Baluska et al., 2005; Brenner et al., 2006). More recently, supporters of this controversial theory have even speculated that the phloem acts as a kind of nerve system serving long distance electrical signaling (Mediano et al., 2021; Baluska and Mancuso, 2021). In this review we have critically examined the literature cited by these authors and arrive at a completely different conclusion. Plants do not have any structures resembling animal synapses (neither chemical nor electrical). While they certainly do have complex cell contacts and signaling mechanisms, none of these structures provides a basis for neuronal-like synaptic transmission. Likewise, the phloem is undoubtedly a conduit for the propagation of electrical signaling, but the characteristics of this process are in no way comparable to the events underlying information processing in neuronal networks. This has obvious implications in regard to far-going speculations into the realms of cognition, sentience and consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Robinson
- Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Andreas Draguhn
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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27
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Abstract
Intelligence of physical agents, such as human-made (e.g., robots, autonomous cars) and biological (e.g., animals, plants) ones, is not only enabled by their computational intelligence (CI) in their brain, but also by their physical intelligence (PI) encoded in their body. Therefore, it is essential to advance the PI of human-made agents as much as possible, in addition to their CI, to operate them in unstructured and complex real-world environments like the biological agents. This article gives a perspective on what PI paradigm is, when PI can be more significant and dominant in physical and biological agents at different length scales and how bioinspired and abstract PI methods can be created in agent bodies. PI paradigm aims to synergize and merge many research fields, such as mechanics, materials science, robotics, mechanical design, fluidics, active matter, biology, self-assembly and collective systems, to enable advanced PI capabilities in human-made agent bodies, comparable to the ones observed in biological organisms. Such capabilities would progress the future robots and other machines beyond what can be realized using the current frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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28
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Hedrich R, Fukushima K. On the Origin of Carnivory: Molecular Physiology and Evolution of Plants on an Animal Diet. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 72:133-153. [PMID: 33434053 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-080620-010429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Charles Darwin recognized that carnivorous plants thrive in nutrient-poor soil by capturing animals. Although the concept of botanical carnivory has been known for nearly 150 years, its molecular mechanisms and evolutionary origins have not been well understood until recently. In the last decade, technical advances have fueled the genome and transcriptome sequencings of active and passive hunters, leading to a better understanding of the traits associated with the carnivorous syndrome, from trap leaf development and prey digestion to nutrient absorption, exemplified, for example, by the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), pitcher plant (Cephalotus follicularis), and bladderwort (Utricularia gibba). The repurposing of defense-related genes is an important trend in the evolution of plant carnivory. In this review, using the Venus flytrap as a representative of the carnivorous plants, we summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying their ability to attract, trap, and digest prey and discuss the origins of plant carnivory in relation to their genomic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Hedrich
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97082 Würzburg, Germany; ,
| | - Kenji Fukushima
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, 97082 Würzburg, Germany; ,
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Bauer U, Müller UK, Poppinga S. Complexity and diversity of motion amplification and control strategies in motile carnivorous plant traps. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210771. [PMID: 34036802 PMCID: PMC8150269 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Similar to animals, plants have evolved mechanisms for elastic energy storage and release to power and control rapid motion, yet both groups have been largely studied in isolation. This is exacerbated by the lack of consistent terminology and conceptual frameworks describing elastically powered motion in both groups. Iconic examples of fast movements can be found in carnivorous plants, which have become important models to study biomechanics, developmental processes, evolution and ecology. Trapping structures and processes vary considerably between different carnivorous plant groups. Using snap traps, suction traps and springboard-pitfall traps as examples, we illustrate how traps mix and match various mechanisms to power, trigger and actuate motions that contribute to prey capture, retention and digestion. We highlight a fundamental trade-off between energetic investment and movement control and discuss it in a functional-ecological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Bauer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ulrike K Müller
- Department of Biology, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT-Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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30
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Johns S, Hagihara T, Toyota M, Gilroy S. The fast and the furious: rapid long-range signaling in plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 185:694-706. [PMID: 33793939 PMCID: PMC8133610 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiaa098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plants possess a systemic signaling system whereby local stimuli can lead to rapid, plant-wide responses. In addition to the redistribution of chemical messengers that range from RNAs and peptides to hormones and metabolites, a communication system acting through the transmission of electrical, Ca2+, reactive oxygen species and potentially even hydraulic signals has also been discovered. This latter system can propagate signals across many cells each second and researchers are now beginning to uncover the molecular machineries behind this rapid communications network. Thus, elements such as the reactive oxygen species producing NAPDH oxidases and ion channels of the two pore channel, glutamate receptor-like and cyclic nucleotide gated families are all required for the rapid propagation of these signals. Upon arrival at their distant targets, these changes trigger responses ranging from the production of hormones, to changes in the levels of primary metabolites and shifts in patterns of gene expression. These systemic responses occur within seconds to minutes of perception of the initial, local signal, allowing for the rapid deployment of plant-wide responses. For example, an insect starting to chew on just a single leaf triggers preemptive antiherbivore defenses throughout the plant well before it has a chance to move on to the next leaf on its menu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Johns
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 35706, USA
| | - Takuma Hagihara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Masatsugu Toyota
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
| | - Simon Gilroy
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 35706, USA
- Author for communication:
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Action potentials induce biomagnetic fields in carnivorous Venus flytrap plants. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1438. [PMID: 33446898 PMCID: PMC7809347 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81114-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon stimulation, plants elicit electrical signals that can travel within a cellular network analogous to the animal nervous system. It is well-known that in the human brain, voltage changes in certain regions result from concerted electrical activity which, in the form of action potentials (APs), travels within nerve-cell arrays. Electro- and magnetophysiological techniques like electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, and magnetic resonance imaging are used to record this activity and to diagnose disorders. Here we demonstrate that APs in a multicellular plant system produce measurable magnetic fields. Using atomic optically pumped magnetometers, biomagnetism associated with electrical activity in the carnivorous Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, was recorded. Action potentials were induced by heat stimulation and detected both electrically and magnetically. Furthermore, the thermal properties of ion channels underlying the AP were studied. Beyond proof of principle, our findings pave the way to understanding the molecular basis of biomagnetism in living plants. In the future, magnetometry may be used to study long-distance electrical signaling in a variety of plant species, and to develop noninvasive diagnostics of plant stress and disease.
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Kinematics Governing Mechanotransduction in the Sensory Hair of the Venus flytrap. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010280. [PMID: 33396579 PMCID: PMC7795956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects fall prey to the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) when they touch the sensory hairs located on the flytrap lobes, causing sudden trap closure. The mechanical stimulus imparted by the touch produces an electrical response in the sensory cells of the trigger hair. These cells are found in a constriction near the hair base, where a notch appears around the hair’s periphery. There are mechanosensitive ion channels (MSCs) in the sensory cells that open due to a change in membrane tension; however, the kinematics behind this process is unclear. In this study, we investigate how the stimulus acts on the sensory cells by building a multi-scale hair model, using morphometric data obtained from μ-CT scans. We simulated a single-touch stimulus and evaluated the resulting cell wall stretch. Interestingly, the model showed that high stretch values are diverted away from the notch periphery and, instead, localized in the interior regions of the cell wall. We repeated our simulations for different cell shape variants to elucidate how the morphology influences the location of these high-stretch regions. Our results suggest that there is likely a higher mechanotransduction activity in these ’hotspots’, which may provide new insights into the arrangement and functioning of MSCs in the flytrap. Dataset: 10.3929/ethz-b-000448954
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Iosip AL, Böhm J, Scherzer S, Al-Rasheid KAS, Dreyer I, Schultz J, Becker D, Kreuzer I, Hedrich R. The Venus flytrap trigger hair-specific potassium channel KDM1 can reestablish the K+ gradient required for hapto-electric signaling. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000964. [PMID: 33296375 PMCID: PMC7725304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula harbors multicellular trigger hairs designed to sense mechanical stimuli upon contact with animal prey. At the base of the trigger hair, mechanosensation is transduced into an all-or-nothing action potential (AP) that spreads all over the trap, ultimately leading to trap closure and prey capture. To reveal the molecular basis for the unique functional repertoire of this mechanoresponsive plant structure, we determined the transcriptome of D. muscipula’s trigger hair. Among the genes that were found to be highly specific to the trigger hair, the Shaker-type channel KDM1 was electrophysiologically characterized as a hyperpolarization- and acid-activated K+-selective channel, thus allowing the reuptake of K+ ions into the trigger hair’s sensory cells during the hyperpolarization phase of the AP. During trap development, the increased electrical excitability of the trigger hair is associated with the transcriptional induction of KDM1. Conversely, when KDM1 is blocked by Cs+ in adult traps, the initiation of APs in response to trigger hair deflection is reduced, and trap closure is suppressed. KDM1 thus plays a dominant role in K+ homeostasis in the context of AP and turgor formation underlying the mechanosensation of trigger hair cells and thus D. muscipula’s hapto-electric signaling. Transcriptomic and electrophysiological studies of the carnivorous Venus flytrap reveal that potassium uptake via a trigger hair-specific potassium channel builds the basis for mechanosensation of likely prey and generation of an action potential that triggers closure of the trap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anda L. Iosip
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Böhm
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sönke Scherzer
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Ingo Dreyer
- Center of Bioinformatics, Simulation and Modeling (CBSM), Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Jörg Schultz
- Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Becker
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ines Kreuzer
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (IK); (RH)
| | - Rainer Hedrich
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (IK); (RH)
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34
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The Balance Strategy between Structural Safety and Sensing Accuracy Inspired by Slit-Based Mechanical Sensilla. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10248778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In engineering, cracks are typically regarded as defects due to enormous stress amplification at tip of the crack. Conversely, scorpion ingeniously utilizes the “risky” near-tip stress field of a crack-shaped slit to accurately detect weak vibration signal without causing catastrophic crack propagation from the slit tip. The present paper focuses on the balance strategy between structural safety and sensing accuracy of slit-based mechanical sensilla. We performed a detailed structural and mechanical property study of tissue around the slit wake utilizing a complementary combination of various experimental methods. The results indicate that there is a special thin surface membrane covering the slit wake and the elastic moduli of the membrane and exoskeleton are 0.562 GPa and 5.829 GPa, respectively. In addition, the ratio of bending stiffness between exoskeleton and membrane tissue is about 8 × 104. The theoretical and simulation analysis show that the surface membrane—with appropriate elastic modulus and bending stiffness—can achieve different forms of deformation with the change of slit width for protecting the mechanosensory structure without sacrificing the sensing accuracy. This finding offers a crucial theoretical basis for the further design of bionic mechanical sensors based on the near-tip stress field of artificial cracks.
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35
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A single touch can provide sufficient mechanical stimulation to trigger Venus flytrap closure. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000740. [PMID: 32649659 PMCID: PMC7351144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The carnivorous Venus flytrap catches prey by an ingenious snapping mechanism. Based on work over nearly 200 years, it has become generally accepted that two touches of the trap’s sensory hairs within 30 s, each one generating an action potential, are required to trigger closure of the trap. We developed an electromechanical model, which, however, suggests that under certain circumstances one touch is sufficient to generate two action potentials. Using a force-sensing microrobotic system, we precisely quantified the sensory-hair deflection parameters necessary to trigger trap closure and correlated them with the elicited action potentials in vivo. Our results confirm the model’s predictions, suggesting that the Venus flytrap may be adapted to a wider range of prey movements than previously assumed. It is generally accepted that two touches of the Venus flytrap’s sensory hairs within 30 seconds are required to trigger closure of the trap. Here, however, quantification of the plant’s sensory hair deflection parameters reveals that one stimulus is sufficient.
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36
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Abstract
The mechanical principles for fast snapping in the iconic Venus flytrap are not yet fully understood. In this study, we obtained time-resolved strain distributions via three-dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) for the outer and inner trap-lobe surfaces throughout the closing motion. In combination with finite element models, the various possible contributions of the trap tissue layers were investigated with respect to the trap's movement behavior and the amount of strain required for snapping. Supported by in vivo experiments, we show that full trap turgescence is a mechanical-physiological prerequisite for successful (fast and geometrically correct) snapping, driven by differential tissue changes (swelling, shrinking, or no contribution). These are probably the result of the previous accumulation of internal hydrostatic pressure (prestress), which is released after trap triggering. Our research leads to an in-depth mechanical understanding of a complex plant movement incorporating various actuation principles.
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37
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Yang W, Zhao W, Li Q, Li H, Wang Y, Li Y, Wang G. Fabrication of Smart Components by 3D Printing and Laser-Scribing Technologies. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:3928-3935. [PMID: 31888330 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b17467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Smart 3D printed structural components with self-monitoring ability show potential applications in some extreme environments, such as deep-water and space. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) provides a feasible solution; however, it is still a big challenge to print structural components with high bending and stretching mechanical properties because of the weak interlayer bonding and the pores. Here, a low-cost and facile fabrication strategy of smart components combining FDM with laser-scribing technology is reported. A thin laser-induced graphene (LIG) layer (∼50 μm) can serve as the active materials of sensors, which can be obtained on the printed polyetheretherketone (PEEK) components. Accordingly, the PEEK-LIG smart components (PEEK-LIG SCs) can self-monitor the working process and the deformations (bidirectional bending and stretching) in real time with high sensitivity. For instance, the gauge factors of PEEK-LIG SCs for bending outward and stretching are up to 155.36 and 212.35 (2-5% strain), respectively. Besides, the PEEK-LIG SCs possess good reliability (>1000 cycles), fast response time (60 ms), and recovery time (247 ms). We further show the excellent performance of the PEEK-LIG smart gear in monitoring the rotation and the abrasion, indicating the wide potential applications of this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Yang
- Beijing Institute of Technology , Beijing 100081 , China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Space Manufacturing Technology, Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100094 , China
| | - Wei Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Space Manufacturing Technology, Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100094 , China
| | - Qiushi Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Space Manufacturing Technology, Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100094 , China
| | - Han Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Space Manufacturing Technology, Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100094 , China
| | - Yiliang Wang
- Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , China
- Institute for Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology , Karlsruhe 76131 , Germany
| | - Yongxiang Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Space Manufacturing Technology, Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100094 , China
| | - Gong Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Space Manufacturing Technology, Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100094 , China
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38
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Poppinga S, Smaij J, Westermeier AS, Horstmann M, Kruppert S, Tollrian R, Speck T. Prey capture analyses in the carnivorous aquatic waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., Droseraceae). Sci Rep 2019; 9:18590. [PMID: 31819121 PMCID: PMC6901478 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54857-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the predator-prey interactions between an Australian ecotype of the carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa, Droseraceae) and its potential natural prey, the water flea Daphnia longicephala (Daphniidae), which also occurs in Australia. A. vesiculosa develops snap-traps, which close within ~10-100 ms after mechanical triggering by zooplankton prey. Prey capture attempts (PCAs) were recorded via high-speed cinematography in the laboratory. From 14 recorded PCAs, nine were successful for the plant (the prey was caught), and five were unsuccessful (prey could escape), resulting in a capture rate of ~64%. The prey animals' locomotion behaviour (antenna beat frequency and movement type) in trap vicinity or inside the open traps is very variable. Traps were mainly triggered with the second antennae. During trap closure, the animals moved only very little actively. A flight response in reaction to an initiated trap closure was not observed. However, several animals could escape, either by having a "lucky" starting position already outside the triggered trap, by freeing themselves after trap closure, or by being pressed out by the closing trap lobes. According to our observations in the successful PCAs, we hypothesize that the convex curvature of the two trap lobes (as seen from the outside) and the infolded trap rims are structural means supporting the capture and retention of prey. Our results are discussed in a broader biological context and promising aspects for future studies are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
| | - Jassir Smaij
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Anna Sofia Westermeier
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Martin Horstmann
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kruppert
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Seattle, US
| | - Ralph Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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