Lipid kinases PIP5K7 and PIP5K9 are required for polyamine-triggered K+ efflux in Arabidopsis roots

Polyamines, such as putrescine, spermidine and spermine (Spm), are low-molecular-weight polycationic molecules present in all living organisms. Despite their implication in plant cellular processes, little is known about their molecular mode of action. Here, we demonstrate that polyamines trigger a rapid increase in the regulatory membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂ ), and that this increase is required for polyamine effects on K⁺ efflux in Arabidopsis roots. Using in vivo ³² P_i -labelling of Arabidopsis seedlings, low physiological (μm) concentrations of Spm were found to promote a rapid PIP₂ increase in roots that was time- and dose-dependent. Confocal imaging of a genetically encoded PIP₂ biosensor revealed that this increase was triggered at the plasma membrane. Differential ³² P_i -labelling suggested that the increase in PIP₂ was generated through activation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) activity rather than inhibition of a phospholipase C or PIP₂ 5-phosphatase activity. Systematic analysis of transfer DNA insertion mutants identified PIP5K7 and PIP5K9 as the main candidates involved in the Spm-induced PIP₂ response. Using non-invasive microelectrode ion flux estimation, we discovered that the Spm-triggered K⁺ efflux response was strongly reduced in pip5k7 pip5k9 seedlings. Together, our results provide biochemical and genetic evidence for a physiological role of PIP₂ in polyamine-mediated signalling controlling K⁺ flux in plants.

The mitochondrial VDAC of bean seeds recruits phosphatidylethanolamine lipids for its proper functioning

The voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) is the main pathway for inorganic ions and metabolites through the mitochondrial outer membrane. Studies recently demonstrated that membrane lipids regulate its function. It remains, however, unclear how this regulation takes place. In this study, we show that phospholipids are key regulators of Phaseolus VDAC function and, furthermore, that the salt concentration modulates this regulation. Both selectivity and voltage dependence of Phaseolus VDAC are very sensitive to a change in the lipid polar head from PC to PE. Interestingly enough, this dependence is observed only at low salt concentration. Furthermore, significant changes in VDAC functional properties also occur with the gradual methylation of the PE group pointing to the role of subtle chemical variations in the lipid head group. The dependence of PcVDAC gating upon the introduction of a small mole fraction of PE in a PC bilayer has prompted us to propose the existence of a specific interaction site for PE on the outer surface of PcVDAC. Eventually, comparative modeling and molecular dynamics simulations suggest a potential mechanism to get insight into the anion selectivity enhancement of PcVDAC observed in PE relative to PC.

Differential gene expression and transport functionality in the bundle sheath versus mesophyll - a potential role in leaf mineral homeostasis

Under fluctuating ambient conditions, the ability of plants to maintain hydromineral homeostasis requires the tight control of long distance transport. This includes the control of radial transport within leaves, from veins to mesophyll. The bundle sheath is a structure that tightly wraps around leaf vasculature. It has been suggested to act as a selective barrier in the context of radial transport. This suggestion is based on recent physiological transport assays of bundle sheath cells (BSCs), as well as the anatomy of these cells.We hypothesized that the unique transport functionality of BSCs is apparent in their transcriptome. To test this, we compared the transcriptomes of individually hand-picked protoplasts of GFP-labeled BSCs and non-labeled mesophyll cells (MCs) from the leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Of the 90 genes differentially expressed between BSCs and MCs, 45% are membrane related and 20% transport related, a prominent example being the proton pump AHA2. Electrophysiological assays showed that the major AKT2-like membrane K+ conductances of BSCs and MCs had different voltage dependency ranges. Taken together, these differences may cause simultaneous but oppositely directed transmembrane K+ fluxes in BSCs and MCs, in otherwise similar conditions.

Acclimation to salt modifies the activation of several osmotic stress-activated lipid signalling pathways in Chlamydomonas

Osmotic stress rapidly activates several phospholipid signalling pathways in the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas. In this report, we have studied the effects of salt-acclimation on growth and phospholipid signalling. Growing cells on media containing 100 mM NaCl increased their salt-tolerance but did not affect the overall phospholipid content, except that levels of phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P₂] were reduced by one-third. When these NaCl-acclimated cells were treated with increasing concentrations of salt, the same lipid signalling pathways as in non-acclimated cells were activated. This was witnessed as increases in phosphatidic acid (PA), lyso-phosphatidic acid (L-PA), diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), PI(4,5)P₂ and its isomer PI(3,5)P₂. However, all dose-dependent responses were shifted to higher osmotic-stress levels, and the responses were lower than in non-acclimated cells. When NaCl-acclimated cells were treated with other osmotica, such as KCl and sucrose, the same effects were found, illustrating that they were due to hyperosmotic rather than hyperionic acclimation. The results indicate that acclimation to moderate salt stress modifies stress perception and the activation of several downstream pathways.

Potassium channels in plant cells

Potassium (K(+) ) is the most abundant inorganic cation in plant cells. Unlike animals, plants lack sodium/potassium exchangers. Instead, plant cells have developed unique transport systems for K(+) accumulation and release. An essential role in potassium uptake and efflux is played by potassium channels. Since the first molecular characterization of K(+) channels from Arabidopsis thaliana in 1992, a large number of studies on plant potassium channels have been conducted. Potassium channels are considered to be one of the best characterized class of membrane proteins in plants. Nevertheless, knowledge on plant potassium channels is still incomplete. This minireview focuses on recent developments in the research of potassium transport in plants with a strong focus on voltage-gated potassium channels.

Recent achievements and trends in experimental plant biology

Between 21 and 25 September 2009, Krakow hosted the 4th Conference of the Polish Society of Experimental Plant Biology, co-organized with the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, and supported by the Biochemical Society. The aim of the conference was to present and discuss the most important topics in different disciplines of plant experimental science as well as to facilitate the interaction and co-operation between scientists. To achieve this goal, about 30 top specialists in various areas of plant biology were invited to give plenary lectures in the following sessions: Plant structure and development; Plant-microbial interactions; Mitochondria and chloroplasts in cell metabolism; Stress tolerance in plants; Structural and functional organization of plant genomes; Mutants in developmental and metabolic studies; Secondary metabolites as pharmaceutics and nutraceutics; Plant membranes; and Integrating plant functions via signalling molecules: molecular mechanisms. Some of the main problems highlighted in the plenary lectures are briefly summarized in the present paper. Two poster sessions enabled a discussion of over 200 posters presented. The conference had an international character, its official language was English, and among the more than 350 participants, about 60 were from abroad. Several plenary lectures were prepared as short review papers and they are published in this issue of Biochemical Society Transactions.