Phosphorylation of soybean nodulin 26 on serine 262 enhances water permeability and is regulated developmentally and by osmotic signals

Genetic mapping reveals the complex genetic architecture controlling slow canopy wilting in soybean

In soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], drought stress is the leading cause of yield loss from abiotic stress in rain-fed US growing areas. Only 10% of the US soybean production is irrigated; therefore, plants must possess physiological mechanisms to tolerate drought stress. Slow canopy wilting is a physiological trait that is observed in a few exotic plant introductions (PIs) and may lead to yield improvement under drought stress. Canopy wilting of 130 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from Hutcheson × PI 471938 grown under drought stress was visually evaluated and genotyped with the SoySNP6K BeadChip. Over four years, field evaluations of canopy wilting were conducted under rainfed conditions at three locations across the US (Georgia, Kansas, and North Carolina). Due to the variation in weather among locations and years, the phenotypic data were collected from seven environments. Substantial variation in canopy wilting was observed among the genotypes in the RIL population across environments. Three QTLs were identified for canopy wilting from the RIL population using composite interval mapping on chromosomes (Chrs) 2, 8, and 9 based on combined environmental analyses. These QTLs inherited the favorable alleles from PI 471938 and accounted for 11, 10, and 14% of phenotypic variation, respectively. A list of 106 candidate genes were narrowed down for these three QTLs based on the published information. The QTLs identified through this research can be used as targets for further investigation to understand the mechanisms of slow canopy wilting. These QTLs could be deployed to improve drought tolerance through a targeted selection of the genomic regions from PI 471938.

New strategies to address world food security and elimination of malnutrition: future role of coarse cereals in human health

As we face increasing challenges of world food security and malnutrition, coarse cereals are coming into favor as an important supplement to human staple foods due to their high nutritional value. In addition, their functional components, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, make them an important food source for healthy diets. However, we lack a systematic understanding of the importance of coarse cereals for world food security and nutritional goals. This review summarizes the worldwide cultivation and distribution of coarse cereals, indicating that the global area for coarse cereal cultivation is steadily increasing. This paper also focuses on the special adaptive mechanisms of coarse cereals to drought and discusses the strategies to improve coarse cereal crop yields from the perspective of agricultural production systems. The future possibilities, challenges, and opportunities for coarse cereal production are summarized in the face of food security challenges, and new ideas for world coarse cereal production are suggested.

Plasma membrane aquaporins regulate root hydraulic conductivity in the model plant Setaria viridis

The high rate of productivity observed in panicoid crops is in part due to their extensive root system. Recently, green foxtail (Setaria viridis) has emerged as a genetic model system for panicoid grasses. Natural accessions of S. viridis originating from different parts of the world, with differential leaf physiological behavior, have been identified. This work focused on understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms controlling root hydraulic conductivity and root-to-shoot gas exchange signaling in S. viridis. We identified 2 accessions, SHA and ZHA, with contrasting behavior at the leaf, root, and whole-plant levels. Our results indicated a role for root aquaporin (AQP) plasma membrane (PM) intrinsic proteins in the differential behavior of SHA and ZHA. Moreover, a different root hydraulic response to low levels of abscisic acid between SHA and ZHA was observed, which was associated with root AQPs. Using cell imaging, biochemical, and reverse genetic approaches, we identified PM intrinsic protein 1;6 (PIP1;6) as a possible PIP1 candidate that regulates radial root hydraulics and root-to-shoot signaling of gas exchange in S. viridis. In heterologous systems, PIP1;6 localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, and upon interaction with PIP2s, relocalization to the PM was observed. PIP1;6 was predominantly expressed at the root endodermis. Generation of knockout PIP1;6 plants (KO-PIP1;6) in S. viridis showed altered root hydraulic conductivity, altered gas exchange, and alteration of root transcriptional patterns. Our results indicate that PIPs are essential in regulating whole-plant water homeostasis in S. viridis. We conclude that root hydraulic conductivity and gas exchange are positively associated and are regulated by AQPs.

Integration of miRNA dynamics and drought tolerant QTLs in rice reveals the role of miR2919 in drought stress response

To combat drought stress in rice, a major threat to global food security, three major quantitative trait loci for 'yield under drought stress' (qDTYs) were successfully exploited in the last decade. However, their molecular basis still remains unknown. To understand the role of secondary regulation by miRNA in drought stress response and their relation, if any, with the three qDTYs, the miRNA dynamics under drought stress was studied at booting stage in two drought tolerant (Sahbaghi Dhan and Vandana) and one drought sensitive (IR 20) cultivars. In total, 53 known and 40 novel differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified. The primary drought responsive miRNAs were Osa-MIR2919, Osa-MIR3979, Osa-MIR159f, Osa-MIR156k, Osa-MIR528, Osa-MIR530, Osa-MIR2091, Osa-MIR531a, Osa-MIR531b as well as three novel ones. Sixty-one target genes that corresponded to 11 known and 4 novel DE miRNAs were found to be co-localized with the three qDTYs, out of the 1746 target genes identified. We could validate miRNA-mRNA expression under drought for nine known and three novel miRNAs in eight different rice genotypes showing varying degree of tolerance. From our study, Osa-MIR2919, Osa-MIR3979, Osa-MIR528, Osa-MIR2091-5p and Chr01_11911S14Astr and their target genes LOC_Os01g72000, LOC_Os01g66890, LOC_Os01g57990, LOC_Os01g56780, LOC_Os01g72834, LOC_Os01g61880 and LOC_Os01g72780 were identified as the most promising candidates for drought tolerance at booting stage. Of these, Osa-MIR2919 with 19 target genes in the qDTYs is being reported for the first time. It acts as a negative regulator of drought stress tolerance by modulating the cytokinin and brassinosteroid signalling pathway.

Exploring aquaporin functions during changes in leaf water potential

Maintenance of optimal leaf tissue humidity is important for plant productivity and food security. Leaf humidity is influenced by soil and atmospheric water availability, by transpiration and by the coordination of water flux across cell membranes throughout the plant. Flux of water and solutes across plant cell membranes is influenced by the function of aquaporin proteins. Plants have numerous aquaporin proteins required for a multitude of physiological roles in various plant tissues and the membrane flux contribution of each aquaporin can be regulated by changes in protein abundance, gating, localisation, post-translational modifications, protein:protein interactions and aquaporin stoichiometry. Resolving which aquaporins are candidates for influencing leaf humidity and determining how their regulation impacts changes in leaf cell solute flux and leaf cavity humidity is challenging. This challenge involves resolving the dynamics of the cell membrane aquaporin abundance, aquaporin sub-cellular localisation and location-specific post-translational regulation of aquaporins in membranes of leaf cells during plant responses to changes in water availability and determining the influence of cell signalling on aquaporin permeability to a range of relevant solutes, as well as determining aquaporin influence on cell signalling. Here we review recent developments, current challenges and suggest open opportunities for assessing the role of aquaporins in leaf substomatal cavity humidity regulation.

Posttranslational regulation of transporters important for symbiotic interactions

Coordinated sharing of nutritional resources is a central feature of symbiotic interactions, and, despite the importance of this topic, many questions remain concerning the identification, activity, and regulation of transporter proteins involved. Recent progress in obtaining genome and transcriptome sequences for symbiotic organisms provides a wealth of information on plant, fungal, and bacterial transporters that can be applied to these questions. In this update, we focus on legume-rhizobia and mycorrhizal symbioses and how transporters at the symbiotic interfaces can be regulated at the protein level. We point out areas where more research is needed and ways that an understanding of transporter mechanism and energetics can focus hypotheses. Protein phosphorylation is a predominant mechanism of posttranslational regulation of transporters in general and at the symbiotic interface specifically. Other mechanisms of transporter regulation, such as protein-protein interaction, including transporter multimerization, polar localization, and regulation by pH and membrane potential are also important at the symbiotic interface. Most of the transporters that function in the symbiotic interface are members of transporter families; we bring in relevant information on posttranslational regulation within transporter families to help generate hypotheses for transporter regulation at the symbiotic interface.

Aquaporin ion conductance properties defined by membrane environment, protein structure, and cell physiology

Aquaporins (AQPs) are multifunctional transmembrane channel proteins permeable to water and an expanding array of solutes. AQP-mediated ion channel activity was first observed when purified AQP0 from bovine lens was incorporated into lipid bilayers. Electrophysiological properties of ion-conducting AQPs since discovered in plants, invertebrates, and mammals have been assessed using native, reconstituted, and heterologously expressed channels. Accumulating evidence is defining amino acid residues that govern differential solute permeability through intrasubunit and central pores of AQP tetramers. Rings of charged and hydrophobic residues around pores influence AQP selectivity, and are candidates for further work to define motifs that distinguish ion conduction capability, versus strict water and glycerol permeability. Similarities between AQP ion channels thus far include large single channel conductances and long open times, but differences in ionic selectivity, permeability to divalent cations, and mechanisms of gating (e.g., by voltage, pH, and cyclic nucleotides) are unique to subtypes. Effects of lipid environments in modulating parameters such as single channel amplitude could explain in part the variations in AQP ion channel properties observed across preparations. Physiological roles of the ion-conducting AQP classes span diverse processes including regulation of cell motility, organellar pH, neural development, signaling, and nutrient acquisition. Advances in computational methods can generate testable predictions of AQP structure-function relationships, which combined with innovative high-throughput assays could revolutionize the field in defining essential properties of ion-conducting AQPs, discovering new AQP ion channels, and understanding the effects of AQP interactions with proteins, signaling cascades, and membrane lipids.

Aquaporin family lactic acid channel NIP2;1 promotes plant survival under low oxygen stress in Arabidopsis

Under anaerobic stress, Arabidopsis thaliana induces the expression of a collection of core hypoxia genes that encode proteins for an adaptive response. Among these genes is NIP2;1, which encodes a member of the "Nodulin 26-like Intrinsic Protein" (NIP) subgroup of the aquaporin superfamily of membrane channel proteins. NIP2;1 expression is limited to the "anoxia core" region of the root stele under normal growth conditions, but shows substantial induction (up to 1,000-fold by 2-4 h of hypoxia) by low oxygen stress, and accumulation in all root tissues. During hypoxia, NIP2;1-GFP accumulates predominantly on the plasma membrane by 2 h, is distributed between the plasma and internal membranes during sustained hypoxia, and remains elevated in root tissues through 4 h of reoxygenation recovery. In response to hypoxia challenge, T-DNA insertion mutant nip2;1 plants exhibit elevated lactic acid within root tissues, reduced efflux of lactic acid, and reduced acidification of the external medium compared to wild-type plants. Previous biochemical evidence demonstrates that NIP2;1 has lactic acid channel activity, and our work supports the hypothesis that NIP2;1 prevents lactic acid toxicity by facilitating release of cellular lactic acid from the cytosol to the apoplast, supporting eventual efflux to the rhizosphere. In evidence, nip2;1 plants demonstrate poorer survival during argon-induced hypoxia stress. Expressions of the ethanolic fermentation transcript Alcohol Dehydrogenase1 and the core hypoxia-induced transcript Alanine Aminotransferase1 are elevated in nip2;1, and expression of the Glycolate Oxidase3 transcript is reduced, suggesting NIP2;1 lactic acid efflux regulates other pyruvate and lactate metabolism pathways.

Malate Transport and Metabolism in Nitrogen-Fixing Legume Nodules

Legumes form a symbiosis with rhizobia, a soil bacterium that allows them to access atmospheric nitrogen and deliver it to the plant for growth. Biological nitrogen fixation occurs in specialized organs, termed nodules, that develop on the legume root system and house nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteroids in organelle-like structures termed symbiosomes. The process is highly energetic and there is a large demand for carbon by the bacteroids. This carbon is supplied to the nodule as sucrose, which is broken down in nodule cells to organic acids, principally malate, that can then be assimilated by bacteroids. Sucrose may move through apoplastic and/or symplastic routes to the uninfected cells of the nodule or be directly metabolised at the site of import within the vascular parenchyma cells. Malate must be transported to the infected cells and then across the symbiosome membrane, where it is taken up by bacteroids through a well-characterized dct system. The dicarboxylate transporters on the infected cell and symbiosome membranes have been functionally characterized but remain unidentified. Proteomic and transcriptomic studies have revealed numerous candidates, but more work is required to characterize their function and localise the proteins in planta. GABA, which is present at high concentrations in nodules, may play a regulatory role, but this remains to be explored.

Combining Genome and Gene Co-expression Network Analyses for the Identification of Genes Potentially Regulating Salt Tolerance in Rice

Salinity stress tolerance is a complex polygenic trait involving multi-molecular pathways. This study aims to demonstrate an effective transcriptomic approach for identifying genes regulating salt tolerance in rice. The chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) of "Khao Dawk Mali 105 (KDML105)" rice containing various regions of DH212 between markers RM1003 and RM3362 displayed differential salt tolerance at the booting stage. CSSL16 and its nearly isogenic parent, KDML105, were used for transcriptome analysis. Differentially expressed genes in the leaves of seedlings, flag leaves, and second leaves of CSSL16 and KDML105 under normal and salt stress conditions were subjected to analyses based on gene co-expression network (GCN), on two-state co-expression with clustering coefficient (CC), and on weighted gene co-expression network (WGCN). GCN identified 57 genes, while 30 and 59 genes were identified using CC and WGCN, respectively. With the three methods, some of the identified genes overlapped, bringing the maximum number of predicted salt tolerance genes to 92. Among the 92 genes, nine genes, OsNodulin, OsBTBZ1, OsPSB28, OsERD, OsSub34, peroxidase precursor genes, and three expressed protein genes, displayed SNPs between CSSL16 and KDML105. The nine genes were differentially expressed in CSSL16 and KDML105 under normal and salt stress conditions. OsBTBZ1 and OsERD were identified by the three methods. These results suggest that the transcriptomic approach described here effectively identified the genes regulating salt tolerance in rice and support the identification of appropriate QTL for salt tolerance improvement.

Adaptable and Multifunctional Ion-Conducting Aquaporins

Aquaporins function as water and neutral solute channels, signaling hubs, disease virulence factors, and metabolon components. We consider plant aquaporins that transport ions compared to some animal counterparts. These are candidates for important, as yet unidentified, cation and anion channels in plasma, tonoplast, and symbiotic membranes. For those individual isoforms that transport ions, water, and gases, the permeability spans 12 orders of magnitude. This requires tight regulation of selectivity via protein interactions and posttranslational modifications. A phosphorylation-dependent switch between ion and water permeation in AtPIP2;1 might be explained by coupling between the gates of the four monomer water channels and the central pore of the tetramer. We consider the potential for coupling between ion and water fluxes that could form the basis of an electroosmotic transducer. A grand challenge in understanding the roles of ion transporting aquaporins is their multifunctional modes that are dependent on location, stress, time, and development.

Grapevine aquaporins: Diversity, cellular functions, and ecophysiological perspectives

High-scored premium wines are typically produced under moderate drought stress, suggesting that the water status of grapevine is crucial for wine quality. Aquaporins greatly influence the plant water status by facilitating water diffusion across the plasma membrane in a tightly regulated manner. They adjust the hydraulic conductance of the plasma membrane rapidly and reversibly, which is essential in specific physiological events, including adaptation to soil water scarcity. The comprehension of the sophisticated plant-water relations at the molecular level are thus important to optimize agricultural practices or to assist plant breeding programs. This review explores the recent progresses in understanding the water transport in grapevine at the cellular level through aquaporins and its regulation. Important aspects, including aquaporin structure, diversity, cellular localization, transport properties, and regulation at the cellular and whole plant level are addressed. An ecophysiological perspective about the roles of grapevine aquaporins in plant response to drought stress is also provided.

Plant aquaporins: A frontward to make crop plants drought resistant

Drought stress alters gene expression and causes cellular damage in crop plants. Drought inhibits photosynthesis by reducing the content and the activity of the photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle, ultimately decreasing the crop yield. The role of aquaporins (AQP) in improving the growth and adaptation of crop plants under drought stress is of importance. AQP form channels and control water transport in and out of the cells and are associated with drought tolerance mechanisms. The current review addresses: (1) the evolution of AQPs in plants, (2) the classification of plant AQPs, (3) the role of AQPs in drought alleviation in crop plants, and (4) the phytohormone crosstalk with AQPs in crops exposed to drought stress.

Phosphorylation influences water and ion channel function of AtPIP2;1

The phosphorylation state of two serine residues within the C-terminal domain of AtPIP2;1 (S280, S283) regulates its plasma membrane localization in response to salt and osmotic stress. Here, we investigated whether the phosphorylation state of S280 and S283 also influence AtPIP2;1 facilitated water and cation transport. A series of single and double S280 and S283 phosphomimic and phosphonull AtPIP2;1 mutants were tested in heterologous systems. In Xenopus laevis oocytes, phosphomimic mutants AtPIP2;1 S280D, S283D, and S280D/S283D had significantly greater ion conductance for Na⁺ and K⁺ , whereas the S280A single phosphonull mutant had greater water permeability. We observed a phosphorylation-dependent inverse relationship between AtPIP2;1 water and ion transport with a 10-fold change in both. The results revealed that phosphorylation of S280 and S283 influences the preferential facilitation of ion or water transport by AtPIP2;1. The results also hint that other regulatory sites play roles that are yet to be elucidated. Expression of the AtPIP2;1 phosphorylation mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that phosphorylation influences plasma membrane localization, and revealed higher Na⁺ accumulation for S280A and S283D mutants. Collectively, the results show that phosphorylation in the C-terminal domain of AtPIP2;1 influences its subcellular localization and cation transport capacity.

Versatile roles of aquaporin in physiological processes and stress tolerance in plants

Aquaporins are pore-forming transmembrane proteins that facilitate the movement of water and many other small neutral solutes across the cells and intracellular compartments. Plants exhibits high diversity in aquaporin isoforms and broadly classified into five different subfamilies on the basis of phylogenetic distribution and subcellular occurrence: plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), nodulin 26-like proteins (NIPs), small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs) and uncharacterized intrinsic proteins (XIPs). The gating mechanism of aquaporin channels is tightly regulated by post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, glycosylation, and deamination. Aquaporin expression and transport functions are also modulated by the various phytohormones-mediated signalling in plants. Combined physiology and transcriptome analysis revealed the role of aquaporins in regulating hydraulic conductance in roots and leaves. The present review mainly focused on aquaporin functional activity during solute transport, plant development, abiotic stress response, and plant-microbe symbiosis. Genetically modified plants overexpressing aquaporin-encoding genes display improved agronomic and abiotic stress tolerance.

Molecular and Functional Characterization of Grapevine NIPs through Heterologous Expression in aqy-Null Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Plant Nodulin 26-like Intrinsic Proteins (NIPs) are multifunctional membrane channels of the Major Intrinsic Protein (MIP) family. Unlike other homologs, they have low intrinsic water permeability. NIPs possess diverse substrate selectivity, ranging from water to glycerol and to other small solutes, depending on the group-specific amino acid composition at aromatic/Arg (ar/R) constriction. We cloned three NIPs (NIP1;1, NIP5;1, and NIP6;1) from grapevine (cv. Touriga Nacional). Their expression in the membrane of aqy-null Saccharomyces cerevisiae enabled their functional characterization for water and glycerol transport through stopped-flow spectroscopy. VvTnNIP1;1 demonstrated high water as well as glycerol permeability, whereas VvTnNIP6;1 was impermeable to water but presented high glycerol permeability. Their transport activities were declined by cytosolic acidification, implying that internal-pH can regulate NIPs gating. Furthermore, an extension of C-terminal in VvTnNIP6;1M homolog, led to improved channel activity, suggesting that NIPs gating is putatively regulated by C-terminal. Yeast growth assays in the presence of diverse substrates suggest that the transmembrane flux of metalloids (As, B, and Se) and the heavy metal (Cd) are facilitated through grapevine NIPs. This is the first molecular and functional characterization of grapevine NIPs, providing crucial insights into understanding their role for uptake and translocation of small solutes, and extrusion of toxic compounds in grapevine.

Research Progress and Perspective on Drought Stress in Legumes: A Review

Climate change, food shortage, water scarcity, and population growth are some of the threatening challenges being faced in today's world. Drought stress (DS) poses a constant challenge for agricultural crops and has been considered a severe constraint for global agricultural productivity; its intensity and severity are predicted to increase in the near future. Legumes demonstrate high sensitivity to DS, especially at vegetative and reproductive stages. They are mostly grown in the dry areas and are moderately drought tolerant, but severe DS leads to remarkable production losses. The most prominent effects of DS are reduced germination, stunted growth, serious damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, decrease in net photosynthesis, and a reduction in nutrient uptake. To curb the catastrophic effect of DS in legumes, it is imperative to understand its effects, mechanisms, and the agronomic and genetic basis of drought for sustainable management. This review highlights the impact of DS on legumes, mechanisms, and proposes appropriate management approaches to alleviate the severity of water stress. In our discussion, we outline the influence of water stress on physiological aspects (such as germination, photosynthesis, water and nutrient uptake), growth parameters and yield. Additionally, mechanisms, various management strategies, for instance, agronomic practices (planting time and geometry, nutrient management), plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), functional genomics and advanced strategies (CRISPR-Cas9) are also critically discussed. We propose that the integration of several approaches such as agronomic and biotechnological strategies as well as advanced genome editing tools is needed to develop drought-tolerant legume cultivars.

Investigation of the AQP Family in Soybean and the Promoter Activity of TIP2;6 in Heat Stress and Hormone Responses

Aquaporins (AQPs) are one diverse family of membrane channel proteins that play crucial regulatory roles in plant stress physiology. However, the heat stress responsiveness of AQP genes in soybean remains poorly understood. In this study, 75 non-redundant AQP encoding genes were identified in soybean. Multiple sequence alignments showed that all GmAQP proteins possessed the conserved regions, which contained 6 trans-membrane domains (TM1 to TM6). Different GmAQP members consisted of distinct Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) motifs, aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filters and Froger's positions (FPs). Phylogenetic analyses distinguished five sub-families within these GmAQPs: 24 GmPIPs, 24 GmTIPs, 17 GmNIPs, 8 GmSIPs, and 2 GmXIPs. Promoter cis-acting elements analyses revealed that distinct number and composition of heat stress and hormone responsive elements existed in different promoter regions of GmAQPs. QRT-PCR assays demonstrated that 12 candidate GmAQPs with relatively extensive expression in various tissues or high expression levels in root or leaf exhibited different expression changes under heat stress and hormone cues (abscisic acid (ABA), l-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC), salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)). Furthermore, the promoter activity of one previously functionally unknown AQP gene-GmTIP2;6 was investigated in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. The beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity driven by the promoter of GmTIP2;6 was strongly induced in the heat- and ACC-treated transgenic plants and tended to be accumulated in the hypocotyls, vascular bundles, and leaf trichomes. These results will contribute to uncovering the potential functions and molecular mechanisms of soybean GmAQPs in mediating heat stress and hormone signal responses.

Is Nitrogen a Key Determinant of Water Transport and Photosynthesis in Higher Plants Upon Drought Stress?

Drought stress is a major global issue limiting agricultural productivity. Plants respond to drought stress through a series of physiological, cellular, and molecular changes for survival. The regulation of water transport and photosynthesis play crucial roles in improving plants' drought tolerance. Nitrogen (N, ammonium and nitrate) is an essential macronutrient for plants, and it can affect many aspects of plant growth and metabolic pathways, including water relations and photosynthesis. This review focuses on how drought stress affects water transport and photosynthesis, including the regulation of hydraulic conductance, aquaporin expression, and photosynthesis. It also discusses the cross talk between N, water transport, and drought stress in higher plants.

Proteomic approaches to uncover the flooding and drought stress response mechanisms in soybean

Soybean is the important crop with abundant protein, vegetable oil, and several phytochemicals. With such predominant values, soybean is cultivated with a long history. However, flooding and drought stresses exert deleterious effects on soybean growth. The present review summarizes the morphological changes and affected events in soybean exposed to such extreme-water conditions. Sensitive organ in stressed soybean at different-developmental stages is presented based on protein profiles. Protein quality control and calcium homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum are discussed in soybean under both stresses. In addition, the way of calcium homeostasis in mediating protein folding and energy metabolism is addressed. Finally, stress response to flooding and drought is systematically demonstrated. This review concludes the recent findings of plant response to flooding and drought stresses in soybean employed proteomic approaches.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Soybean is considered as traditional-health food because of nutritional elements and pharmacological values. Flooding and drought exert deleterious effects to soybean growth. Proteomic approaches have been employed to elucidate stress response in soybean exposed to flooding and drought stresses. In this review, stress response is presented on organ-specific manner in the early-stage plant and soybean seedling exposed to combined stresses. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is induced by both stresses; and stress-response in the ER is addressed in the root tip of early-stage soybean. Moreover, calcium-response processes in stressed plant are described in the ER and in the cytosol. Additionally, stress-dependent response was discussed in flooded and drought-stressed plant. This review depicts stress response in the sensitive organ of stressed soybean and forms the basis to develop molecular markers related to plant defense under flooding and drought stresses.

To Produce or to Survive: How Plastic Is Your Crop Stress Physiology?

Abiotic stress causes major crop losses and is considered a greater challenge than biotic stress. Comparisons of the number of published articles and patents regarding these different types of stresses, and the number of commercially released crops designed to tolerate different types of stresses, revealed a huge gap in the bench-to-field transfer rate of abiotic stress-tolerant crops, as compared to crops designed to tolerate biotic stress. These differences underscore the complexity of abiotic stress-response mechanisms. Here, we suggest that breeding programs favoring yield-related quantitative physiological traits (QPTs; e.g., photosynthesis rate or stomatal conductance) have canalized those QPTs at their highest levels. This has affected the sensitivity of those QPTs to changing environmental conditions and those traits have become less plastic. We also suggest that breeding pressure has had an asymmetric impact on different QPTs, depending on their sensitivity to environmental conditions and their interactions with other QPTs. We demonstrate this asymmetric impact on the regulation of whole-plant water balance, showing how plastic membrane water content, stomatal conductance and leaf hydraulic conductance interact to canalize whole-organ water content. We suggest that a QPT's plasticity is itself an important trait and that understanding this plasticity may help us to develop yield-optimized crops.

Reductions in root hydraulic conductivity in response to clay soil and treated waste water are related to PIPs down-regulation in Citrus

Citrus hydraulic physiology and PIP transcript levels were characterized in heavy (clay) and light (sandy loam) soils with and without treated waste water (TWW) irrigation after a summer irrigation season and at the end of a winter rainy season recovery period. Consistent reductions in clay soils compared to sandy loam were found for fresh water (FW) and TWW irrigation, respectively, in root water uptake, as well as in hydraulic conductivity of whole plant (Ks plant), stem (Ks stem) and root (Ks root). Transcript levels of most PIPs down-regulated following TWW irrigation in both soils, but relative gene expression of three PIPs was significantly higher in summer for sandy soil and FW than for clay soil and TWW; their mRNA levels was significantly correlated to Ks root. A pot experiment, which compared short term influences of saline and TWW found that both treatments, compared to FW, reduced root water uptake and PIPs mRNA levels by 2-fold after 20 days, and the decreases continued with time until the end of the experiment. These latter data indicated that salinity had an important influence. Our results suggest that plant hydraulic adjustment to soil texture and water quality occurs rapidly, i.e. within days, and is modulated by PIPs expression.

Plant and animal aquaporins crosstalk: what can be revealed from distinct perspectives

Aquaporins (AQPs) can be revisited from a distinct and complementary perspective: the outcome from analyzing them from both plant and animal studies. (1) The approach in the study. Diversity found in both kingdoms contrasts with the limited number of crystal structures determined within each group. While the structure of almost half of mammal AQPs was resolved, only a few were resolved in plants. Strikingly, the animal structures resolved are mainly derived from the AQP2-lineage, due to their important roles in water homeostasis regulation in humans. The difference could be attributed to the approach: relevance in animal research is emphasized on pathology and in consequence drug screening that can lead to potential inhibitors, enhancers and/or regulators. By contrast, studies on plants have been mainly focused on the physiological role that AQPs play in growth, development and stress tolerance. (2) The transport capacity. Besides the well-described AQPs with high water transport capacity, large amount of evidence confirms that certain plant AQPs can carry a large list of small solutes. So far, animal AQP list is more restricted. In both kingdoms, there is a great amount of evidence on gas transport, although there is still an unsolved controversy around gas translocation as well as the role of the central pore of the tetramer. (3) More roles than expected. We found it remarkable that the view of AQPs as specific channels has evolved first toward simple transporters to molecules that can experience conformational changes triggered by biochemical and/or mechanical signals, turning them also into signaling components and/or behave as osmosensor molecules.

Calcium-dependent protein kinase CPK31 interacts with arsenic transporter AtNIP1;1 and regulates arsenite uptake in Arabidopsis thaliana

Although arsenite [As(III)] is non-essential and toxic for plants, it is effectively absorbed through various transporters into the roots. Here we identified a calcium-dependent protein kinase (CPK31) response for As(III) tolerance in Arabidopsis. We identified CPK31 as an interacting protein of a nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein (NIP1;1), an aquaporin involved in As(III) uptake. Similarly to the nip1;1 mutants, the loss-of-function mutants of CPK31 improved the tolerance against As(III) but not As(V), and accumulated less As(III) in roots than that of the wild-type plants. The promoter-β-glucuronidase and quantitative Real-Time PCR analysis revealed that CPK31 displayed overlapping expression profiles with NIP1;1 in the roots, suggesting that they might function together in roots. Indeed, the cpk31 nip1;1 double mutants exhibited stronger As(III) tolerance than cpk31 mutants, but similar to nip1;1 mutants, supporting the idea that CPK31 might serve as an upstream regulator of NIP1;1. Furthermore, transient CPK31 overexpression induced by dexamethasone caused the decrease in As(III) tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis lines. These findings reveal that CPK31 is a key factor in As(III) response in plants.

Dynamic Phosphoproteome Analysis of Seedling Leaves in Brachypodium distachyon L. Reveals Central Phosphorylated Proteins Involved in the Drought Stress Response

Drought stress is a major abiotic stress affecting plant growth and development. In this study, we performed the first dynamic phosphoproteome analysis of Brachypodium distachyon L. seedling leaves under drought stress for different times. A total of 4924 phosphopeptides, contained 6362 phosphosites belonging to 2748 phosphoproteins. Rigorous standards were imposed to screen 484 phosphorylation sites, representing 442 unique phosphoproteins. Comparative analyses revealed significant changes in phosphorylation levels at 0, 6, and 24 h under drought stress. The most phosphorylated proteins and the highest phosphorylation level occurred at 6 h. Venn analysis showed that the up-regulated phosphopeptides at 6 h were almost two-fold those at 24 h. Motif-X analysis identified the six motifs: [sP], [Rxxs], [LxRxxs], [sxD], [sF], and [TP], among which [LxRxxs] was also previously identified in B. distachyon. Results from molecular function and protein-protein interaction analyses suggested that phosphoproteins mainly participate in signal transduction, gene expression, drought response and defense, photosynthesis and energy metabolism, and material transmembrane transport. These phosphoproteins, which showed significant changes in phosphorylation levels, play important roles in signal transduction and material transmembrane transport in response to drought conditions. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of this plant’s abiotic stress response through phosphorylation modification.

Pollen aquaporins: What are they there for?

In order to provide more insight into the function of aquaporins during pollination, we characterized NIP4;1 and NIP4;2, 2 pollen-specific aquaporins of Arabidopsis thaliana. NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 displayed high amino acid identity. RT-PCR and GUS promoter analysis showed that they have different expression patterns. NIP4;1 is expressed at low levels in mature pollen, while NIP4;2 is highly expressed only during pollen tube growth. Single T-DNA nip4;1 and nip4;2 mutants and double amiRNA nip4;1 nip4;2 knockdowns showed reduced male fertility due to deficient pollen germination and pollen tube length. Functional assays in oocytes showed that NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 transport water and nonionic solutes. Here, the participation of the different pollen aquaporins in pollen hydration and pollen tube growth is discussed.

Global De Novo Protein-Protein Interactome Elucidates Interactions of Drought-Responsive Proteins in Horse Gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum)

Inspired by the availability of de novo transcriptome of horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) and recent developments in systems biology studies, the first ever global protein-protein interactome (PPI) map was constructed for this highly drought-tolerant legume. Large-scale studies of PPIs and the constructed database would provide rationale behind the interplay at cascading translational levels for drought stress-adaptive mechanisms in horse gram. Using a bidirectional approach (interolog and domain-based), a high-confidence interactome map and database for horse gram was constructed. Available transcriptomic information for shoot and root tissues of a sensitive (M-191; genotype 1) and a drought-tolerant (M-249; genotype 2) genotype of horse gram was utilized to draw comparative PPI subnetworks under drought stress. High-confidence 6804 interactions were predicted among 1812 proteins covering about one-fourth of the horse gram proteome. The highest number of interactions (33.86%) in horse gram interactome matched with Arabidopsis PPI data. The top five hub nodes mostly included ubiquitin and heat-shock-related proteins. Higher numbers of PPIs were found to be responsive in shoot tissue (416) and root tissue (2228) of genotype 2 compared with shoot tissue (136) and root tissue (579) of genotype 1. Characterization of PPIs using gene ontology analysis revealed that kinase and transferase activities involved in signal transduction, cellular processes, nucleocytoplasmic transport, protein ubiquitination, and localization of molecules were most responsive to drought stress. Hence, these could be framed in stress adaptive mechanisms of horse gram. Being the first legume global PPI map, it would provide new insights into gene and protein regulatory networks for drought stress tolerance mechanisms in horse gram. Information compiled in the form of database (MauPIR) will provide the much needed high-confidence systems biology information for horse gram genes, proteins, and involved processes. This information would ease the effort and increase the efficacy for similar studies on other legumes. Public access is available at http://14.139.59.221/MauPIR/ .

Pollen-Specific Aquaporins NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 Are Required for Pollen Development and Pollination in Arabidopsis thaliana

In flowers with dry stigmas, pollen development, pollination, and pollen tube growth require spatial and temporal regulation of water and nutrient transport. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in reproductive processes, we characterized NIP4;1 and NIP4;2, two pollen-specific aquaporins of Arabidopsis thaliana. NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 are paralogs found exclusively in the angiosperm lineage. Although they have 84% amino acid identity, they displayed different expression patterns. NIP4;1 has low expression levels in mature pollen, while NIP4;2 expression peaks during pollen tube growth. Additionally, NIP4;1pro:GUS flowers showed GUS activity in mature pollen and pollen tubes, whereas NIP4;2pro:GUS flowers only in pollen tubes. Single T-DNA mutants and double artificial microRNA knockdowns had fewer seeds per silique and reduced pollen germination and pollen tube length. Transport assays in oocytes showed NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 function as water and nonionic channels. We also found that NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 C termini are phosphorylated by a pollen-specific CPK that modifies their water permeability. Survival assays in yeast indicated that NIP4;1 also transports ammonia, urea, boric acid, and H2O2 Thus, we propose that aquaporins NIP4;1 and NIP4;2 are exclusive components of the reproductive apparatus of angiosperms with partially redundant roles in pollen development and pollination.

Quantitative and Functional Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals that Ethylene Regulates Water Transport via the C-Terminal Phosphorylation of Aquaporin PIP2;1 in Arabidopsis

Ethylene participates in the regulation of numerous cellular events and biological processes, including water loss, during leaf and flower petal wilting. The diverse ethylene responses may be regulated via dynamic interplays between protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation and ubiquitin/26S proteasome-mediated protein degradation and protease cleavage. To address how ethylene alters protein phosphorylation through multi-furcated signaling pathways, we performed a (15)N stable isotope labelling-based, differential, and quantitative phosphoproteomics study on air- and ethylene-treated ethylene-insensitive Arabidopsis double loss-of-function mutant ein3-1/eil1-1. Among 535 non-redundant phosphopeptides identified, two and four phosphopeptides were up- and downregulated by ethylene, respectively. Ethylene-regulated phosphorylation of aquaporin PIP2;1 is positively correlated with the water flux rate and water loss in leaf. Genetic studies in combination with quantitative proteomics, immunoblot analysis, protoplast swelling/shrinking experiments, and leaf water loss assays on the transgenic plants expressing both the wild-type and S280A/S283A-mutated PIP2;1 in the both Col-0 and ein3eil1 genetic backgrounds suggest that ethylene increases water transport rate in Arabidopsis cells by enhancing S280/S283 phosphorylation at the C terminus of PIP2;1. Unknown kinase and/or phosphatase activities may participate in the initial up-regulation independent of the cellular functions of EIN3/EIL1. This finding contributes to our understanding of ethylene-regulated leaf wilting that is commonly observed during post-harvest storage of plant organs.

The Aquaporin Splice Variant NbXIP1;1α Is Permeable to Boric Acid and Is Phosphorylated in the N-terminal Domain

Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane channel proteins that transport water and uncharged solutes across different membranes in organisms in all kingdoms of life. In plants, the AQPs can be divided into seven different subfamilies and five of these are present in higher plants. The most recently characterized of these subfamilies is the XIP subfamily, which is found in most dicots but not in monocots. In this article, we present data on two different splice variants (α and β) of NbXIP1;1 from Nicotiana benthamiana. We describe the heterologous expression of NbXIP1;1α and β in the yeast Pichia pastoris, the subcellular localization of the protein in this system and the purification of the NbXIP1;1α protein. Furthermore, we investigated the functionality and the substrate specificity of the protein by stopped-flow spectrometry in P. pastoris spheroplasts and with the protein reconstituted in proteoliposomes. The phosphorylation status of the protein and localization of the phosphorylated amino acids were verified by mass spectrometry. Our results show that NbXIP1;1α is located in the plasma membrane when expressed in P. pastoris, that it is not permeable to water but to boric acid and that the protein is phosphorylated at several amino acids in the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the protein. A growth assay showed that the yeast cells expressing the N-terminally His-tagged NbXIP1;1α were more sensitive to boric acid as compared to the cells expressing the C-terminally His-tagged isoform. This might suggest that the N-terminal His-tag functionally mimics the phosphorylation of the N-terminal domain and that the N-terminal domain is involved in gating of the channel.

Genome-wide identification of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) aquaporin genes and their response to ethephon stimulation in the laticifer, a rubber-producing tissue

BACKGROUND

Natural rubber, an important industrial raw material, is specifically synthesized in laticifers located inside the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) trunk. Due to the absence of plasmodesmata, the laticifer water balance is mediated by aquaporins (AQPs). However, to date, the characterization of H. brasiliensis AQPs (HbAQPs) is still in its infancy.

RESULTS

In this study, 51 full-length AQP genes were identified from the rubber tree genome. The phylogenetic analysis assigned these AQPs to five subfamilies, including 15 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), 17 tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), 9 NOD26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs), 4 small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs) and 6 X intrinsic proteins (XIPs). Functional prediction based on the analysis of the aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filter, Froger's positions and specificity-determining positions (SDPs) showed a remarkable difference in substrate specificity among subfamilies. Homology analysis supported the expression of 44 HbAQP genes in at least one of the examined tissues. Furthermore, deep sequencing of the laticifer transcriptome in the form of latex revealed a key role of several PIP subfamily members in the laticifer water balance, and qRT-PCR analysis showed diverse expression patterns of laticifer-expressed HbAQP genes upon ethephon treatment, a widely-used practice for the stimulation of latex yield.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides an important genetic resource of HbAQP genes, which will be useful to improve the water use efficiency and latex yield of Hevea.

Gene Structures, Evolution, Classification and Expression Profiles of the Aquaporin Gene Family in Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.)

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a class of integral membrane proteins that facilitate the passive transport of water and other small solutes across biological membranes. Castor bean (Ricinus communis L., Euphobiaceae), an important non-edible oilseed crop, is widely cultivated for industrial, medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Its recently available genome provides an opportunity to analyze specific gene families. In this study, a total of 37 full-length AQP genes were identified from the castor bean genome, which were assigned to five subfamilies, including 10 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), 9 tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), 8 NOD26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs), 6 X intrinsic proteins (XIPs) and 4 small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs) on the basis of sequence similarities. Functional prediction based on the analysis of the aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filter, Froger's positions and specificity-determining positions (SDPs) showed a remarkable difference in substrate specificity among subfamilies. Homology analysis supported the expression of all 37 RcAQP genes in at least one of examined tissues, e.g., root, leaf, flower, seed and endosperm. Furthermore, global expression profiles with deep transcriptome sequencing data revealed diverse expression patterns among various tissues. The current study presents the first genome-wide analysis of the AQP gene family in castor bean. Results obtained from this study provide valuable information for future functional analysis and utilization.

Aquaporins in Plants

Aquaporins are membrane channels that facilitate the transport of water and small neutral molecules across biological membranes of most living organisms. In plants, aquaporins occur as multiple isoforms reflecting a high diversity of cellular localizations, transport selectivity, and regulation properties. Plant aquaporins are localized in the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, plastids and, in some species, in membrane compartments interacting with symbiotic organisms. Plant aquaporins can transport various physiological substrates in addition to water. Of particular relevance for plants is the transport of dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia or metalloids such as boron and silicon. Structure-function studies are developed to address the molecular and cellular mechanisms of plant aquaporin gating and subcellular trafficking. Phosphorylation plays a central role in these two processes. These mechanisms allow aquaporin regulation in response to signaling intermediates such as cytosolic pH and calcium, and reactive oxygen species. Combined genetic and physiological approaches are now integrating this knowledge, showing that aquaporins play key roles in hydraulic regulation in roots and leaves, during drought but also in response to stimuli as diverse as flooding, nutrient availability, temperature, or light. A general hydraulic control of plant tissue expansion by aquaporins is emerging, and their role in key developmental processes (seed germination, emergence of lateral roots) has been established. Plants with genetically altered aquaporin functions are now tested for their ability to improve plant tolerance to stresses. In conclusion, research on aquaporins delineates ever expanding fields in plant integrative biology thereby establishing their crucial role in plants.

Metalloido-porins: Essentiality of Nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins in metalloid transport

Metalloids are a group of physiologically important elements ranging from the essential to the highly toxic. Arsenic, antimony, germanium, and tellurium are highly toxic to plants themselves and to consumers of metalloid-contaminated plants. Boron, silicon, and selenium fulfill essential or beneficial functions in plants. However, when present at high concentrations, boron and selenium cause toxicity symptoms that are detrimental to plant fitness and yield. Consequently, all plants require efficient membrane transport systems to control the uptake and extrusion of metalloids into or out of the plant and their distribution within the plant body. Several Nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) that belong to the aquaporin plant water channel protein family facilitate the diffusion of uncharged metalloid species. Genetic, physiological, and molecular evidence is that NIPs from primitive to higher plants not only transport all environmentally important metalloids, but that these proteins have a major role in the uptake, translocation, and extrusion of metalloids in plants. As most of the metalloid-permeable NIP aquaporins are impermeable or are poorly permeable to water, these NIP channel proteins should be considered as physiologically essential metalloido-porins.

Functional characterization of FaNIP1;1 gene, a ripening-related and receptacle-specific aquaporin in strawberry fruit

Strawberry fruit (Fragaria × ananassa) is a soft fruit with high water content at ripe stage (more than 90% of its fresh weight). Aquaporins play an important role in plant water homeostasis, through the facilitation of water transport and solutes. We report the role played by FaNIP1;1 in the receptacle ripening process. The analysis by qRT-PCR of FaNIP1;1 showed that this gene is mainly expressed in fruit receptacle and has a ripening-related expression pattern that was accompanied by an increase in both the abscisic acid and water content of the receptacle throughout fruit ripening. Moreover, FaNIP1;1 was induced in situations of water deficit. Additionally, we show that FaNIP1;1 expression was positively regulated by abscisic acid and negatively regulated by auxins. The water transport capacity of FaNIP1;1 was determined by a stopped-flow spectroscopy in yeast over-expressing FaNIP1;1. Glycerol, H2O2 and boron transport were also demonstrated in yeast. On the other hand, GFP-FaNIP1;1 fusion protein was located in plasma membrane. In conclusion, FaNIP1;1 seems to play an important role increasing the plasma membrane permeability, that allows the water accumulation in the strawberry fruit receptacle throughout the ripening process.

The calcium-dependent protein kinase CPK7 acts on root hydraulic conductivity

The hydraulic conductivity of plant roots (Lp(r)) is determined in large part by the activity of aquaporins. Mechanisms occurring at the post-translational level, in particular phosphorylation of aquaporins of the plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2 (PIP2) subfamily, are thought to be of critical importance for regulating root water transport. However, knowledge of protein kinases and phosphatases acting on aquaporin function is still scarce. In the present work, we investigated the Lp(r) of knockout Arabidopsis plants for four Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinases. cpk7 plants showed a 30% increase in Lp(r) because of a higher aquaporin activity. A quantitative proteomic analysis of wild-type and cpk7 plants revealed that PIP gene expression and PIP protein quantity were not correlated and that CPK7 has no effect on PIP2 phosphorylation. In contrast, CPK7 exerts a negative control on the cellular abundance of PIP1s, which likely accounts for the higher Lp(r) of cpk7. In addition, this study revealed that the cellular amount of a few additional proteins including membrane transporters is controlled by CPK7. The overall work provides evidence for CPK7-dependent stability of specific membrane proteins.

Identification and Expression Analysis of the Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Aquaporin Gene Family

Aquaporins (AQPs) are major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) that mediate bidirectional flux of water and other substrates across cell membranes, and play critical roles in plant-water relations, dehydration stress responses and crop productivity. However, limited data are available as yet on the contributions of these proteins to the physiology of the major crop barley (Hordeum vulgare). The present work reports the identification and expression analysis of the barley MIP family. A comprehensive search of publicly available leaf mRNA-seq data, draft barley genome data, GenBank transcripts and sixteen new annotations together revealed that the barley MIP family is comprised of at least forty AQPs. Alternative splicing events were likely in two plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) AQPs. Analyses of the AQP signature sequences and specificity determining positions indicated a potential of several putative AQP isoforms to transport non-aqua substrates including physiological important substrates, and respond to abiotic stresses. Analysis of our publicly available leaf mRNA-seq data identified notable differential expression of HvPIP1;2 and HvTIP4;1 under salt stress. Analyses of other gene expression resources also confirmed isoform-specific responses in different tissues and/or in response to salinity, as well as some potentially inter-cultivar differences. The work reports systematic and comprehensive analysis of most, if not all, barley AQP genes, their sequences, expression patterns in different tissues, potential transport and stress response functions, and a strong framework for selection and/or development of stress tolerant barley varieties. In addition, the barley data would be highly valuable for genetic studies of the evolutionarily closely related wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Dynamic regulation of the root hydraulic conductivity of barley plants in response to salinity/osmotic stress

Salinity stress significantly reduces the root hydraulic conductivity (Lpr) of several plant species including barley (Hordeum vulgare). Here we characterized changes in the Lpr of barley plants in response to salinity/osmotic stress in detail using a pressure chamber. Salt-tolerant and intermediate barley cultivars, K305 and Haruna-nijyo, but not a salt-sensitive cultivar, I743, exhibited characteristic time-dependent Lpr changes induced by 100 mM NaCl. An identical response was evoked by isotonic sorbitol, indicating that this phenomenon was triggered by osmotic imbalances. Further examination of this mechanism using barley cv. Haruna-nijyo plants in combination with the use of various inhibitors suggested that various cellular processes such as protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation and membrane internalization appear to be involved. Interestingly, the three above-mentioned barley cultivars did not exhibit a remarkable difference in root cell sap osmolality under hypertonic conditions, in contrast to the case of Lpr. The possible biological significance of the regulation of Lpr in barley plants upon salinity/osmotic stress is discussed.

Differential responses of plasma membrane aquaporins in mediating water transport of cucumber seedlings under osmotic and salt stresses

It has long been recognized that inhibition of plant water transport by either osmotic stress or salinity is mediated by aquaporins (AQPs), but the function and regulation of AQPs are highly variable among distinct isoforms and across different species. In this study, cucumber seedlings were subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or NaCl stress for duration of 2 h or 24 h. The 2 h treatment with PEG or NaCl had non-significant effect on the expression of plasma membrane AQP (CsPIPs) in roots, indicating the decrease in hydraulic conductivity of roots (Lpr ) and root cells (Lprc ) measured in these conditions were due to changes in AQP activity. After both 2 h and 24 h PEG or NaCl exposure, the decrease in hydraulic conductivity of leaves (Kleaf ) and leaf cells (Lplc ) could be attributed to a down-regulation of the two most highly expressed isoforms, CsPIP1;2 and CsPIP2;4. In roots, both Lpr and Lprc were further reduced after 24 h PEG exposure, but partially recovered after 24 h NaCl treatment, which were consistent with changes in the expression of CsPIP genes. Overall, the results demonstrated differential responses of CsPIPs in mediating water transport of cucumber seedlings, and the regulatory mechanisms differed according to applied stresses, stress durations and specific organs.

The Camelina aquaporin CsPIP2;1 is regulated by phosphorylation at Ser273, but not at Ser277, of the C-terminus and is involved in salt- and drought-stress responses

Aquaporin (AQP) proteins are involved in water homeostasis in cells at all taxonomic levels of life. Phosphorylation of some AQPs has been proposed to regulate water permeability via gating of the channel itself. We analyzed plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIP) from Camelina and characterized their biological functions under both stressful and favorable conditions. A three-dimensional theoretical model of the Camelina AQP proteins was built by homology modeling which could prove useful in further functional characterization of AQPs. CsPIP2;1 was strongly and constitutively expressed in roots and leaves of Camelina, suggesting that this gene is related to maintenance of homeostasis during salt and drought stresses. CsPIP2s exhibited water channel activity in Xenopus oocytes. We then examined the roles of CsPIP2;1 phosphorylation at Ser273 and Ser277 in the regulation of water permeability using phosphorylation mutants. A single deletion strain of CsPIP2;1 was generated to serve as the primary host for testing AQP expression constructs. A Ser277 to alanine mutation (to prevent phosphorylation) did not change CsPIP2;1 water permeability while a Ser273 mutation to alanine did affect water permeability. Furthermore, a CsPIP2;1 point mutation when ectopically expressed in yeast resulted in lower growth in salt and drought conditions compared with controls, and confirmation of Ser273 as the phosphorylation site. Our results support the idea that post-translational modifications in the Ser273 regulatory domains of the C-terminus fine tune water flux through CsPIP2;1.

Phosphoproteome analysis reveals new drought response and defense mechanisms of seedling leaves in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Drought is a major form of abiotic stress that significantly affects plant growth and development. In this study, we performed the first phosphoproteome analysis of seedling leaves from two bread wheat cultivars (Hanxuan 10 and Ningchun 47) subjected to drought stress. As a result, a total of 191 and 251 unique phosphopeptides, representing 173 and 227 phosphoproteins in two cultivars, respectively, were identified as being significant changes in phosphorylation level (SCPL) under drought stress. Through the comparison of SCPL phosphoproteins between two cultivars, 31 common SCPL phosphoproteins were found in both cultivars. Function analysis showed that the SCPL phosphoproteins in the two cultivars are mainly involved in three biological processes: RNA transcription/processing, stress/detoxification/defense, and signal transduction. Further analyses revealed that some SCPL phosphoproteins may play key roles in signal transduction and the signaling cascade under drought stress. Furthermore, some phosphoproteins related to drought tolerance and osmotic regulation exhibited significant phosphorylation changes. This study used a series of bioinformatics tools to profile the phosphorylation status of wheat seedling leaves under drought stress with greater accuracy.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Drought is of the most studied abiotic stresses, because it severely restricts the development and yield of plants. In this study, large numbers of stress-related phosphoproteins are identified from the two bread wheat cultivars. These phosphoproteins contribute to signal transduction, osmotic regulation and ROS scavenging under water stress. This work provides a detailed insight into the mechanisms of drought response and defense in bread wheat from the perspective of phosphoproteomics, and identifies some important drought-tolerant candidates for further transgenosis study and incorporation into the breeding of resistant cultivars.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of aquaporins in tomato

The family of aquaporins, also called water channels or major intrinsic proteins, is characterized by six transmembrane domains that together facilitate the transport of water and a variety of low molecular weight solutes. They are found in all domains of life, but show their highest diversity in plants. Numerous studies identified aquaporins as important targets for improving plant performance under drought stress. The phylogeny of aquaporins is well established based on model species like Arabidopsis thaliana, which can be used as a template to investigate aquaporins in other species. In this study we comprehensively identified aquaporin encoding genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), which is an important vegetable crop and also serves as a model for fleshy fruit development. We found 47 aquaporin genes in the tomato genome and analyzed their structural features. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences the aquaporin genes were assigned to five subfamilies (PIPs, TIPs, NIPs, SIPs and XIPs) and their substrate specificity was assessed on the basis of key amino acid residues. As ESTs were available for 32 genes, expression of these genes was analyzed in 13 different tissues and developmental stages of tomato. We detected tissue-specific and development-specific expression of tomato aquaporin genes, which is a first step towards revealing the contribution of aquaporins to water and solute transport in leaves and during fruit development.

Plant aquaporins: roles in plant physiology

BACKGROUND

Aquaporins are membrane channels that facilitate the transport of water and small neutral molecules across biological membranes of most living organisms.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

Here, we present comprehensive insights made on plant aquaporins in recent years, pointing to their molecular and physiological specificities with respect to animal or microbial counterparts.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

In plants, aquaporins occur as multiple isoforms reflecting a high diversity of cellular localizations and various physiological substrates in addition to water. Of particular relevance for plants is the transport by aquaporins of dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide or metalloids such as boric or silicic acid. The mechanisms that determine the gating and subcellular localization of plant aquaporins are extensively studied. They allow aquaporin regulation in response to multiple environmental and hormonal stimuli. Thus, aquaporins play key roles in hydraulic regulation and nutrient transport in roots and leaves. They contribute to several plant growth and developmental processes such as seed germination or emergence of lateral roots.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Plants with genetically altered aquaporin functions are now tested for their ability to improve plant resistance to stresses. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Aquaporins.

Bimolecular fluorescence complementation and interaction of various Arabidopsis major intrinsic proteins expressed in yeast

Tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) and plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) form subgroups of plant major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) that channel water as well as various small neutral molecules across the tonoplast and plasma membrane. Most MIPs are believed to form homotetramers, while some plant PIPs have been shown to form heterotetramers composed of different isoforms. This study investigated in vivo molecular interactions between different Arabidopsis TIP isoforms and between TIPs and a PIP member. The interactions were assayed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation optimized for use in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a heterologous expression system. Fluorescence of re-assembled Venus yellow fluorescent protein was monitored by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The results showed strong interactions between TIP1;2, TIP2;1 and TIP3;1. Surprisingly, the three TIP isoforms also interacted with PIP2;1. The potassium channel AKT1 was used as a negative control and exhibited no interaction with any of the MIPs. The observed interactions may play a role in targeting and regulation of MIPs in plants.

Review: mechanisms for boron deficiency-mediated changes in plant water relations

Boron (B) is an essential microelement for plants and is constantly needed throughout the plant life due to its function as a structural element of the plant cell wall. B deficiency is a wide-spread problem in agricultural areas world-wide, and management of B nutrition is challenged by sudden occurrences of B deficiency or inconsistent effects of foliar B application. The effects of insufficient B supply on different structures relevant for the plant water status have been heavily researched, but the resulting conclusions are contradictory and no clear picture has so far emerged that fully explains the inconsistencies. B deficiency can affect water uptake by inhibition of root and shoot growth and by upregulation of water channels. Structural damage to xylem vessels can limit water transport to arial plant parts, while water loss can be altered by impaired barrier functions of leaf surfaces and reduced photosynthesis. In consequence of all these effects, transpiration is reduced in B-deficient plants under well-watered conditions. Under drought conditions, the responsiveness of stomata is impaired. Possible consequences of damaged vasculature for plant B nutrition include the reduced effectiveness of foliar B fertilization, especially in species with high B phloem mobility. Changes in leaf surface properties can further reduce B uptake after foliar application. In species with low B phloem mobility, weakened xylem vessels may not be able to supply sufficient B to arial parts under conditions of increased B demand, such as during bud development of trees. Since structural damage to vessels is hardly reversible, these effects could be permanent, even if B deficiency was only transient. Another consequence of reduced water status is the higher susceptibility of B-deficient plants to other abiotic stresses, which also impair water relations, especially drought. Since damage to vasculature can occur before visible symptoms of B deficiency appear in shoots, the importance to develop reliable diagnostic tools for detection of sub-acute B deficiency is highlighted.

Regulation of Arabidopsis leaf hydraulics involves light-dependent phosphorylation of aquaporins in veins

The water status of plant leaves depends on the efficiency of the water supply, from the vasculature to inner tissues. This process is under hormonal and environmental regulation and involves aquaporin water channels. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the rosette hydraulic conductivity (Kros) is higher in darkness than it is during the day. Knockout plants showed that three plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) sharing expression in veins (PIP1;2, PIP2;1, and PIP2;6) contribute to rosette water transport, and PIP2;1 can fully account for Kros responsiveness to darkness. Directed expression of PIP2;1 in veins of a pip2;1 mutant was sufficient to restore Kros. In addition, a positive correlation, in both wild-type and PIP2;1-overexpressing plants, was found between Kros and the osmotic water permeability of protoplasts from the veins but not from the mesophyll. Thus, living cells in veins form a major hydraulic resistance in leaves. Quantitative proteomic analyses showed that light-dependent regulation of Kros is linked to diphosphorylation of PIP2;1 at Ser-280 and Ser-283. Expression in pip2;1 of phosphomimetic and phosphorylation-deficient forms of PIP2;1 demonstrated that phosphorylation at these two sites is necessary for Kros enhancement under darkness. These findings establish how regulation of a single aquaporin isoform in leaf veins critically determines leaf hydraulics.