Chapter 37 Heterologous Expression of Higher Plant Transport Proteins and Repression of Endogenous Ion Currents in Xenopus Oocytes

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the heterologous expression of higher plant transport proteins and the repression of endogenous ion currents in Xenopus oocytes. Recent research has led to considerable progress toward an understanding of the molecular, structural, and biophysical mechanisms of transport and membrane signal transduction in higher plant cells. The cloning of cDNAs has been reported, which encode plasma membrane transport proteins from higher plants, including ion pumps, proton-coupled carriers, and ion channels. Several types of these plant membrane transporters can be functionally expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The chapter focuses on methods for the use of Xenopus oocytes as a heterologous expression system for plant transporters and describes methods for the repression of endogenous inward-rectifying ion currents in oocytes. The ability of higher plants to take up and shuttle nutrients throughout the plant, as well as the ability to respond to various environmental signals via receptors, plays a central role in the growth and development of plants.