Arabidopsis Thaliana Guard Cells Research Articles

Single mutations strongly alter the K +-selective pore of the K in channel KAT1

Voltage-dependent potassium uptake channels represent the major pathway for K + accumulation underlying guard cell swelling and stomatal opening. The core structure of these Shaker-like channels is represented by six transmembrane domains and an amphiphilic pore-forming region between the fifth and sixth domain. To explore the effect of point mutations within the stretch of amino acids lining the K + conducting pore of KAT1, an Arabidopsis thaliana guard cell K in channel, we selected residues deep inside and in the periphery of the pore. The mutations on positions 256 and 267 strongly altered the interaction of the permeation pathway with external Ca 2+ ions. Point mutations on position 256 in KAT1 affected the affinity towards Ca 2+, the voltage dependence as well as kinetics of the Ca 2+ blocking reaction. Among these T256S showed a Ca 2+ phenotype reminiscent of an inactivation-like process, a phenomenon unknown for K in channels so far. Mutating histidine 267 to alanine, a substitution strongly affecting C-type inactivation in Shaker, this apparent inactivation could be linked to a very slow calcium block. The mutation H267A did not affect gating but hastened the Ca 2+ block/unblock kinetics and increased the Ca 2+ affinity of KAT1. From the analysis of the presented data we conclude that even moderate point mutations in the pore of KAT1 seem to affect the pore geometry rather than channel gating.

A transient outward-rectifying K+ channel current down-regulated by cytosolic Ca2+ in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells.

Sustained (noninactivating) outward-rectifying K+ channel currents have been identified in a variety of plant cell types and species. Here, in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells, in addition to these sustained K+ currents, an inactivating outward-rectifying K+ current was characterized (plant A-type current: IAP). IAP activated rapidly with a time constant of 165 ms and inactivated slowly with a time constant of 7.2 sec at +40 mV. IAP was enhanced by increasing the duration (from 0 to 20 sec) and degree (from +20 to -100 mV) of prepulse hyperpolarization. Ionic substitution and relaxation (tail) current recordings showed that outward IAP was mainly carried by K+ ions. In contrast to the sustained outward-rectifying K+ currents, cytosolic alkaline pH was found to inhibit IAP and extracellular K+ was required for IAP activity. Furthermore, increasing cytosolic free Ca2+ in the physiological range strongly inhibited IAP activity with a half inhibitory concentration of approximately 94 nM. We present a detailed characterization of an inactivating K+ current in a higher plant cell. Regulation of IAP by diverse factors including membrane potential, cytosolic Ca2+ and pH, and extracellular K+ and Ca2+ implies that the inactivating IAP described here may have important functions during transient depolarizations found in guard cells, and in integrated signal transduction processes during stomatal movements.

The membrane potential of Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells; depolarizations induced by apoplastic acidification.

The apoplastic pH of guard cells probably acidifies in response to light, since light induces proton extrusion by both guard cells and epidermal leaf cells. From the data presented here, it is concluded that these apoplastic pH changes will affect K+ fluxes in guard cells of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Guard cells of this species were impaled with double-barrelled micro-electrodes, to measure the membrane potential (Em) and the plasma-membrane conductance. Guard cells were found to exhibit two states with respect to their Em, a depolarized and a hyperpolarized state. Apoplastic acidification depolarized Em in both states, though the origin of the depolarization differed for each state. In the depolarized state, the change in Em was the result of a combined pH effect on instantaneously activating conductances and on the slow outward rectifying K+ channel (s-ORC). At a more acidic apoplastic pH, the current through instantaneously activated conductances became more inwardly directed, while the maximum conductance of s-ORC decreased. The effect on s-ORC was accompanied by an acceleration of activation and deactivation of the channel. Experiments with acid loading of guard cells indicated that the effect on s-ORC was due to a lowered intracellular pH, caused by apoplastic acidification. In the hyperpolarized state, the pH-induced depolarization was due to a direct effect of the apoplastic pH on the inward rectifying K+ channel. Acidification shifted the threshold potential of the channel to more positive values. This effect was accompanied by a decrease in activation times and an increase of deactivation times, of the channel. From the changes in Em and membrane conductance, the expected effect of acidification on K+ fluxes was calculated. It was concluded that apoplastic acidification will increase the K(+)-efflux in the depolarized state and reduce the K(+)-influx in the hyperpolarized state.

Ion channels in guard cells of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh..

Despite the availability of many mutants for signal transduction, Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells have so far not been used in electrophysiological research. Problems with the isolation of epidermal strips and the small size of A. thaliana guard cells were often prohibiting. In the present study these difficulties were overcome and guard cells were impaled with double-barreled microelectrodes. Membrane-potential recordings were often stable for over half an hour and voltage-clamp measurements could be conducted. The guard cells were found to exhibit two states. The majority of the guard cells had depolarized membrane potentials, which were largely dependent on external K+ concentrations. Other cells displayed spontaneous transitions to a more hyperpolarized state, at which the free-running membrane potential (Em) was not sensitive to the external K+ concentration. Two outward-rectifying conductances were identified in cells in the depolarized state. A slow outward-rectifying channel (s-ORC) had properties resembling the K(+)-selective ORC of Vicia faba guard cells (Blatt, 1988, J Membr Biol 102: 235-246). The activation and inactivation times and the activation potential, all depended on the reversal potential (Erev) of the s-ORC conductance. The s-ORC was blocked by Ba2+ (K1/2 = 0.3-1.3 mM) and verapamil (K1/2 = 15-20 microM). A second rapid outward-rectifying conductance (r-ORC) activated instantaneously upon stepping the voltage to positive values and was stimulated by Ba2+. Inward-rectifying channels (IRC) were only observed in cells in the hyperpolarized state. The activation time and activation potential of this channel were not sensitive to the external K+ concentration. The slow activation of the IRC (t1/2 approximately 0.5 s) and its negative activation potential (Vthreshold = -155 mV) resemble the values found for the KAT1 channel expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Bertl et al., 1995, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 2701-2705). The results indicate that A. thaliana guard cells provide an excellent system for the study of signal transduction processes.