Stomata function as the gates between the plant and the atmospheric environment. Stomatal movement, including stomatal opening and closing, controls CO2 absorption as the raw material for photosynthesis and water loss...Stomata function as the gates between the plant and the atmospheric environment. Stomatal movement, including stomatal opening and closing, controls CO2 absorption as the raw material for photosynthesis and water loss through transpiration. How to reduce water loss and maintain enough CO2 absorption has been an interesting research topic for some time. Simple stomatal opening may elevate CO2 absorption, but, in the meantime, promote the water loss, whereas simple closing of stomatal pores may reduce both water loss and CO2 absorption, resulting in impairment of plant photosynthesis. Both processes are not economical to the plant. As a special rhythmic stomatal movement that usually occurs at smaller stomatal apertures, stomatal oscillation can keep CO2 absorption at a sufficient level and reduce water loss at the same time, suggesting a potential improvement in water use efficiency. Stomatal oscillation is usually found after a sudden change in one environmental factor in relatively constant environments. Many environmental stimuli can induce stomatal oscillation. It appears that, at the physiological level, feedback controls are involved in stomatal oscillation. At the cellular level, possibly two different patterns exist： （i） a quicker responsive pattern; and （ii） a slower response. Both involve water potential changes and water channel regulation, but the mechanisms of regulation of the two patterns are different. Some evidence suggests that the regulation of water channels may play a vital and primary role in stomatal oscillation. The present review summarizes studies on stomatal oscillation and concludes with some discussion regarding the mechanisms of regulation of stomatal oscillation.展开更多
High-resolution microscopy opens the door for detailed single-cell studies with fluorescent reporter dyes and proteins. We used a confocal spinning disc microscope to monitor fluorescent dyes and the fluorescent prote...High-resolution microscopy opens the door for detailed single-cell studies with fluorescent reporter dyes and proteins. We used a confocal spinning disc microscope to monitor fluorescent dyes and the fluorescent protein Venus in tobacco and Arabidopsis guard cells. Multi-barreled microelectrodes were used to inject dyes and apply voltage pulses, which provoke transient rises in the cytosolic Ca^2＋ level. Voltage pulses also caused changes in the distribution of Lucifer Yellow and Venus, which pointed to a reversible increase of guard cell cytosolic volume. The dynamic cytosolic volume changes turned out to be provoked by current injection of ions. A reduction of the clamp current, by blocking K^＋ uptake channels with Cs^＋, strongly suppressed the cytosolic volume changes. Cs^＋ not only inhibited the expansion of the cytosol, but also inhibited hyperpolarization-induced elevations of the cytosolic Ca^2＋ concentration. A complete loss of voltage-induced Ca^2＋ signals occurred when Ca^2＋-permeable plasma membrane channels were simultaneously blocked with La^3＋. This shows that two mechanisms cause hyperpolarization-induced elevation of the cytosolic Ca^2＋-concentration： （i） activation of voltage-dependent Ca^2＋-permeable channels, （ii） osmotically induced expansion of the cytosol, which leads to a release of Ca^2＋ from intracellular stores.展开更多
Abscisic acid （ABA） regulates ion channel activity and stomatal movements in response to drought and other stresses. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana gene NRGA1 is a putative mitochondrial pyruvate carrie...Abscisic acid （ABA） regulates ion channel activity and stomatal movements in response to drought and other stresses. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana gene NRGA1 is a putative mitochondrial pyruvate carrier which negatively regulates ABA-induced guard cell signaling. NRGA1 transcript was abundant in the A. thaliana leaf and par- ticularly in the guard cells, and its product was directed to the mitochondria. The heterologous co-expression of NRGA1 and AtMPC1 in yeast complemented a loss-of-function mitochondrial pyruvate carrier （MPC） mutant. The nrgal loss-of- function mutant was very sensitive to the presence of ABA in the context of stomatal movements, and exhibited a height- ened tolerance to drought stress. Disruption of NRGA1 gene resulted in increased ABA inhibition of inward K＋ currents and ABA activation of slow anion currents in guard cells. The nrgal/NRGA1 functional complementation lines restored the mutant＇s phenotypes. Furthermore, transgenic lines of constitutively overexpressing NRGA1 showed opposite stomatal responses, reduced drought tolerance, and ABA sensitivity of guard cell inward K＋ channel inhibition and anion channel activation. Our findings highlight a putative role for the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in guard cell ABA signaling in response to drought.展开更多
文摘Stomata function as the gates between the plant and the atmospheric environment. Stomatal movement, including stomatal opening and closing, controls CO2 absorption as the raw material for photosynthesis and water loss through transpiration. How to reduce water loss and maintain enough CO2 absorption has been an interesting research topic for some time. Simple stomatal opening may elevate CO2 absorption, but, in the meantime, promote the water loss, whereas simple closing of stomatal pores may reduce both water loss and CO2 absorption, resulting in impairment of plant photosynthesis. Both processes are not economical to the plant. As a special rhythmic stomatal movement that usually occurs at smaller stomatal apertures, stomatal oscillation can keep CO2 absorption at a sufficient level and reduce water loss at the same time, suggesting a potential improvement in water use efficiency. Stomatal oscillation is usually found after a sudden change in one environmental factor in relatively constant environments. Many environmental stimuli can induce stomatal oscillation. It appears that, at the physiological level, feedback controls are involved in stomatal oscillation. At the cellular level, possibly two different patterns exist： （i） a quicker responsive pattern; and （ii） a slower response. Both involve water potential changes and water channel regulation, but the mechanisms of regulation of the two patterns are different. Some evidence suggests that the regulation of water channels may play a vital and primary role in stomatal oscillation. The present review summarizes studies on stomatal oscillation and concludes with some discussion regarding the mechanisms of regulation of stomatal oscillation.
文摘High-resolution microscopy opens the door for detailed single-cell studies with fluorescent reporter dyes and proteins. We used a confocal spinning disc microscope to monitor fluorescent dyes and the fluorescent protein Venus in tobacco and Arabidopsis guard cells. Multi-barreled microelectrodes were used to inject dyes and apply voltage pulses, which provoke transient rises in the cytosolic Ca^2＋ level. Voltage pulses also caused changes in the distribution of Lucifer Yellow and Venus, which pointed to a reversible increase of guard cell cytosolic volume. The dynamic cytosolic volume changes turned out to be provoked by current injection of ions. A reduction of the clamp current, by blocking K^＋ uptake channels with Cs^＋, strongly suppressed the cytosolic volume changes. Cs^＋ not only inhibited the expansion of the cytosol, but also inhibited hyperpolarization-induced elevations of the cytosolic Ca^2＋ concentration. A complete loss of voltage-induced Ca^2＋ signals occurred when Ca^2＋-permeable plasma membrane channels were simultaneously blocked with La^3＋. This shows that two mechanisms cause hyperpolarization-induced elevation of the cytosolic Ca^2＋-concentration： （i） activation of voltage-dependent Ca^2＋-permeable channels, （ii） osmotically induced expansion of the cytosol, which leads to a release of Ca^2＋ from intracellular stores.
文摘Abscisic acid （ABA） regulates ion channel activity and stomatal movements in response to drought and other stresses. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana gene NRGA1 is a putative mitochondrial pyruvate carrier which negatively regulates ABA-induced guard cell signaling. NRGA1 transcript was abundant in the A. thaliana leaf and par- ticularly in the guard cells, and its product was directed to the mitochondria. The heterologous co-expression of NRGA1 and AtMPC1 in yeast complemented a loss-of-function mitochondrial pyruvate carrier （MPC） mutant. The nrgal loss-of- function mutant was very sensitive to the presence of ABA in the context of stomatal movements, and exhibited a height- ened tolerance to drought stress. Disruption of NRGA1 gene resulted in increased ABA inhibition of inward K＋ currents and ABA activation of slow anion currents in guard cells. The nrgal/NRGA1 functional complementation lines restored the mutant＇s phenotypes. Furthermore, transgenic lines of constitutively overexpressing NRGA1 showed opposite stomatal responses, reduced drought tolerance, and ABA sensitivity of guard cell inward K＋ channel inhibition and anion channel activation. Our findings highlight a putative role for the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in guard cell ABA signaling in response to drought.
