Potassium is one of the major macro-nutrients essential for a number of cellular processes in plants. Low potassium level in the soil represents a limiting factor for crop production. Recent studies have identified po...Potassium is one of the major macro-nutrients essential for a number of cellular processes in plants. Low potassium level in the soil represents a limiting factor for crop production. Recent studies have identified potassium transporters that are involved in potassium acquisition, and some of them are critical for potassium nutrition under low potassium conditions. However, little is understood on the molecular components involved in low potassium signaling and responses. We report here the identification ofa calcineurin B-like protein-interacting protein kinase （CIPK9） as a critical regulator of low potassium response in ,Arabidopsis. The CIPK9 gene was responsive to abiotic stress conditions, and its transcript was inducible in both roots and shoots by potassium deprivation. Disruption of CIPK9 function rendered the mutant plants hypersensitive to low potassium media. Further analysis indicated that K^＋ uptake and content were not affected in the mutant plants, implying CIPK9 in the regulation of potassium utilization or sensing processes.展开更多
TRPP2 channel protein belongs to the superfamily of transient receptor potential(TRP) channels and is widely expressed in various tissues, including smooth muscle in digestive gut. Accumulating evidence has demonstrat...TRPP2 channel protein belongs to the superfamily of transient receptor potential(TRP) channels and is widely expressed in various tissues, including smooth muscle in digestive gut. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that TRPP2 can mediate Ca^(2+) release from Ca^(2+) stores. However, the functional role of TRPP2 in gallbladder smooth muscle contraction still remains unclear. In this study, we used Ca^(2+) imaging and tension measurements to test agonist-induced intracellular Ca^(2+) concentration increase and smooth muscle contraction of guinea pig gallbladder, respectively. When TRPP2 protein was knocked down in gallbladder muscle strips from guinea pig, carbachol(CCh)-evoked Ca^(2+) release and extracellular Ca^(2+) influx were reduced significantly, and gallbladder contractions induced by endothelin 1 and cholecystokinin were suppressed markedly as well. CCh-induced gallbladder contraction was markedly suppressed by pretreatment with U73122, which inhibits phospholipase C to terminate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor(IP3) production, and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate(2APB), which inhibits IP3 recepor(IP3R) to abolish IP3R-mediated Ca^(2+) release. To confirm the role of Ca^(2+) release in CCh-induced gallbladder contraction, we used thapsigargin(TG)-to deplete Ca^(2+) stores via inhibiting sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca^(2+)-ATPase and eliminate the role of store-operated Ca^(2+) entry on the CCh-induced gallbladder contraction. Preincubation with 2 μmol L^(-1) TG significantly decreased the CCh-induced gallbladder contraction. In addition, pretreatments with U73122, 2APB or TG abolished the difference of the CCh-induced gallbladder contraction between TRPP2 knockdown and control groups. We conclude that TRPP2 mediates Ca^(2+) release from intracellular Ca^(2+) stores, and has an essential role in agonist-induced gallbladder muscle contraction.展开更多
基金a grant from the National Science Foundation （USA） （to SL）.
文摘Potassium is one of the major macro-nutrients essential for a number of cellular processes in plants. Low potassium level in the soil represents a limiting factor for crop production. Recent studies have identified potassium transporters that are involved in potassium acquisition, and some of them are critical for potassium nutrition under low potassium conditions. However, little is understood on the molecular components involved in low potassium signaling and responses. We report here the identification ofa calcineurin B-like protein-interacting protein kinase （CIPK9） as a critical regulator of low potassium response in ,Arabidopsis. The CIPK9 gene was responsive to abiotic stress conditions, and its transcript was inducible in both roots and shoots by potassium deprivation. Disruption of CIPK9 function rendered the mutant plants hypersensitive to low potassium media. Further analysis indicated that K^＋ uptake and content were not affected in the mutant plants, implying CIPK9 in the regulation of potassium utilization or sensing processes.
基金supported by Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (1208085MH181, 1108085J11)National Natural Science Foundation of China (81371284)Young Prominent Investigator Supporting Program from Anhui Medical University and National Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates (201310366012)
文摘TRPP2 channel protein belongs to the superfamily of transient receptor potential(TRP) channels and is widely expressed in various tissues, including smooth muscle in digestive gut. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that TRPP2 can mediate Ca^(2+) release from Ca^(2+) stores. However, the functional role of TRPP2 in gallbladder smooth muscle contraction still remains unclear. In this study, we used Ca^(2+) imaging and tension measurements to test agonist-induced intracellular Ca^(2+) concentration increase and smooth muscle contraction of guinea pig gallbladder, respectively. When TRPP2 protein was knocked down in gallbladder muscle strips from guinea pig, carbachol(CCh)-evoked Ca^(2+) release and extracellular Ca^(2+) influx were reduced significantly, and gallbladder contractions induced by endothelin 1 and cholecystokinin were suppressed markedly as well. CCh-induced gallbladder contraction was markedly suppressed by pretreatment with U73122, which inhibits phospholipase C to terminate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor(IP3) production, and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate(2APB), which inhibits IP3 recepor(IP3R) to abolish IP3R-mediated Ca^(2+) release. To confirm the role of Ca^(2+) release in CCh-induced gallbladder contraction, we used thapsigargin(TG)-to deplete Ca^(2+) stores via inhibiting sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca^(2+)-ATPase and eliminate the role of store-operated Ca^(2+) entry on the CCh-induced gallbladder contraction. Preincubation with 2 μmol L^(-1) TG significantly decreased the CCh-induced gallbladder contraction. In addition, pretreatments with U73122, 2APB or TG abolished the difference of the CCh-induced gallbladder contraction between TRPP2 knockdown and control groups. We conclude that TRPP2 mediates Ca^(2+) release from intracellular Ca^(2+) stores, and has an essential role in agonist-induced gallbladder muscle contraction.
