The trafficking protein SYP121 of Arabidopsis connects programmed stomatal closure and K⁺ channel activity with vegetative growth

Eisenach, C., Chen, Z.-H., Grefen, C. and Blatt, M.R. (2012) The trafficking protein SYP121 of Arabidopsis connects programmed stomatal closure and K⁺ channel activity with vegetative growth. Plant Journal, 69(2), pp. 241-251. (doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04786.x)

Abstract

The vesicle-trafficking protein SYP121 (=SYR1/PEN1) was originally identified in association with ion channel control at the plasma membrane of stomatal guard cells, although stomata of the Arabidopsis <i>syp121</i> loss-of-function mutant close normally in ABA and high Ca²⁺. We have now uncovered a set of stomatal phenotypes in the <i>syp121</i> mutant that reduce CO₂ assimilation, slow vegetative growth and increase water use efficiency in the whole plant, conditional upon high light intensities and low relative humidity. Stomatal opening and the rise in stomatal transpiration of the mutant was delayed in the light and following Ca²⁺-evoked closure, consistent with a constitutive form of so-called programmed stomatal closure. Delayed reopening was observed in the <i>syp121</i>, but not in the <i>syp122</i> mutant lacking the homologous gene product; the delay was rescued by complementation with wild-type <i>SYP121</i> and was phenocopied in wild-type plants in the presence of the vesicle-trafficking inhibitor Brefeldin A. K⁺ channel current that normally mediates K⁺ uptake for stomatal opening was suppressed in the <i>syp121</i> mutant and, following closure, its recovery was slowed compared to guard cells of wild-type plants. Evoked stomatal closure was accompanied by internalisation of GFP-tagged KAT1 K⁺ channels in both wild-type and <i>syp121</i> mutant guard cells, but their subsequently recycling was slowed in the mutant. Our findings indicate that <i>SYP121</i> facilitates stomatal reopening and they suggest that K⁺ channel traffic and recycling to the plasma membrane underpins the stress memory phenomenon of programmed closure in stomata. Additionally, they underline the significance of vesicle traffic for whole-plant water use and biomass production, tying <i>SYP121</i> function to guard cell membrane transport and stomatal control

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Blatt, Professor Michael and Grefen, Dr Christopher and Chen, Dr Zhonghua and Eisenach, Ms Cornelia
• Authors: Eisenach, C., Chen, Z.-H., Grefen, C., and Blatt, M.R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: Plant Journal
• ISSN: 0960-7412
• ISSN (Online): 1365-313X
• Published Online: 08 November 2011