Abstract
Inward-rectifying potassium (K+in) channels in guard cells have been suggested to provide a pathway for K+ uptake into guard cells during stomatal opening. To test the proposed role of guard cell K+in channels in light-induced stomatal opening, transgenic Arabidopsis plants were generated that expressed dominant negative point mutations in the K+in channel subunit KAT1. Patch-clamp analyses with transgenic guard cells from independent lines showed that K+in current magnitudes were reduced by approximately 75% compared with vector-transformed controls at -180 mV, which resulted in reduction in light-induced stomatal opening by 38% to 45% compared with vector-transformed controls. Analyses of intracellular K+ content using both sodium hexanitrocobaltate (III) and elemental x-ray microanalyses showed that light-induced K+ uptake was also significantly reduced in guard cells of K+in channel depressor lines. These findings support the model that K+in channels contribute to K+ uptake during light-induced stomatal opening. Furthermore, transpirational water loss from leaves was reduced in the K+in channel depressor lines. Comparisons of guard cell K+in current magnitudes among four different transgenic lines with different K+in current magnitudes show the range of activities of K+in channels required for guard cell K+ uptake during light-induced stomatal opening.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 473-485 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Plant physiology |
Volume | 127 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Genetics
- Plant Science