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Functional identification of a GORK potassium channel from the ancient desert shrub Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim.) Cheng f.

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A GORK homologue K + channel from the ancient desert shrub Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim.) Cheng f. shows the functional conservation of the GORK channels among plant species.

Abstract

Guard cell K+ release through the outward potassium channels eventually enables the closure of stomata which consequently prevents plant water loss from severe transpiration. Early patch-clamp studies with the guard cells have revealed many details of such outward potassium currents. However, genes coding for these potassium-release channels have not been sufficiently characterized from species other than the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We report here the functional identification of a GORK (for Gated or Guard cell Outward Rectifying K+ channels) homologue from the ancient desert shrub Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim.) Cheng f. AmGORK was primary expressed in shoots, where the transcripts were regulated by stress factors simulated by PEG, NaCl or ABA treatments. Patch-clamp measurements on isolated guard cell protoplasts revealed typical depolarization voltage gated outward K+ currents sensitive to the extracelluar K+ concentration and pH, resembling the fundamental properties previously described in other species. Two-electrode voltage-clamp analysis in Xenopus lavies oocytes with AmGORK reconstituted highly similar characteristics as assessed in the guard cells, supporting that the function of AmGORK is consistent with a crucial role in mediating stomatal closure in Ammopiptanthus mongolicus. Furthermore, a single amino acid mutation D297N of AmGORK eventually abolishes both the voltage-gating and its outward rectification and converts the channel into a leak-like channel, indicating strong involvement of this residue in the gating and voltage dependence of AmGORK. Our results obtained from this anciently originated plant support a strong functional conservation of the GORK channels among plant species and maybe also along the progress of revolution.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (91125028) and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB15030202) and a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

      Junlin Li & Huanchao Zhang

    2. Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forest University, Nanjing, 210037, China

      Junlin Li & Huanchao Zhang

    3. State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

      Junlin Li, Han Lei, Man Jin, Guangzhen Yue & Yanhua Su

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    1. Junlin Li
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    2. Huanchao Zhang
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    Correspondence to Yanhua Su.

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    Communicated by Y.-I. Park.

    J. Li and H. Zhang contribute equally to this work.

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    Li, J., Zhang, H., Lei, H. et al. Functional identification of a GORK potassium channel from the ancient desert shrub Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim.) Cheng f.. Plant Cell Rep 35, 803–815 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-015-1922-6

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