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Ectopic Expression of the K+ Channel β Subunits from Puccinellia tenuiflora (KPutB1) and Rice (KOB1) Alters K+ Homeostasis of Yeast and Arabidopsis

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Abstract

In this study, we cloned a cDNA for the K+ channel β subunit from the halophyte Puccinellia tenuiflora and named it KPutB1. KPutB1 was preferentially expressed in the roots and was transiently induced by K+-starvation, salt stress, or the combination of both stresses. By yeast two-hybrid assay, we demonstrated that KPutB1 interacts with PutAKT1, α subunit of an AKT1-type K+ channel of P. tenuiflora. The functional relevance of this interaction on K+-nutrition was investigated by co-expression experiments in yeast under various ionic conditions, and K+ channel α and β subunit homologues from rice (OsAKT1 and KOB1, respectively) were included for comparison. Yeast co-expressing PutAKT1 and the β subunits (KPutB1 and KOB1) had better growth and higher K+-uptake ability than yeast expressing PutAKT1 alone. In contrast, yeast co-expressing the β subunits (KPutB1 and KOB1) with OsAKT1 had slower growth and lower K+ uptake than yeast expressing OsAKT1 alone. Arabidopsis plants over-expressing the K+ channel β subunit of P. tenuiflora or rice showed increased shoot K+ content and decreased root Na+ content under control, 75 mM NaCl, and K+-starvation stress conditions. These results suggest that ectopic expression of the K+ channel β subunit could alter K+ and Na+ homeostasis in plants.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Mr. D. Tsugama for his help in providing the positive control in yeast two-hybrid assay. This work was supported by a Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (21380002) to T.T. and by JSPS AA Science Platform Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Asian Natural Environmental Science Center (ANESC), The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Midori-cho, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo, 188-0002, Japan

    Sintho Wahyuning Ardie, Shunsaku Nishiuchi & Tetsuo Takano

  2. Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Bogor Agricultural University, Jl. Meranti Kampus IPB Darmaga, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia

    Sintho Wahyuning Ardie

  3. Alkali Soil Natural Environmental Science Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China

    Shenkui Liu

Authors
  1. Sintho Wahyuning Ardie
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  2. Shunsaku Nishiuchi
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  3. Shenkui Liu
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  4. Tetsuo Takano
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Correspondence to Tetsuo Takano.

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Ardie, S.W., Nishiuchi, S., Liu, S. et al. Ectopic Expression of the K+ Channel β Subunits from Puccinellia tenuiflora (KPutB1) and Rice (KOB1) Alters K+ Homeostasis of Yeast and Arabidopsis . Mol Biotechnol 48, 76–86 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-010-9349-3

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