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Possible involvement of heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in Al-induced secretion of organic acid anions in Arabidopsis and rye

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An Erratum to this article was published on 13 December 2014

Abstract

Background and aims

Secretion of organic acid anions (OAs) from the roots in response to aluminum (Al) is a common mechanism for Al resistance in plants. Transporter genes involved in the Al-induced secretion of malate and citrate have been identified, but the signal cascades mediating the regulation of the secretion of OAs has not been understood. Here, we investigated the possible role of heterotrimeric G-proteins in the Al-induced secretion of OAs.

Methods

Seedlings of rye and Arabidopsis thaliana were grown in an environment-controlled growth room. Organic acid anions in the exudates of roots were determined spectrophotometrically. Heterotrimeric G-proteins and GTPase activity were assayed using protein gel blot analyses with Gα antibody and spectrofluorometer, respectively. GPA1 gene expression level was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

Results

Immunoblotting revealed a heterotrimeric G-protein in the plasma membrane fraction of rye and Arabidopsis roots. Exposure of the rye roots to Al resulted in activation of GTPase. Al-induced secretion was inhibited by pertussis toxin, a heterotrimeric G-protein antagonist, but was stimulated by cholera toxin, a heterotrimeric G-protein agonist. Furthermore, Al-induced OA secretion was blocked in Gα- or Gβ-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis. Al induced GPA1 expression in Arabidopsis roots.

Conclusions

Heterotrimeric G-proteins-coordinated transduction of Al-stress signals may be associated with the secretion of OAs from roots.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (grant No. 2014CB138701), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 30771287 and No. 31260497) and Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (grant No. 2012GXNSFDA053010). We thank Prof. Li Geng Ma (National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing) for kindly providing anti-Gα antibody.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China

    Yao Yang Li, Xin Lian Tang, Lei Geng Yang & Xiao Feng Li

  2. Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530001, China

    Yao Yang Li

  3. College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Beibei Chongqing, 400716, China

    Yong Xiong Yu

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  1. Yao Yang Li
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  2. Xin Lian Tang
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Correspondence to Xiao Feng Li.

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Responsible Editor: Jian Feng Ma.

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Li, Y.Y., Tang, X.L., Yang, L.G. et al. Possible involvement of heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in Al-induced secretion of organic acid anions in Arabidopsis and rye. Plant Soil 388, 55–63 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2325-0

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