Abstract
It is becoming increasingly clear that cytoplasmic Ca2+ (Ca2+cyt.) has an important role in the regulation of plant cell functions as well as in animal cells1–3. However, there is an acute lack of measurements of the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) in plants. Direct measurements have so far been limited to Chara and Nitella, using aequorin4, and to Haemanthus endosperm cells, using Quin-2 (ref. 5). The latter study demonstrated a gradient of [Ca2+]cyt in dividing cells. Here we evaluate the use of Ca2+-selective microelectrodes and the fluorescent indicator Quin-2 to measure [Ca2+]cyt in rhizoids of germinating Fucus serratus zygotes. This preparation is particularly attractive for such an investigation as the Fucus zygote is a well-studied developmental system and the relatively large polarized rhizoid cells are predominantly cytoplasmic with no large vacuoles. We demonstrate the presence of a longitudinal gradient of [Ca2+]cyt in the rhizoid cell. This gradient appears to be maintained by preferential Ca2+ influx in the region of the growing tip. The significance of the gradient for cell polarity is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, J. M. & Cormier, M. J. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 84, 595–602 (1978).
Roux, S. J. & Slocum, R. D. in Calcium and Cell Function Vol. 3 (ed. Cheung, W. Y.) 409–453 (Academic, New York, 1982).
Salimath, B. P. & Marme, D. Planta 158, 560–568 (1983).
Williamson, R. E. & Ashley, C. C. Nature 296, 647–651 (1982).
Keith, C. H., Ratan, R., Maxfield, F. R., Bajer, A. & Shelanski, M. L. Nature 316, 848–850 (1985).
Quatrano, R. S. in Experimental Marine Biology (ed. Mariscal, R.) 303–346 (Academic, New York, 1974).
Moreau, M., Vilain, J. P. & Guerrier, P. Devl Biol. 78, 201–214 (1980).
Tsien, R. Y., Pozzan, T. & Rink, T. J. J. Cell Biol. 94, 325–334 (1982).
Rogers, J. R. et al. FEBS Lett. 161, 21–27 (1983).
Nuccitelli, R. & Jaffe, L. F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 4855–4859 (1974).
Nuccitelli, R. & Jaffe, L. F. J. Cell Biol. 64, 636–643 (1975).
Nuccitelli, R. Mod. Cell Biol. 2, 451–481 (1983).
Robinson, K. R. & Jaffe, L. F. Science 187, 70–72 (1975).
Gilkey, J. C. & Jaffe, L. F. Biophys. J. 16, 110a (1976).
Jaffe, L. A., Weisenseel, M. H. & Jaffe, L. F. J. Cell Biol. 67, 488–492 (1975).
Reiss, H.-D. & Herth, W. Protoplasma 115, 153–159 (1983); Protoplasma 97, 373–377 (1978); Planta 146, 615–621 (1979).
Williamson, R. E. Pl. Cell Envir. 7, 431–440 (1984).
Whitaker, M. J. & Baker, P. F. Proc. R. Soc. B218, 397–413 (1983).
Dieter, P. Pl. Cell Envir. 7, 371–380 (1984).
Hausser, I., Herth, W. & H.-D. Planta 162, 33–39 (1984).
Lanter, F., Steiner, R.A., Ammann, D.R. & Simon, W. Analy. chim. Acta 135, 51–59 (1982).
Tsien, R. Y. & Rink, T. J. Biochim. biophys. Acta 599, 623–638 (1980).
Allen, R. D., Jacobsen, L., Joaquin, J. & Jaffe, L. F. Devl Biol. 27, 538–545 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brownlee, C., Wood, J. A gradient of cytoplasmic free calcium a in growing rhizoid cells of Fucus serratus. Nature 320, 624–626 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/320624a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/320624a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Calcium signaling system in plants
Russian Journal of Plant Physiology (2005)
-
In vivo pollen tube cell ofArabidopsis thaliana I. Tube cell cytoplasm and wall
Protoplasma (2000)
-
Localized membrane-wall adhesions inPelvetia zygotes
Protoplasma (1996)
-
Calcium and the photopolarization ofPelvetia zygotes
Planta (1996)
-
Physiology and development of protoplasts obtained fromFucus embryos using laser microsurgery
Protoplasma (1995)