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Simulation of Variation Potential in Higher Plant Cells

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Variation potential (VP), a propagating electrical signal unique to plants, induces a number of changes in many physiological processes. However, the mechanisms of its generation and propagation are still under discussion and require experimental and theoretical analysis, including VP simulations. The mathematical model for VP formation in plants has been worked out and is based on our previous description of electrophysiological processes in higher plant cells, including plasma membrane ion transport systems (K+, Cl− and Ca2+ channels, H+ and Ca2+-ATPase, 2H+/Cl− symporter and H+/K+ antiporter) and their regulation, ion concentration changes in cells and extracellular spaces and buffers in cytoplasm and apoplast. In addition, the VP model takes into account wound substance diffusion, which is described by a one-dimensional diffusion equation, and ligand-gated Ca2+ channels, which are activated by this substance. The VP model simulates the experimental dependence of amplitude, velocity and shape of VP on the distance from the wounding site and describes the influence of metabolic inhibitors, divalent cation chelators and anion channel blockers on the generation of this electrical reaction, as shown in experiments. Thus, our model favorably simulates VP in plants and theoretically supports the role of wound substance diffusion and Ca2+ influx in VP development.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project 12-04-00837-a, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation, project MK-1869.2012.4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, State University of Nizhni Novgorod, Nizhni Novgorod Gagarins Avenue 23, 603950, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

    Vladimir Sukhov, Elena Akinchits, Lyubov Katicheva & Vladimir Vodeneev

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  1. Vladimir Sukhov
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  2. Elena Akinchits
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  3. Lyubov Katicheva
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  4. Vladimir Vodeneev
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Correspondence to Vladimir Sukhov.

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Sukhov, V., Akinchits, E., Katicheva, L. et al. Simulation of Variation Potential in Higher Plant Cells. J Membrane Biol 246, 287–296 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-013-9529-8

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