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Polar-localised poplar K+ channel capable of controlling electrical properties of wood-forming cells

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Abstract

In previous studies, we have shown that annual expression profiles of cambial and wood tissue with respect to the Shaker K+ channel PTORK correlate with cambial activity. To follow PTORK-gene activity on the cellular level, we isolated the respective promoter regions and generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the GUS gene under the control of the PTORK promoter. Cross-sections of petioles showed PTORK-driven signals predominantly in the xylem parenchyma surrounding the vessels and in the phloem. Antibodies raised against a unique N-terminal region of PTORK in histo-immunochemical analyses recognised this K+-release channel in growth-active poplar plants only. PTORK labelling was found in differentiating xylem cells (young fibres) and mature xylem (vessel-associated cells of the ray parenchyma). Patch-clamp measurements on fibre cell protoplasts, derived from young poplar twigs, identified outward-rectifying K+ channels as the major K+ conductance of this cell type, which resembled the biophysical properties of PTORK when expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

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Fig. 1
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Abbreviations

GUS:

β-Glucuronidase

RCF:

Relative centrifugal field

SDS-PAGE:

Sodiumdodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to the German Poplar Research Group. Thanks to D. Becker for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FG Holzbiologie der TU München, Winzererstrasse 45, 80797, München, Germany

    Matthias Arend, Christa Wind & Jörg Fromm

  2. Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Biozentrum der Uni-Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97082, Würzburg, Germany

    Andrea Stinzing, Katharina Langer, Andreas Latz, Peter Ache & Rainer Hedrich

Authors
  1. Matthias Arend
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  2. Andrea Stinzing
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  3. Christa Wind
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  4. Katharina Langer
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  5. Andreas Latz
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  6. Peter Ache
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  7. Jörg Fromm
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  8. Rainer Hedrich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rainer Hedrich.

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Matthias Arend and Andrea Stinzing contributed equally to this work

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Arend, M., Stinzing, A., Wind, C. et al. Polar-localised poplar K+ channel capable of controlling electrical properties of wood-forming cells. Planta 223, 140–148 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0122-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0122-y

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