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Natriuretic peptides and cGMP modulate K+, Na+, and H+ fluxes in Zea mays roots
M Pharmawati1, S N Shabala, I A Newman
1School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract:
Recent evidence suggests that in plants, as in vertebrates, natriuretic peptides (NPs) regulate homeostasis. In this study noninvasive ion-selective vibrating microelectrodes were used to measure net fluxes of K+, Na+, and H+ in Zea mays root conductive tissue. Immunoreactant plant natriuretic peptides (irPNP) cause immediate net H+ influx and delayed net K+ and Na+ uptake. Delayed net K+ influx was also observed in response to 8-Br-cGMP, however, not accompanied by significant changes in net H+ fluxes. Furthermore, 8-Br-cGMP does not stimulate the plasma membrane H+-ATPase implying that cGMP directly affects cation channels. The data are consistent with NP and cGMP-dependent stimulation of nonselective cation channels with P(K) > P(Na) and point to a complex role for NPs in plant homeostasis.
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