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Related Experiment Videos

Cytoplasmic pH dynamics in maize pulvinal cells induced by gravity vector changes.

E Johannes1, D A Collings, J C Rink

  • 1Department of Botany, Box 7612, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7612, USA. eva_johannes@ncsu.edu

Plant Physiology
|September 13, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Cytoplasmic pH changes in maize stem pulvini signal gravity. Acidification occurs at cell sides, while alkalinization happens at the base, indicating pH

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Plant Physiology
  • Gravitropism

Background:

  • Maize (Zea mays) stems perceive gravity via pulvinal tissue, leading to differential growth and upward bending.
  • Amyloplast-rich bundle sheath cells are gravity perception sites, but early signaling remains unclear.
  • Cytoplasmic pH (pH(c)) was previously identified as a gravitropic signaling mediator in Arabidopsis roots.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cytoplasmic pH (pH(c)) in early gravitropic signaling in maize stems.
  • To determine if pH(c) changes are involved in gravity vector perception in maize pulvinal cells.

Main Methods:

  • Confocal ratiometric imaging using a fluorescent pH indicator (carboxy seminaphtorhodafluor acetoxymethyl ester acetate).
  • Measurement of pH(c) in maize pulvinal cells (bundle sheath and parenchyma) during gravistimulation.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline Plant BiologyNon-NASA Center

Related Experiment Videos

  • Assessment of cell responses to external stimuli like propionic acid, auxin, and pH changes.

    • Main Results:

    • Gravity-induced pH(c) changes were observed exclusively in bundle sheath cells, not parenchyma cells.
    • Gravistimulation caused cytoplasmic acidification at cell sides and alkalinization at the base, correlating with amyloplast sedimentation.
    • Parenchyma cells and isolated bundle sheath cells showed no gravity-induced pH(c) changes but responded to external stimuli.

    Conclusions:

    • Cytoplasmic pH (pH(c)) plays a significant role in the early signaling pathways of maize stem gravitropism.
    • Differential pH(c) changes within bundle sheath cells are crucial for gravity perception and signal transduction in maize stems.