Regulation of plant water loss by manipulating the expression of phospholipase Dalpha
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A Strategy to Validate the Role of Callose-mediated Plasmodesmal Gating in the Tropic Response
Published on: April 17, 2016
1Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
Abstract:
Phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in various processes, including signal transduction, membrane trafficking, and membrane degradation. Multiple forms of PLD with distinct biochemical properties have been described in the cell. In Arabidopsis, PLDalpha and PLDgamma, but not PLDbeta, were detected in guard cells, and antisense suppression resulted in a specific loss of PLDalpha. The abrogation of PLDalpha rendered plants less sensitive to abscisic acid and impaired stomatal closure induced by water deficits. PLDalpha-depleted plants exhibited accelerated transpirational water loss and a decreased ability to tolerate drought stress. Overexpression of PLDalpha enhanced the leaf's sensitivity to abscisic acid. These findings provide molecular and physiological evidence that PLDalpha plays a crucial role in regulating stomatal movement and plant-water status.
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