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Published on: December 31, 2019
Methods Related to Polyamine Control of Cation Transport Across Plant Membranes
Isaac Zepeda-Jazo1, Igor Pottosin2
1Universidad de La Ciénega del Estado de Michoacán de Ocampo, Av. Universidad 3000, Lomas de la Universidad, Sahuayo, 59103, Michoacán, México.
Abstract:
Polyamines (PAs) are unique polycationic metabolites, which modulate plants' growth, development, and stress responses. As polycations, PAs interfere with cationic transport systems as ion channels and ionotropic pumps. Here, we describe the application of two techniques, MIFE to study the effects of PAs on cation fluxes in vivo and conventional patch-clamp to evaluate the PA blockage of ion currents in isolated plant vacuoles. Preparation of vacuoles for patch-clamp assays is described and solutions and voltage protocols are given, which allow separate recordings of major vacuolar channel currents and quantify their blockage by PAs.
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Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct...

