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Gaining or cutting SLAC: the evolution of plant guard cell signalling pathways
Frances C Sussmilch1,2, Tobias Maierhofer1, Johannes Herrmann1
1Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, Würzburg, D-97082, Germany.
The New Phytologist
|October 7, 2024
Summary
Guard cells regulate plant pores for CO2 intake. Ferns and angiosperms share core guard cell features, but differ in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, indicating diverse evolutionary paths for stomatal control.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Molecular signaling
Background:
- Adjustable stomatal pores are crucial for CO2 acquisition and land plant evolution.
- Guard cell signaling pathways control stomatal movements, but their evolutionary history is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolution of guard cell signaling pathways regulating stomatal movements.
- To compare guard cell transcriptomes and physiological responses between ferns and angiosperms.
- To examine the functionality of ion channels in diverse plant species.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of fern and angiosperm guard cell transcriptomes.
- Assessment of physiological responses, including stomatal sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA).
- Functional examination of SLAC/SLAH family anion channels across different plant species.
Main Results:
- Fern SLAC/SLAH anion channels are not activated by the same ABA pathways as in angiosperms.
- Fern stomata exhibit insensitivity to ABA, unlike in angiosperms.
- Evidence suggests multiple gains/losses in SLAC activation mechanisms during evolution.
- Core guard cell features are conserved, but lineage-specific adaptations exist.
Conclusions:
- Guard cells in flowering and non-flowering plants share fundamental characteristics.
- Evolutionary adaptations in guard cell signaling, particularly ABA response, vary between plant lineages.
- Ecological niche and evolutionary history contribute to differences in stomatal behavior.
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