Regulation of cytoplasmic streaming in Vallisneria mesophyll cells

Induction and cessation of the rotational cytoplasmic streaming in Vallisneria mesophyll cells could be controlled by external stimuli. In cells that had been kept in darkness the cytoplasm remained quiescent. However, when the cells were treated in the dark with EGTA solution (10 mM or 20 mM buffered with 10 mM-Tris-maleate at pH 7.0), rotational cytoplasmic streaming was induced. When the cells were transferred again to artificial pond water in the dark, the induced streaming was inhibited; that is, only 50% of the observed cells exhibited active streaming after 2 h. When the cells were irradiated continuously with far-red light (lambda max = 750 nm, 0.4 W/m2) in the same external medium, the induced streaming was inhibited almost completely within 2 h. The relative quantum effectiveness of monochromatic light (450--800 nm) in producing cessation of streaming was also investigated. Irradiation with light of 450, 550 and 600 nm was almost as effective as darkness. Light of 500 and 650 nm was less effective than dark exposure. Only irradiation at 750 nm stopped streaming in almost all cells. But when calcium was excluded from the external medium, the effect of far-red light decreased to almost the dark control level. Light of 800 nm also inhibited the streaming but the effect was much less than that of far-red light. Microfilaments in bundles with the long axis parallel to the streaming direction were localized in the vicinity of the cell membrane. Their configuration, localization and distribution were the same in the present experimental system irrespective of whether the cytoplasm was streaming or quiescent. Intracellular calcium was examined by electron microscopic cytochemistry and X-ray microanalysis. In cells with streaming induced by EGTA, only a small amount of calcium-containing precipitates formed in the cytoplasm in the presence of antimony. A few precipitates were found in the chloroplasts, the middle lamella of the cell wall and at the border between the cytoplasm and the cell wall. On the other hand, in cells treated with EGTA and subsequently irradiated with far-red light in artificial pond water, many precipitates were observe in the cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. The middle lamella was also heavily stained. On the basis of these observations, it was concluded that rotational cytoplasmic streaming in Vallisneria cells can be induced when the free calcium concentration in the cytoplasm decreases and that the induced streaming is arrested when the free calcium concentration in the cytoplasm increases. Far-red light accelerates the increase of calcium in the cytoplasm.