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Is membrane potential involved in calmodulin gene expression after external stimulation in plants?
A Vian1, C Henry-Vian, R Schantz
1Unité associée INRA-Université Blaise Pascal Bioclimatologie-PIAF, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
FEBS Letters
|February 12, 1996
Summary
Injurious stimuli in Bidens pilosa plants trigger electrical signals that increase calmodulin gene expression in both wounded and distant tissues. This suggests a slow wave signal transmits wound information throughout the plant.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Signaling
Background:
- Plants exhibit electrical signaling in response to stimuli.
- Calmodulin is a key calcium-binding protein involved in signal transduction.
- Understanding how plants transmit information about damage is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate calmodulin gene expression following different types of stimuli in Bidens pilosa.
- To determine the role of electrical signals, specifically the slow wave, in wound response.
- To elucidate the mechanism of long-distance information transmission in plants.
Main Methods:
- Application of non-injurious and injurious stimuli to Bidens pilosa (cv. radiata).
- Measurement of changes in membrane potential.
- Analysis of calmodulin mRNA accumulation in stimulated and distant tissues using molecular techniques.
Main Results:
- Non-injurious stimuli caused local, transient membrane potential changes and localized calmodulin mRNA increase.
- Injurious stimuli generated an electrical signal (action potential + slow wave) and induced calmodulin mRNA accumulation in both local and distant tissues.
- Calmodulin mRNA upregulation occurred in unwounded tissue distant from the injury site after injurious stimuli.
Conclusions:
- The slow wave component of the electrical signal is implicated in the long-distance transmission of wound-induced information.
- Calmodulin gene expression is differentially regulated by the type and extent of stimuli.
- Bidens pilosa utilizes electrical signaling pathways for systemic wound response.
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