Glutamate receptor-like genes form Ca²⁺ channels in pollen tubes and are regulated by pistil D-serine
Date
2011
Authors
Michard, E.
Lima, P.
Borges, F.
Silva, A.
Portes, M.
Carvalho, J.
Gilliham, M.
Liu, L.
Obermeyer, G.
Feijo, J.
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Journal article
Citation
Science, 2011; 332(6028):434-437
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Erwan Michard, Pedro T. Lima, Filipe Borges, Ana Catarina Silva, Maria Teresa Portes, João E. Carvalho, Matthew Gilliham, Lai-Hua Liu, Gerhard Obermeyer and José A Feijó
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Abstract
Elevations in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) constitute a fundamental signal transduction mechanism in eukaryotic cells, but the molecular identity of Ca2+ channels initiating this signal in plants is still under debate. Here, we show by pharmacology and loss-of-function mutants that in tobacco and Arabidopsis, glutamate receptor–like genes (GLRs) facilitate Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane, modulate apical [Ca2+]cyt gradient and consequently pollen tube growth and morphogenesis. Additionally, wild-type pollen tubes grown in pistils of knock-out mutants for serine-racemase (SR1) displayed growth defects consistent with a decrease in GLR activity. Our findings reveal a novel plant signaling mechanism between male gametophyte and pistil tissue analogous to amino acid–mediated communication commonly observed in animal nervous systems.
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© 2011 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All Rights Reserved.