Ion currents involved in early Nod factor response in Medicago sativa root hairs: a discontinuous single-electrode voltage-clamp study.

Nod factor [NodRm-IV(Ac,S)], isolated from the bacterium Rhizobium meliloti, induces a well-known depolarization in Medicago sativa (cv Sitel) root hairs. Analysis of this membrane response using the discontinuous single-electrode voltage-clamp technique (dSEVC) shows that anion channel, K+ channel and H+-ATPase pump currents are involved in young growing root hairs. The early Nod-factor-induced depolarization is due to increase of the inward ion current and inhibition of the H+ pump. It involved an instantaneous inward anion current (IIAC) and/or a time-dependent inward K+ current (IRKC). These two ion currents are then down-regulated while the H+ pump is stimulated, allowing long-term rectification of the membrane potential (Em). Our results support the idea that the regulation of inward current plays a primary role in the Nod-factor-induced electrical response, the nature of the ions carried by these currents depending on the activated anion and/or K+ channels at the plasma membrane.

Role of the Differentiation of Root Epidermal Cells in Nod Factor (from Rhizobium meliloti)-Induced Root-Hair Depolarization of Medicago sativa.

The stage of differentiation of epidermal cells and the development of root hairs was found to be important for the induction of depolarization in root hairs of Medicago sativa by Nod factor [NodRm-IV(S)] isolated from the bacterium Rhizobium meliloti. The electrical membrane response was concentration dependent, having its major effect (amplitude of the depolarization and number of root hairs that responded) at 10-8 and 10-7 M Nod factor. This response was correlated with a morphological effect of Nod factor in the root-hair-deformation bioassay at similar concentrations. The effect of Nod factor on depolarization and root-hair deformation showed specificity with respect to the structure, since unsulfated Nod molecules were inactive, as was the synthetic N,N',N",N"'- tetraacetylchitotetraose. The Nod factor that is O-acetylated at the nonreducing sugar was as efficient in root-hair deformation and membrane depolarization as the sulfated Nod factor.

Immunological Evidence for the Existence of a Carrier Protein for Sucrose Transport in Tonoplast Vesicles from Red Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Root Storage Tissue.

Monoclonal antibodies were raised in mice against a highly purified tonoplast fraction from isolated red beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. conditiva) root vacuoles. Positive hybridoma clones and sub-clones were identified by prescreening using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by postscreening using a functional assay. This functional assay consisted of testing the impact of hybridoma supernatants and antibody-containing ascites fluids on basal and ATP-stimulated sugar uptake in vacuoles, isolated from protoplasts, as well as in tonoplast vesicles, prepared from tissue homogenates of red beet roots. Antibodies from four clones were particularly positive in ELISAs and they inhibited sucrose uptake significantly. These antibodies were specific inhibitors of sucrose transport, but they exhibited relatively low membrane and species specificity since uptake into red beet root protoplasts and sugarcane tonoplast vesicles was inhibited as well. Fast protein liquid chromatography assisted size exclusion chromatography on Superose 6 columns yielded two major peaks in the 55 to 65-kD regions and in the 110- to 130-kD regions of solubilized proteins from red beet root tonoplasts, which reacted positively in immunoglobulin-M(IgM)-specific ELISAs with anti-sugarcane tonoplast monoclonal IgM antibodies. Only reconstituted proteoliposomes containing polypeptides from the 55- to 65-kD band took up [14C]-sucrose with linear rates for 2 min, suggesting that this fraction contains the tonoplast sucrose carrier.

Comparative studies on the electrical properties of the H+ translocating ATPase and pyrophosphatase of the vacuolar-lysosomal compartment.

The electrical properties of the vacuolar-lysosomal H+ pumps were studied by direct measurement of the pump currents using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Both pumps, the proton-translocating ATPase and pyrophosphatase, when activated by MgATP or inorganic Mg pyrophosphate (MgPP(i)), transport protons into the vacuole and polarize the membrane potential (positive inside the vacuole). Accumulation of protons in the lumen of vacuole vesicles was monitored by absorbance changes of the pH probe, acridine orange. The electrochemical gradient provided by both the ATPase and pyrophosphatase stimulates effectively the uptake of various metabolites such as malate, citrate and sucrose. The maximal current density produced by the ATPase was about 2.5 microA/cm2 and about 0.5 microA/cm2 for the pyrophosphatase. K(m)ATP was 0.6 mM; K(m)PPi was 15-20 microM with progressive inhibition above 150 microM. At a cytoplasmic pH of 7.5 both enzymes were capable of pumping protons against a 10,000-fold concentration gradient (pH 3.5 inside the vacuole). Proton current produced by the ATPase was blocked reversibly by extravacuolar NO(3)- only.

Regulation of Vacuolar pH of Plant Cells: I. Isolation and Properties of Vacuoles Suitable for P NMR Studies.

For the first time, the (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance technique has been used to study the properties of isolated vacuoles of plant cells, namely the vacuolar pH and the inorganic phosphate content. Catharanthus roseus cells incubated for 15 hours on a culture medium enriched with 10 millimolar inorganic phosphate accumulated large amounts of inorganic phosphate in their vacuoles. Vacuolar phosphate ions were largely retained in the vacuoles when protoplasts were prepared from the cells and vacuoles isolated from the protoplasts. Vacuolar inorganic phosphate concentrations up to 150 millimolar were routinely obtained. Suspensions prepared with 2 to 3 x 10(6) vacuoles per milliliter from the enriched C. roseus cells have an internal pH value of 5.50 +/- 0.06 and a mean trans-tonoplast DeltapH of 1.56 +/- 0.07. Reliable determinations of vacuolar and external pH could be made by using accumulation times as low as 2 minutes. These conditions are suitable to follow the kinetics of H(+) exchanges at the tonoplast. The (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance technique also offered the possibility of monitoring simultaneously the stability of the trans-tonoplast pH and phosphate gradients. Both appeared to be reasonably stable over several hours. The buffering capacity of the vacuolar sap around pH 5.5 has been estimated by several procedures to be 36 +/- 2 microequivalents per milliliter per pH unit. The increase of the buffering capacity due to the accumulation of phosphate in the vacuoles is, in large part, compensated by a decrease of the intravacuolar malate content.

Regulation of Vacuolar pH of Plant Cells: II. A P NMR Study of the Modifications of Vacuolar pH in Isolated Vacuoles Induced by Proton Pumping and Cation/H Exchanges.

The vacuolar pH and the trans-tonoplast DeltapH modifications induced by the activity of the two proton pumps H(+)-ATPase and H(+)-PPase and by the proton exchanges catalyzed by the Na(+)/H(+) and Ca(2+)/H(+) antiports at the tonoplast of isolated intact vacuoles prepared from Catharanthus roseus cells enriched in inorganic phosphate (Y Mathieu et al 1988 Plant Physiol [in press]) were measured using the (31)P NMR technique. The H(+)-ATPase induced an intravacuolar acidification as large as 0.8 pH unit, building a trans-tonoplast DeltapH up to 2.2 pH units. The hydrolysis of the phosphorylated substrate and the vacuolar acidification were monitored simultaneously to estimate kinetically the apparent stoichiometry between the vectorial proton pumping and the hydrolytic activity of the H(+)-ATPase. A ratio of H(+) translocated/ATP hydrolyzed of 1.97 +/- 0.06 (mean +/- standard error) was calculated. Pyrophosphate-treated vacuoles were also acidified to a significant extent. The H(+)-PPase at 2 millimolar PPi displayed hydrolytic and vectorial activities comparable to those of the H(+)-ATPase, building a steady state DeltapH of 2.1 pH units. Vacuoles incubated in the presence of 10 millimolar Na(+) were alkalinized by 0.4 to 0.8 pH unit. It has been shown by using (23)Na NMR that sodium uptake was coupled to the H(+) efflux and occurred against rather large concentration gradients. For the first time, the activity of the Ca(2+)/H(+) antiport has been measured on isolated intact vacuoles. Ca(2+) uptake was strongly inhibited by NH(4)Cl or gramicidin. Vacuoles incubated with 1 millimolar Ca(2+) were alkalinized by about 0.6 pH unit and this H(+) efflux was associated to a Ca(2+) uptake as demonstrated by measuring the external Ca(2+) concentration with a calcium specific electrode. Steady state accumulation ratios of Ca(2+) as high as 100 were reached for steady state external concentrations about 200 micromolar. The rate of Ca(2+) uptake appeared markedly amplified in intact vacuoles when compared to tonoplast vesicles but the antiport displayed a much lower affinity for calcium. The different behavior of intact vacuoles compared to vesicles appears mainly to be due to differences in the surface to volume ratio and in the rates of dissipation of the pH gradient. Despite its low affinity, the Ca(2+)/H(+) antiport has a high potential capacity to regulate cytoplasmic concentration of calcium.

Characterization of an anion-permeable channel from sugar beet vacuoles: effect of inhibitors.

The vacuole occupies 25-95% of the plant cell volume and plays an essential role in maintaining cytoplasmic homeostasis of nutrients and ions. Recent patch-clamp studies identified ion channels and electrogenic pumps as pathways for the movement of ions and metabolites across the vacuolar membrane (tonoplast). At high cytoplasmic Ca (>10 M) and negative potentials (inside the vacuole) non-selective channels of the ;slow-vacuolar (SV)-type' were activated resulting in anion release or cation influx. In the present study these vacuolar channels were characterized pharmacologically by ion channel inhibitors. The cation-transport inhibitors Ba, TEA and amiloride caused only partial and reversible block of the ;SV-type'channels, whereas anion-transport inhibitors strongly affected the vacuolar channels. Pyridoxalphosphate and the dimethylaminecarboxylate derivates anthracene-9-carboxylic acid and C 144 reversibly blocked the channels up to 70% and Zncl(2) up to 95%. DIDS and SITS inhibited this channel irreversibly up to 95%. The block developed under a variety of experimental conditions using solutions containing combinations of permanent cations and anions. The DIDS binding site is located on the cytoplasmic surface of the tonoplast, as intravacuolar DIDS did not block the channels. DIDS concentrations in the micromolar range, efficient in blocking 70-80% of the ;SV-type' channels did not significantly affect ATP-induced or pyrophosphate-induced proton-pumps. Stilbene derivatives may therefore be useful tools for studies on the substrate binding site on this vacuolar channel and for channel isolation.

Cell and luminal pH in the proximal tubule of Necturus kidney.

Double-barreled, selective microelectrodes filled with liquid ion exchanger were used to determine proximal tubule cell pH (pHcell), luminal pH (pHlum), and peritubular capillary blood pH (pHbl.pt) in Necturus kidney in vivo. The average pHbl.pt of 16 animals was 7.64 +/- 0.3; pHcell was 7.36 +/- 0.02 (n = 50), and pHlum was 7.50 +/- 0.05 (n = 16). Because of the variability in pHbl.pt from one animal to another, we studied the blood/cell/lumen pH differences. We sequentially measured with a single microelectrode pHcell and pHlum, and then pHbl.pt in an adjacent peritubular capillary. In 25 such paired determinations, the average pHbl.pt - pHcell difference was 0.28 +/- 0.03, cell acid, and the pHbl.pt - pHlum difference was 0.14 +/- 0.02, lumen acid. The pHcell in this series was significantly more acid than the pHlum (by 0.14 +/- 0.02), but in a few instances the pH gradient across the apical cell membrane was inversed. All measurements were performed in the initial portion of the proximal tubule. We conclude that 1) proximal cell pH is acid with regard to peritubular blood pH, 2) the proximal tubule of Necturus kidney is capable of establishing a small transepithelial pH difference (lumen acid), and 3) pHcell is generally more acid then pHlum.

Vacuolar pH Measurement in Higher Plant Cells : I. EVALUATION OF THE METHYLAMINE METHOD.

[(14)C]Methylamine is rapidly accumulated by Acer pseudoplatanus cells cultivated in liquid medium. The accumulation ratio of intracellular concentration to the extracellular one reaches, within 60 minutes, values as high as 3,000. This lipophilic amine appears to enter the cells through a diffusion process and is probably mainly accumulated as a cation inside the large acidic vacuolar compartment.A large discrepancy has been observed between the vacuolar pH calculated from the distribution of methylamine molecules between the cells and their culture medium and the pH of the sap extracted from frozen-thawed cells, the pH of the sap being higher than the calculated values.THE PH ESTIMATED THROUGH THE USE OF THE METHYLAMINE METHOD MUST BE CONSIDERED WITH SOME CARE AS EVIDENCE HAS BEEN OBTAINED SHOWING THAT THE INTRACELLULAR ACCUMULATION OF THIS BASE DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON THE VACUOLAR PH BUT ALSO ON: (a) the transplasmalemma and transtonoplast potential differences; (b) the relative permeabilities of these membranes to the nonionized and ionized form of the base; and (c) the adsorption of methylamine on cellular constituents.

Influence of fusicoccin on the control of cell division by auxins.

An indirect stimulation of cell division by fusicoccin is demonstrated. The distribution of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid molecules between Acer pseudoplatanus cells and their culture medium is strongly modified by a fusicoccin treatment, through the extracellular acidification induced by the toxin. As a consequence, a stimulation of cell division is observed when the intracellular auxin concentration is sufficiently increased to reach the threshold control level (Leguay JJ, J Guern 1977 Plant Physiol 60: 265-270).Independently of this indirect action on cell division, the number of cells per cluster is decreased and the volume of the cells increased in fusicoccintreated cells which show a typical enlargement response.

Measurement of intracellular pH and aspects of its control in higher plant cells cultivated in liquid medium.

The 5,5-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione (DMO) method for the determination of intracellular pH has been adapted to Acer pseudoplatanus cells cultivated in liquid medium. DMO is metabolized by these cells and this parameter has to be taken into account in the measurement of the intracellular concentration of free DMO. As the cells contain a large acidic vacuolar compartment, the intracellular pH estimated from the DMO technique is an overall pHi', the dependence of which on various cytoplasmic and vacuolar characteristics has been discussed. Important modifications of these overall pHi values under the influence of CO2 or NH4+ have been measured. These pHi modifications strongly affect the regulation of cell division through the control of the intracellular concentration of hormones of the auxin type.

[Tumorous nature of hyperplasia obtained experimentally]. / Nature tumorale d'une hyperplasie obtenue expérimentalement

The determination of the tumorous nature of an overgrowth provides one of the most essential information for all research concerning animal and plant cancerisation. The experimental procedure which will be described here answers to this imperative: it allows to prove the tumorous characteristics of proliferations obtained by inoculation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens RNA fractions to Datura stems.