The malate-activated ALMT12 anion channel in the grass Brachypodium distachyon is co-activated by Ca2+/calmodulin. 2019

Khanh Luu, and Nandhakishore Rajagopalan, and John C H Ching, and Michele C Loewen, and Matthew E Loewen
From the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 1B8.

In plants, strict regulation of stomatal pores is critical for modulation of CO2 fixation and transpiration. Under certain abiotic and biotic stressors, pore closure is initiated through anionic flux, with calcium (Ca2+) playing a central role. The aluminum-activated malate transporter 12 (ALMT12) is a malate-activated, voltage-dependent member of the aluminum-activated malate transporter family that has been implicated in anionic flux from guard cells controlling the stomatal aperture. Herein, we report the characterization of the regulatory mechanisms mediating channel activities of an ALMT from the grass Brachypodium distachyon (BdALMT12) that has the highest sequence identity to Arabidopsis thaliana ALMT12. Electrophysiological studies in a heterologous cell system confirmed that this channel is malate- and voltage-dependent. However, this was shown to be true only in the presence of Ca2+ Although a general kinase inhibitor increased the current density of BdALMT12, a calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor reduced the Ca2+-dependent channel activation. We investigated the physiological relevance of the CaM-based regulation in planta, where stomatal closure, induced by exogenous Ca2+ ionophore and malate, was shown to be inhibited by exogenous application of a CaM inhibitor. Subsequent analyses revealed that the double substitutions R335A/R338A and R335A/K342A, within a predicted BdALMT12 CaM-binding domain (CBD), also decreased the channels' ability to activate. Using isothermal titration calorimetry and CBD-mimetic peptides, as well as CaM-agarose affinity pulldown of full-length recombinant BdALMT12, we confirmed the physical interaction between the CBD and CaM. Together, these findings support a co-regulatory mechanism of BdALMT12 activation by malate, and Ca2+/CaM, emphasizing that a complex regulatory network modulates BdALMT12 activity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008293 Malates Derivatives of malic acid (the structural formula: (COO-)2CH2CHOH), including its salts and esters.
D010940 Plant Proteins Proteins found in plants (flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, etc.). The concept does not include proteins found in vegetables for which PLANT PROTEINS, DIETARY is available. Plant Protein,Protein, Plant,Proteins, Plant
D002118 Calcium A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002147 Calmodulin A heat-stable, low-molecular-weight activator protein found mainly in the brain and heart. The binding of calcium ions to this protein allows this protein to bind to cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases and to adenyl cyclase with subsequent activation. Thereby this protein modulates cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels. Calcium-Dependent Activator Protein,Calcium-Dependent Regulator,Bovine Activator Protein,Cyclic AMP-Phosphodiesterase Activator,Phosphodiesterase Activating Factor,Phosphodiesterase Activator Protein,Phosphodiesterase Protein Activator,Regulator, Calcium-Dependent,AMP-Phosphodiesterase Activator, Cyclic,Activating Factor, Phosphodiesterase,Activator Protein, Bovine,Activator Protein, Calcium-Dependent,Activator Protein, Phosphodiesterase,Activator, Cyclic AMP-Phosphodiesterase,Activator, Phosphodiesterase Protein,Calcium Dependent Activator Protein,Calcium Dependent Regulator,Cyclic AMP Phosphodiesterase Activator,Factor, Phosphodiesterase Activating,Protein Activator, Phosphodiesterase,Protein, Bovine Activator,Protein, Calcium-Dependent Activator,Protein, Phosphodiesterase Activator,Regulator, Calcium Dependent
D015640 Ion Channel Gating The opening and closing of ion channels due to a stimulus. The stimulus can be a change in membrane potential (voltage-gated), drugs or chemical transmitters (ligand-gated), or a mechanical deformation. Gating is thought to involve conformational changes of the ion channel which alters selective permeability. Gating, Ion Channel,Gatings, Ion Channel,Ion Channel Gatings
D054046 Plant Stomata Closable openings in the epidermis of plants on the underside of leaves. They allow the exchange of gases between the internal tissues of the plant and the outside atmosphere. Stomata, Plant,Plant Stomatas,Stomatas, Plant
D058431 Brachypodium A plant genus in the family POACEAE. Brachypodium distachyon is a model species for functional genomics studies. Brachypodium distachyon
D019943 Amino Acid Substitution The naturally occurring or experimentally induced replacement of one or more AMINO ACIDS in a protein with another. If a functionally equivalent amino acid is substituted, the protein may retain wild-type activity. Substitution may also diminish, enhance, or eliminate protein function. Experimentally induced substitution is often used to study enzyme activities and binding site properties. Amino Acid Substitutions,Substitution, Amino Acid,Substitutions, Amino Acid
D020125 Mutation, Missense A mutation in which a codon is mutated to one directing the incorporation of a different amino acid. This substitution may result in an inactive or unstable product. (From A Dictionary of Genetics, King & Stansfield, 5th ed) Missense Mutation,Missense Mutations,Mutations, Missense
D027361 Organic Anion Transporters Proteins involved in the transport of organic anions. They play an important role in the elimination of a variety of endogenous substances, xenobiotics and their metabolites from the body. Membrane Transport Proteins, Organic Anion,OAT Transport Protein,OATP Transporter,Organic Anion Transport Polypeptide,Organic Anion Transport Polypeptides,Organic Anion Transport Protein,Organic Anion Transporter,OAT Transport Proteins,OATP Proteins,OATP Transporters,Organic Anion Transport Proteins,Anion Transporter, Organic,Anion Transporters, Organic,Protein, OAT Transport,Transport Protein, OAT,Transport Proteins, OAT,Transporter, OATP,Transporter, Organic Anion,Transporters, OATP,Transporters, Organic Anion

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