Skip Navigation



Plant and Cell Physiology Advance Access published online on July 2, 2006
Plant and Cell Physiology, doi:10.1093/pcp/pcj075
This Article
Right arrow Advance Access manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
47/8/1045    most recent
pcj075v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Walch-Liu, P.
Right arrow Articles by Forde, B. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Walch-Liu, P.
Right arrow Articles by Forde, B. G.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Walch-Liu, P.
Right arrow Articles by Forde, B. G.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists (JSPP); all rights reserved.
Received April 11, 2006
Accepted June 2, 2006

Regular Paper

Evidence that L-glutamate can act as an exogenous signal to modulate root growth and branching in Arabidopsis thaliana

Pia Walch-Liu 1, Lai-Hua Liu 2, Tony Remans 1, Mark Tester 3, and Brian G. Forde 1 *

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK.
2 Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EA, UK;Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, P. R. China
3 Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and the University of Adelaide, Private Mail Bag 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Brian G. Forde, E-mail: b.g.forde{at}lancaster.ac.uk


  Abstract

The roots of many plant species are known to use inorganic nitrogen, in the form of NO3-, as a cue to initiate localised root proliferation within nutrient-rich patches of soil. We report here that, at µM concentrations and in a genotype-dependent manner, exogenous L-glutamate is also able to elicit complex changes in Arabidopsis root development. L-glutamate is perceived specifically at the primary root tip and inhibits mitotic activity in the root apical meristem, but does not interfere with lateral root initiation or outgrowth. Only some time after emergence do lateral roots acquire L-glutamate sensitivity, indicating that their ability to respond to L-glutamate is developmentally regulated. Comparisons between different Arabidopsis ecotypes revealed a remarkable degree of natural variation in L-glutamate sensitivity, with C24 being the most sensitive. The aux1-7 auxin transport mutant had reduced L-glutamate sensitivity, suggesting a possible interaction between L-glutamate and auxin signaling. Surprisingly, two loss-of-function mutants at the AXR1 locus (axr1-3 and axr1-12) were hypersensitive to L-glutamate. A pharmacological approach, using agonists and antagonists of mammalian ionotropic glutamate receptors, was unable to provide evidence of a role for their plant homologues in sensing exogenous glutamate. We discuss the mechanism of L-glutamate sensing and the possible ecological significance of the observed L-glutamate-elicited changes in root architecture.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana L.; Auxin; Lateral roots; Mutants; Natural variation; Root apical meristem.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
A. Leblanc, H. Renault, J. Lecourt, P. Etienne, C. Deleu, and E. Le Deunff
Elongation Changes of Exploratory and Root Hair Systems Induced by Aminocyclopropane Carboxylic Acid and Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Affect Nitrate Uptake and BnNrt2.1 and BnNrt1.1 Transporter Gene Expression in Oilseed Rape
Plant Physiology, April 1, 2008; 146(4): 1928 - 1940.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
S. Ruffel, S. Freixes, S. Balzergue, P. Tillard, C. Jeudy, M. L. Martin-Magniette, M. J. van der Merwe, K. Kakar, J. Gouzy, A. R. Fernie, et al.
Systemic Signaling of the Plant Nitrogen Status Triggers Specific Transcriptome Responses Depending on the Nitrogen Source in Medicago truncatula
Plant Physiology, April 1, 2008; 146(4): 2020 - 2035.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN BOT (LOND)Home page
S. Shishkova, T. L. Rost, and J. G. Dubrovsky
Determinate Root Growth and Meristem Maintenance in Angiosperms
Ann. Bot., February 1, 2008; 101(3): 319 - 340.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
N. R. Stephens, Z. Qi, and E. P. Spalding
Glutamate Receptor Subtypes Evidenced by Differences in Desensitization and Dependence on the GLR3.3 and GLR3.4 Genes
Plant Physiology, February 1, 2008; 146(2): 529 - 538.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
A. J. Miller, X. Fan, Q. Shen, and S. J. Smith
Amino acids and nitrate as signals for the regulation of nitrogen acquisition
J. Exp. Bot., January 1, 2008; 59(1): 111 - 119.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
B. Hirel, J. Le Gouis, B. Ney, and A. Gallais
The challenge of improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants: towards a more central role for genetic variability and quantitative genetics within integrated approaches
J. Exp. Bot., July 1, 2007; 58(9): 2369 - 2387.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
H. Zhang, H. Rong, and D. Pilbeam
Signalling mechanisms underlying the morphological responses of the root system to nitrogen in Arabidopsis thaliana
J. Exp. Bot., July 1, 2007; 58(9): 2329 - 2338.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
B. G. Forde and P. J. Lea
Glutamate in plants: metabolism, regulation, and signalling
J. Exp. Bot., July 1, 2007; 58(9): 2339 - 2358.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant Physiol.Home page
Z. Qi, N. R. Stephens, and E. P. Spalding
Calcium Entry Mediated by GLR3.3, an Arabidopsis Glutamate Receptor with a Broad Agonist Profile
Plant Physiology, November 1, 2006; 142(3): 963 - 971.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.