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Application pratique de la dynamique moléculaire au passage de l'eau dans une aquaporine.. Conférence de découverte sur la dynamique moléculaire

Leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) and capacitance (Cleaf) are among the key parameters in plant-water regulation. Understanding the responses of these hydraulic traits to drought conditions remains a challenge for describing comprehensive plant-water relationships. The ability of an organism to resist and/or tolerate embolism events, which may occur at high negative pressure caused by hydric stress, relies on how well it can sustain a hydraulic system in a dynamic equilibrium. Populus deltoides is a water-saving tree species with a stomatal conductance that declines rapidly with reduced water availability. Under unfavorable conditions, the stomatal control of transpiration is known to be closely coordinated with a loss of plant hydraulic functioning that can ultimately result in hydraulic failure through xylem embolism, notably in leaves. The effects of drought on leaf hydraulics are also related to regulation in water permeases such as the aquaporins. To describe the responses linked to leaf hydraulics under severe drought and rewatering conditions, water-stressed poplars were monitored daily on an ecophysiological and a molecular scale. A structural and expression analysis on a set of aquaporins was carried out in parallel by in situ hybridization analysis and quantitative PCR. In complement, water distribution in water-challenged leaves was investigated using X-ray microtomography. A general depression of leaf hydraulic conductance and relative water content occurred under drought, but was reversed when plants were rewatered. More interestingly, (i) extreme leaf water deficiency led to marked xylem and lamina embolism, but a degree of hydric integrity in the midrib extraxylem territories and the bundle sheath of the minor veins was maintained, and (ii) the sub-tissue water allocation correlated well with an over-accumulation of several PIP and TIP aquaporins. Our multi-facet molecular ecophysiological approach revealed that leaves were able to secure a certain level of hydric status, in particular in cell territories near the “living ribs”, which provided rapid hydric adjustment responses once favorable conditions were restored. These findings contribute to an integrated approach to leaf hydraulics, thus favoring a better understanding of the cell mechanisms involved in tree vulnerability to climate changes.

Biological disease control through the use of microorganisms has a great potential for future use in integrated pest management. In a multidisciplinary and fundamental context of molecular physio-phytopathology and to provide solutions for the actors in the olive profession and the consumers, we have been studying the activity of a fungal biocontrol agent, Trichoderma harzianum (strain Ths97) against the olive tree pathogen Fusarium solani (strain Fso14), which causes major problems for olive production in Tunisia and elsewhere. The project consists of two parts. In the first part, we have demonstrated that Ths97 is a biocontrol agent effective against the F. solani Fso14 pathogen. Induction of plant defence responses by Ths97 was shown to be partly responsible for the biocontrol effect. In vitro tests further showed that Ths97 develops mycoparasitic activities towards F. solani Fso14, by forming infection structures such as hyphae windings and wedges, appressoria and papillae. In the second part of the study, we investigated the Major Intrinsic Proteins (MIP) superfamily in the Trichoderma genus. This multigenic family has never been investigated in a hyperparasitic fungal species. Seven MIP members are present in T. harzianum, and are classified into 3 subgroups: AQP, AQGP and XIP. Their three-dimensional structures and their putative involvement in transport of water and certain polyols have been examined. Finally, their transcription profiles were monitored in Ths97 in planta in antagonistic situations and in vitro in a parasitic situation with Fso14 and show that 4 MIP are expressed and regulated differentially during the interaction. Our work has shown that Ths97 must be considered as a biological control agent and biostimulator of plant defences, and that MIPs are involved in the trophic relationships between T. harzianum and the environment. These data contributes to the further development of T. harzianum as an efficient biocontrol agent for sustainable protection of olive trees in Tunisia and around the world.; La lutte biologique par utilisation de micro-organismes a indéniablement un potentiel de développement considérable. Dans un contexte multidisciplinaire et fondamental de physio-phytopathologie moléculaire et répondant à d’éminents enjeux appliqués et attendus par les acteurs de la profession oléicole et les consommateurs, nous nous sommes projetés dans l’étude des propriétés intrinsèques d’un agent de biocontrôle fongique, Trichoderma harzianum (souche Ths97) contre l’agent de la fusariose Fusarium solani (souche Fso14), qui sévit sévèrement sur une culture pérenne majeure pour la Tunisie, l’oléiculture. Deux axes de recherche ont été menés. Dans le premier axe, nous avons démontré que Ths97 est un agent de biocontrôle efficace contre la virulence de F. solani Fso14. Cette capacité s’accompagne d’une accumulation des défenses chez le partenaire végétal, des accumulations qui sont d’autant plus fortes quand l’agent bénéfique est en présence du pathogène (événements de priming). De même, des tests in vitro montrent que Ths97développe des activités mycoparasites envers F. solani Fso14, en émettant des structures d’infection classiques tels des enroulements et accolements d’hyphes, des appressoria et des papilles. Quant au second axe d’étude, nous avons étudié la superfamille des perméases Major Intrinsic Proteins (MIP) dans le genre Trichoderma. Cette famille multigénique n’a jamais été étudiée chez un agent fongique hyperparasite. Sept membres MIP sont présents chez T. harzianum, et se classent en 3 sous-groupes, les AQP, les AQGP et les XIP. La modélisation des structures tridimensionnelles et les fonctions putatives de transport pour l’eau et quelques polyols ont été étudiées. Enfin, leurs patrons transcriptionnels ont été suivis chez Ths97 in planta en situation d’antagonisme et in vitro en situation de parasitisme vis-à-vis de Fso14, et montrent que 4 MIP sont exprimées et régulées différentiellement selon que Ths97 est au contact de Fso14 ou pas. Nos travaux ont donc mis en lumière que Ths97 doit être considéré comme un agent biofongicide et biostimulateur de défenses végétales, puis que les MIP seraient impliqués dans les relations trophiques que met en place T. harzianum avec son environnement. Ces données devraient intégrer le développement de procédés plus efficaces et/ou plus durables pour la protection des cultures d’oliviers en Tunisie ainsi qu’à travers le monde.

Dear Colleagues, During recent years, proteomics has become the key to understand physiological processes involving the regulation of expression of many genes from transcription to production of metabolites. Each of these steps is part of the overall mechanisms tightly coordinated to allow organisms to develop or adapt to their environment. Plant proteomics has been dramatically expanding since the beginning of the 2000s thanks to major advances in the development of three technological tools. It started with the sequencing of full genomes and collection of expressed sequence tags or RNAs. The release of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome in 2000 has allowed this plant to become a pioneer model for dicots, and particularly for proteomics studies. More than 650 articles have been published in this field since 2000. A. thaliana has been quickly followed by Brachypodium distachyon as a model for monocots and by plants of agronomical interest such as rice, maize, sugarcane, alfalfa, tomato or flax. Apart from these plants, others for which sequencing data were not available could be studied as well, thanks to the possibility to work with heterologous data. In addition, over the last decade, remarkable technological advances have been achieved due to improvements in mass spectrometry which allowed refining the coverage of total proteomes and sub-proteomes from small amounts of starting material and characterizing post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions. Furthermore, quantitative proteomics now provides detailed information on organ- and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms responding to a variety of individual stresses or stress combinations during the plant life cycle. Finally, the development of computational tools allows managing the tremendous amount of data generated by mass spectrometers to deliver relevant biological information. Thus, powerful mass spectrometry-based technologies now provide unprecedented insights into the composition, structure, function and control of the proteome, shedding light on complex biological processes and phenotypes. This Special issue of Proteomes welcomes submissions of original research or review articles aiming at deciphering physiological processes with the use of proteomics tools. Contributions will deal with the dynamics of proteins in their native and modified forms, with the combination of several “omics” approaches in contrasted physiological situations as well as with technical advances in the proteomic field.

Major intrinsic proteins (MIP) are characterized by a transmembrane pore-type architecture that facilitates transport across biomembranes of water and a variety of low molecular weight solutes. They are found in all parts of life, with remarkable protein diversity. Very little is known about MIP from fungi. And yet, it can legitimately be stated that MIP are pivotal molecular components in the privileged relationships fungi enjoy with plants or soil fauna in various environments. To date, MIP have never been studied in a mycoparasitism situation. In this study, the diversity, expression and functional prediction of MIP from the genus Trichoderma were investigated. Trichoderma spp. genomes have at least seven aquaporin genes. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the translated sequences, members were assigned to the AQP, AQGP and XIP subfamilies. In in vitro and in planta assays with T. harzianum strain Ths97, expression analyses showed that four genes were constitutively expressed. In a mycoparasitic context with Fusarium solani, the causative agent of fusarium dieback on olive tree roots, these genes were up-regulated. This response is of particular interest in analyzing the MIP promoter cis-regulatory motifs, most of which are involved in various carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. Structural analyses provide new insights into the possible role of structural checkpoints by which these members transport water, H2O2, glycerol and, more generally, linear polyols across the membranes. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that MIP may play a key role in Trichoderma mycoparasitism lifestyle.

Background The major intrinsic protein (MIP) family is a family of proteins, including aquaporins, which facilitate water and small molecule transport across plasma membranes. In plants, MIPs function in a huge variety of processes including water transport, growth, stress response, and fruit development. In this study, we characterize the structure and transcriptional regulation of the MIP family in grapevine, describing the putative genome duplication events leading to the family structure and characterizing the family’s tissue and developmental specific expression patterns across numerous preexisting microarray and RNAseq datasets. Gene co-expression network (GCN) analyses were carried out across these datasets and the promoters of each family member were analyzed for cis-regulatory element structure in order to provide insight into their transcriptional regulation. Results A total of 29 Vitis vinifera MIP family members (excluding putative pseudogenes) were identified of which all but two were mapped onto Vitis vinifera chromosomes. In this study, segmental duplication events were identified for five plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) and four tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) genes, contributing to the expansion of PIPs and TIPs in grapevine. Grapevine MIP family members have distinct tissue and developmental expression patterns and hierarchical clustering revealed two primary groups regardless of the datasets analyzed. Composite microarray and RNA-seq gene co-expression networks (GCNs) highlighted the relationships between MIP genes and functional categories involved in cell wall modification and transport, as well as with other MIPs revealing a strong co-regulation within the family itself. Some duplicated MIP family members have undergone sub-functionalization and exhibit distinct expression patterns and GCNs. Cis-regulatory element (CRE) analyses of the MIP promoters and their associated GCN members revealed enrichment for numerous CREs including AP2/ERFs and NACs. Conclusions Combining phylogenetic analyses, gene expression profiling, gene co-expression network analyses, and cis-regulatory element enrichment, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the structure and transcriptional regulation of the grapevine MIP family. The study highlights the duplication and sub-functionalization of the family, its strong coordinated expression with genes involved in growth and transport, and the putative classes of TFs responsible for its regulation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4638-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Membrane Transport in Plants

Root hydraulics: a key trait in plant adaptation to stresses . 2nd Workshop on Plant Development & Drought Stress

Interactomics reveals novel regulatory mechanisms of plant aquaporins. Congrès Spectrométrie de Masse, Métabolomique et Analyse Protéomique (SMMAP)

Regulation of aquaporins and plant hydraulics under water and salt stress. XIX International Botanical Congress

Multi-scale modeling of water transport in plant roots. GDR PhyP - Biophysique et biomécanique des plantes

Quantitative genetics analysis of root hydraulics uncovers novel pathways of plant adaptation to the environment. VIB Conference 'At the Forefront of Plant Research'

Biologie Végétale - Nutrition et Métabolisme

Aquaporins (AQPs) are essential channel proteins that execute multi-functions throughout plant growth and development, including water transport, uncharged solutes uptake, stress response, and so on. Here, we report the first genome-wide identification and characterization AQP (BvAQP) genes in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), an important crop widely cultivated for feed, for sugar production and for bioethanol production. Twenty-eight sugar beet AQPs (BvAQPs) were identified and assigned into five subfamilies based on phylogenetic analyses: seven of plasma membrane (PIPs), eight of tonoplast (TIPs), nine of NOD26-like (NIPs), three of small basic (SIPs), and one of x-intrinsic proteins (XIPs). BvAQP genes unevenly mapped on all chromosomes, except on chromosome 4. Gene structure and motifs analyses revealed that BvAQP have conserved exon-intron organization and that they exhibit conserved motifs within each subfamily. Prediction of BvAQPs functions, based on key protein domains conservation, showed a remarkable difference in substrate specificity among the five subfamilies. Analyses of BvAQPs expression, by mean of RNA-seq, in different plant organs and in response to various abiotic stresses revealed that they were ubiquitously expressed and that their expression was induced by heat and salt stresses. These results provide a reference base to address further the function of sugar beet aquaporins and to explore future applications for plants growth and development improvements as well as in response to environmental stresses.

Abscisic Acid Participates in Root Developmental andHydraulic Responses to Water Deficit in Arabidopsis. Montpellier Lateral Root workshop

Regulation of root water transport under flooding. XIX International Botanical Congress

Control of aquaporins and plant hydraulics by environmental and hormonal factors. Mini-Symposium on Plant Stress Biology

Soil water uptake by roots is central for plant growth and survival. Flooding, as many other environmental constraints such as drought, nutrient deprivation or oxidative stress exerts deep effects on root functions by altering root water permeability (root hydraulic conductivity; Lpr). These effects, which are mediated mainly through the regulation of aquaporins, are fundamental for adaptation of wild plant species to diverse natural habitats and a major target for crop improvement. However, the signaling mechanisms which link soil properties to root hydraulics and aquaporin functions remain largely unknown. We have been investigating the genetic bases of root hydraulics in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Using quantitative genetics approaches, including linkage mapping and genome-wide association mapping, we have identified several genes controlling Lpr. The signaling pathway for regulation of Lpr by a RAF-like MAP3 kinase named Hydraulic Conductivity of Root 1 (HCR1) will be discussed in details (Shahzad et al (2016) Cell 167: 87-98.e14). This protein kinase delineates a combinatorial signaling pathway integrating two soil signals, K+ and O2 availability, to regulate root hydraulics and hypoxia responsive genes, through the control of RAP2.12, a key transcriptional regulator of the core anaerobic response. In addition, several other candidate genes identified during this study offer interesting perspectives for understanding as yet unknown mechanisms involved in the regulation of root hydraulics.

Phosphoproteomics and interactomics reveal novel regulatory mechanisms of plant aquaporins. Congrès de la Société Française d'Electrophorèse et d'Analyse Protéomique (SFEAP)

Regulation of root water transport by Casparian strip domain-like proteins. . Plant Biology Europe EPSO/FESPB 2016 Congress

17 páginas.-- 6 figuras.-- 5 tablas.-- 89 referencias.-- Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article at the publisher’s web-site, The adaptation capacity of olive trees to different environments is well recognized. However, the presence of microorganisms in the soil is also a key factor in the response of these trees to drought. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effects of different arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi coming from diverse soils on olive plant growth and water relations. Olive plants were inoculated with native AM fungal populations from two contrasting environments, that is, semi-arid – Freila (FL) and humid – Grazalema (GZ) regions, and subjected to drought stress. Results showed that plants grew better on GZ soil inoculated with GZ fungi, indicating a preference of AM fungi for their corresponding soil. Furthermore, under these conditions, the highest AM fungal diversity was found. However, the highest root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) value was achieved by plants inoculated with GZ fungi and growing in FL soil under drought conditions. So, this AM inoculum also functioned in soils from different origins. Nine novel aquaporin genes were also cloned from olive roots. Diverse correlation and association values were found among different aquaporin expressions and abundances and Lp, indicating how the interaction of different aquaporins may render diverse Lp values., The study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain (Juan de la Cierva Program) and Junta de Andalucía (P10-CVI-5920 project) for research funding.

Hydraulic capacitance (C) in a plant tissue buffers the xylem tension, storing and releasing water and has been highlighted in recent years as an important factor that affects water relations such as drought tolerance and embolism formation. Aquaporins (AQPs) are well known to control leaf hydraulic resistance (Rh) but their role in the control of C is unknown. Here, we assess Rh and C on detached grapevines wild-type (WT) (cv. Brachetto) leaves and over-expressing the aquaporin gene VvPIP2;4N (OE). For this purpose, we developed a new method inspired from the pressure-volume curve technique and the rehydration-kinetic-method, which allowed us to monitor the dynamics of dehydration and rehydration in the same leaf. The recovery after dehydration was measured in dark, light non-transpirative conditions, light-transpirative conditions and light-transpirative condition adding abscisic acid. Pressurizing to dehydrate leaves in the OE line, the recorded Rh and C were respectively lower and higher than those in the WT. The same results were obtained in the dark recovery by rehydration treatment. In the presence of light, either when leaves transpired or not (by depressing vapor pressure deficit), the described effects disappeared. The change in Rh and C did not affect the kinetics of desiccation of detached leaves in dark in air, in OE plants compared to WT ones. Our study highlighted that both Rh and C were influenced by the constitutive over-expression of VvPIP2;4N. The effect of AQPs on C is reported here for the first time and may involve a modulation of cell reflection coefficient.

X-Intrinsic Proteins (XIP) were recently identified in a narrow range of plants as a full clade within the aquaporins. These channels reportedly facilitate the transport of a wide range of hydrophobic solutes. The functional roles of XIP in planta remain poorly identified. In this study, we found three XIP genes (HbXIP1;1, HbXIP2;1 and HbXIP3;1) in the Hevea brasiliensis genome. Comprehensive bioinformatics, biochemical and structural analyses were used to acquire a better understanding of this AQP subfamily. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that HbXIPs clustered into two major groups, each distributed in a specific lineage of the order Malpighiales. Tissue-specific expression profiles showed that only HbXIP2;1 was expressed in all the vegetative tissues tested (leaves, stem, bark, xylem and latex), suggesting that HbXIP2;1 could take part in a wide range of cellular processes. This is particularly relevant to the rubber-producing laticiferous system, where this isoform was found to be up-regulated during tapping and ethylene treatments. Furthermore, the XIP transcriptional pattern is significantly correlated to latex production level. Structural comparison with SoPIP2;1 from Spinacia oleracea species provides new insights into the possible role of structural checkpoints by which HbXIP2;1 ensures glycerol transfer across the membrane. From these results, we discuss the physiological involvement of glycerol and HbXIP2;1 in water homeostasis and carbon stream of challenged laticifers. The characterization of HbXIP2;1 during rubber tree tapping lends new insights into molecular and physiological response processes of laticifer metabolism in the context of latex exploitation.

Cell biology of aquaporins in rice. Doctoriales Transfrontalières "Collaborative Innovation"

This thesis discusses various situations linked to transport at the nanoscale. The first chapter is an introduction to nanofluidics, containing a review of characteristic lengths, forces, or phenomena existing at the nanoscale. The second chapter is a study of the impact of geometry on the hydrodynamic permeability of a nanopore. This study, inspired by the shape of aquaporins, suggests a possible optimisation of permeability for bi-conical channels. The third chapter is a study of capillary filing inside subnanometric carbon channels which highlights the importance of the disjoining pressure induced by the fluid structuring inside the nanochannel. The fourth chapter is a study of nanofluidic diode, a component known to mimic the behaviour of semiconductor diode. The study highlights a strong coupling between water and ion dynamics which leads to a water flow rectification inside the diode. The fifth and last chapter is a study of the origin of commonly observed pink noise (1=f) in ionic current measurements through nanopores, Cette thèse décrit diverses situations liées au transport fluidique aux nano-échelles. Le premier chapitre est une introduction à la nanofluidique qui contient une revue des longueurs caractéristiques, des forces et des phénomènes présents aux nano-échelles. Le deuxième chapitre est une étude de l'impact de la géométrie sur la perméabilité hydrodynamique d'un nanopore. Inspirée par la forme des aquaporines, cette étude suggère une optimisation possible pour des canaux biconiques. Le troisième chapitre est une étude du remplissage capillaire dans des canaux sub-nanométriques en carbone. Cette étude montre l'importance de la pression de disjonction induite par la structure du fluide sur le remplissage. Le quatrième chapitre est une étude d'une diode nanofluidique, un composant connu pour imiter le comportement d'une diode à semi-conducteur. On montre qu'un fort couplage entre l'eau et la dynamique des ions entraîne une rectification du flux d'eau à l'intérieur de la diode. Le cinquième et dernier chapitre est une étude de l'origine du bruit rose (1=f) communément observé lors des mesures de courant ionique dans les nanopores

Aquaporins are water channel proteins that mediate the fine-tuning of cell membrane water permeability during development or in response to environmental stresses. The present work focuses on the oxidative stress-induced redistribution of plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporins from the plasma membrane (PM) to intracellular membranes. This process was investigated in the Arabidopsis root. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation showed that exposure of roots to 0.5 mM H2O2 induces significant depletion in PM fractions of several abundant PIP homologs after 15 min. Analyses by single-particle tracking and fluorescence correlative spectroscopy showed that, in the PM of epidermal cells, H2O2 treatment induces an increase in lateral motion and a reduction in the density of a fluorescently tagged form of the prototypal AtPIP2;1 isoform, respectively. Co-expression analyses of AtPIP2;1 with endomembrane markers revealed that H2O2 triggers AtPIP2;1 accumulation in the late endosomal compartments. Life-time analyses established that the high stability of PIPs was maintained under oxidative stress conditions, suggesting that H2O2 triggers a mechanism for intracellular sequestration of PM aquaporins without further degradation. In addition to information on cellular regulation of aquaporins, this study provides novel and complementary insights into the dynamic remodeling of plant internal membranes during oxidative stress responses.

Aquaporins: how water channel proteins favour plant life in an ever changing environment. RIKEN Research Center

Aquaporins are channel proteins present in the plasma membrane and most of intracellular compartments of plant cells. This review focuses on recent insights into the cellular function of plant aquaporins, with an emphasis on the subfamily of Plasma membrane Intrinsic Proteins (PIPs). Whereas PIPs mostly serve as water channels, novel functions associated with their ability to transport carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide are emerging. Phosphorylation of PIPs was found to play a central role in the mechanisms that determine their gating and subcellular dynamics. Dynamic tracking of single aquaporin molecules in native plant membranes and the search for cell signaling intermediates acting upstream of aquaporins are now used to dissect their cellular regulation by hormonal and environmental stimuli.

International audience; In plants, aquaporins play a crucial role in regulating root water transport in response to environmental and physiological cues. Controls achieved at the post-translational level are thought to be of critical importance for regulating aquaporin function. To investigate the general molecular mechanisms involved, we performed, using the model species Arabidopsis, a comprehensive proteomic analysis of root aquaporins in a large set of physiological contexts. We identified nine physiological treatments that modulate root hydraulics in time frames of minutes (NO and H2O2 treatments), hours (mannitol and NaCl treatments, exposure to darkness and reversal with sucrose, phosphate supply to phosphate-starved roots), or days (phosphate or nitrogen starvation). All treatments induced inhibition of root water transport except for sucrose supply to dark-grown plants and phosphate resupply to phosphate-starved plants, which had opposing effects. Using a robust label-free quantitative proteomic methodology, we identified 12 of 13 plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporin isoforms, 4 of the 10 tonoplast intrinsic protein isoforms, and a diversity of post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, methylation, deamidation, and acetylation. A total of 55 aquaporin peptides displayed significant changes after treatments and enabled the identification of specific and as yet unknown patterns of response to stimuli. The data show that the regulation of PIP and tonoplast intrinsic protein abundance was involved in response to a few treatments (i.e. NaCl, NO, and nitrate starvation), whereas changes in the phosphorylation status of PIP aquaporins were positively correlated to changes in root hydraulic conductivity in the whole set of treatments. The identification of in vivo deamidated forms of aquaporins and their stimulus-induced changes in abundance may reflect a new mechanism of aquaporin regulation. The overall work provides deep insights into the in vivo post-translational events triggered by environmental constraints and their possible role in regulating plant water status.

Genetics of root hydraulics in Arabidopsis thaliana . Genomic, physiological and breeding approaches for enhancing drought resistance in crops. Environmental Workshop of Universidad Internacional de Andalucia

Aquaporins and plant adaptation to a changing environment. Environmental Workshop of Universidad Internacional de Andalucia: Genomic, physiological and breeding approaches for enhancing drought resistance in crops

Coordinated post-translational responses of aquaporins to abiotic and nutritional stimuli in Arabidopsis roots . 7th European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) Conference

Control of Arabidopsis leaf hydraulics involves light-dependent phosphorylation of aquaporins in veins. International Symposium on Plant Photobiology

Plant aquaporin endomembrane trafficking and dynamics. 13th International Workshop on Plant Membrane Biology

Emerging functions of aquaporins in Arabidopsis. 13th International Worshop on Plant Membrane Biology

UMR AGAP équipe Diversité, adaptation et amélioration de la vigne (DAAV); Hydraulic conductance and water transport in plants may be affected by environmental factors, which in turn regulate leaf gas exchange, plant growth and yield. In this study, we assessed the combined effects of radiation and water regimes on leaf stomatal conductance (g(s)), petiole specific hydraulic conductivity (K-petiole) and anatomy (vessel number and size); and leaf aquaporin gene expression of field-grown grapevines at the Agroscope Research Station (Leytron, Switzerland). Chasselas vines were subjected to two radiation (sun and shade) levels combined with two water (irrigated and water-stressed) regimes. The sun and shade leaves received similar to 61.2 and 1.48 mol m(-2) day(-1) of photosynthetically active radiation, respectively, during a clear-sky day. The irrigated vines were watered weekly from bloom to veraison whereas the water-stressed vines did not receive any irrigation during the season. Water stress reduced gs and Kpetiole relative to irrigated vines throughout the season. The petioles from water-stressed vines showed fewer large-sized vessels than those from irrigated vines. The shaded leaves from the irrigated vines exhibited a higher Kpetiole than the sun leaves at the end of the season, which was partially explained by a higher number of vessels per petiole and possibly by the upregulation of some of the aquaporins measured in the leaf. These results suggest that not only plant water status but also the light environment at the leaf level affected leaf and petiole hydraulics.

To help understand leaf hydraulic conductance (K-leaf) modulation under high irradiance, well-watered poplars (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray ex Hook and Populus nigra L.) were studied diurnally at molecular and ecophysiological scales. Transcriptional and translational modulations of plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporins were evaluated in leaf samples during diurnal time courses. Among the 15 poplar PIP genes, a subset of two PIP1s and seven PIP2s are precociously induced within the first hour of the photoperiod concomitantly with a K-leaf increase. Since expression patterns were cyclic and reproducible over several days, we hypothesized that endogenous signals could be involved in PIP transcriptional regulation. To address this question, plants were submitted to forced darkness during their subjective photoperiod and compared with their control counterparts, which showed that some PIP1s and PIP2s have circadian regulation while others did not. Promoter analysis revealed that a large number of hormone, light, stress response and circadian elements are present. Finally, involvement of aquaporins is supported by the reduction of K-leaf by HgCl2 treatment.

International audience; The water status of plant leaves is dependent on both stomatal regulation and water supply from the vasculature to inner tissues. The present review addresses the multiple physiological and mechanistic facets of the latter process. Inner leaf tissues contribute to at least a third of the whole resistance to water flow within the plant. Physiological studies indicated that leaf hydraulic conductance (K leaf) is highly dependent on the anatomy, development and age of the leaf and can vary rapidly in response to physiological or environmental factors such as leaf hydration, light, temperature, or nutrient supply. Differences in venation pattern provide a basis for variations in K leaf during development and between species. On a short time (hour) scale, the hydraulic resistance of the vessels can be influenced by transpiration-induced cavitations, wall collapses, and changes in xylem sap composition. The extravascular compartment includes all living tissues (xylem parenchyma, bundle sheath, and mesophyll) that transport water from xylem vessels to substomatal chambers. Pharmacological inhibition and reverse genetics studies have shown that this compartment involves water channel proteins called aquaporins (AQPs) that facilitate water transport across cell membranes. In many plant species, AQPs are present in all leaf tissues with a preferential expression in the vascular bundles. The various mechanisms that allow adjustment of K leaf to specific environmental conditions include transcriptional regulation of AQPs and changes in their abundance, trafficking, and intrinsic activity. Finally, the hydraulics of inner leaf tissues can have a strong impact on the dynamic responses of leaf water potential and stomata, and as a consequence on plant carbon economy and leaf expansion growth. The manipulation of these functions could help optimize the entire plant performance and its adaptation to extreme conditions over short and long time scales.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane channels belonging to the major intrinsic proteins family and are known for their ability to facilitate water movement. While in Populus trichocarpa, AQP proteins form a large family encompassing fifty-five genes, most of the experimental work focused on a few genes or subfamilies. The current work was undertaken to develop a comprehensive picture of the whole AQP gene family in Populus species by delineating gene expression domain and distinguishing responsiveness to developmental and environmental cues. Since duplication events amplified the poplar AQP family, we addressed the question of expression redundancy between gene duplicates. On these purposes, we carried a meta-analysis of all publicly available Affymetrix experiments. Our in-silico strategy controlled for previously identified biases in cross-species transcriptomics, a necessary step for any comparative transcriptomics based on multispecies design chips. Three poplar AQPs were not supported by any expression data, even in a large collection of situations (abiotic and biotic constraints, temporal oscillations and mutants). The expression of 11 AQPs was never or poorly regulated whatever the wideness of their expression domain and their expression level. Our work highlighted that PtTIP1;4 was the most responsive gene of the AQP family. A high functional divergence between gene duplicates was detected across species and in response to tested cues, except for the root-expressed PtTIP2;3/PtTIP2;4 pair exhibiting 80% convergent responses. Our meta-analysis assessed key features of aquaporin expression which had remained hidden in single experiments, such as expression wideness, response specificity and genotype and environment interactions. By consolidating expression profiles using independent experimental series, we showed that the large expansion of AQP family in poplar was accompanied with a strong divergence of gene expression, even if some cases of functional redundancy could be suspected.

International audience; Aquaporins (AQPs) belong to the Major Intrinsic Protein family that conducts water and other small solutes across biological membranes. This study aimed to identify and characterize AQP genes in the primary root axis of two oak species, Quercus petraea and Quercus robur. Nine putative AQP genes were cloned, and their expression was profiled in different developmental root zones by real-time PCR. A detailed examination of the predicted amino acid sequences and subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolated AQPs could be divided into two subfamilies, which included six plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) and three tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs). We characterized the anatomical features of the roots and defined three developmental root zones: the immature, transition and mature zones. Expression analysis of the AQPs was performed according to these root developmental stages. Our results showed that the expression of PIP2;3 and TIP1 was significantly higher in Quercus petraea compared with Quercus robur in the three root zones. However, PIP2;1 and TIP2;1 were found to be differentially expressed in the mature zone of the two oak species. Of the nine AQP genes identified and analyzed, we highlighted four genes that might facilitate a deeper understanding of how these two closely related tree species adapted to different environments.

Leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) takes a significant part in plant water relations. In walnut leaves, Kleaf was stimulated by light and tightly related to accumulation of JrPIP2s aquaporin transcripts. However, the light effect on Kleaf value is not systematically related to aquaporin regulation. Here we investigated the relationship between light, Kleaf and transcript levels of aquaporin in five species (Juglans regia, Fagus sylvitica, Quercus robur, Salix alba and Populus tremula) differing by the response of their Kleaf to light. Only for walnut leaves, we showed that light-increased Kleaf value is closely related to higher stimulation of both PIP1s and PIP2s aquaporins. To further investigate the involvement of aquporins (JrPIP1s and JrPIP2) in the light Kleaf modulation, 8 new full length aquaporins have been identified in walnut leaves and their expression pattern was monitored. All the aquaporin tested was turned up to be upregulated under light condition and downregulated under darkness. Moreover, we showed that the Kleaf response to light is quality-dependant, since it was reduced of 65% in the absence of blue light. Interstingly, this Kleaf reduction was correlated with a high downregulation of almost all aquaporins tested. To give an insight into the early molecular events involved in the light-induced Kleaf regulation, a large-scale transcriptomic analysis consisting of the cDNA-AFLP procedure was carried out on walnut leaves, kept at different light conditions. We obtained a total of 12,000 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) by cDNA-AFLP with 128 primer pairs. Reliable sequences were obtained for 187 of these TDFs, and functions were attributed to 93 TDFs through BLAST searches in GenBank databases. Most of the 93 TDFs corresponded to genes encoding proteins involved in cellular regulation (58%). Leaves exposed to light showed changes in the Ca2+-signaling pathway, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, vesicle trafficking process and the expression of multiple transcription factors and protein regulators. To progress in understanding of a potential role for calcium signalling in light-modulated Kleaf, Kleaf values and transcript accumulation of 10 JrPIPs were monitored in leaves perfused with either a blocker of calcium channels [LaCl3] or a CaM antagonist [W7]. Compared to control, these Ca2+ -effectors led to a significant reduction in Kleaf and transcripts accumulation of almost all JrPIPs under light conditions. Our results indicate that Ca2+ /calmodulin complex may transduce the light signal required for stimulation of Kleaf and its correlated aquaporin expression.; La conductivité hydraulique foliaire (KF) est une composante majeure du transport d’eau dans toute la plante. Dans les feuilles de noyer, la KF est stimulée à la lumière et est étroitement liée à l’accroissement du taux des transcrits d’aquaporines JrPIP2s. Par ailleurs, la corrélation entre la stimulation de la KF et des transcrits d’aquaporines à la lumière, n’est pas générale et dépend de l’espèce. Ici, nous étudions cette corrélation chez cinq espèces forestières (Juglans regia, Fagus sylvitica, Quercus robur, Salix alba et Populus tremula) différant par leur réponse à la lumière. Nous démontrons seulement chez le noyer (Juglans regia), la contribution des deux familles d’aquaporines PIP1s et PIP2s. Afin de mieux comprendre le rôle des JrPIP1s et JrPIP2 dans la réponse à la lumière, nous avons isolé 8 nouvelles isoformes dans les feuilles de noyer et nous avons étudié leurs profils d’expression sur une cinétique lumière. Toutes les isoformes étudiées sont accumulées à la lumière et réprimées à l’obscurité. De plus, la KF est dépendante de la qualité de lumière. Elle est réduite de 65% en absence de lumière bleue. Cette diminution serait liée à l’inhibition des transcrits d’aquaporines. Afin de caractériser les mécanismes moléculaires précoces impliqués dans la modulation de KF par la lumière, l’approche globale cDNA-AFLP a été menée sur des feuilles de noyer sous différentes conditions d’éclairement. Nous obtenons 12000 transcrits différentiels dérivés (TDFs) générés par les 128 couples d’amorces. Parmi les 187 séquences obtenues, 93 d’entre elles ont une fonction putative. Leur classification fonctionnelle montre que les gènes relatifs à la régulation cellulaire représentent environ 58% des TDFs identifiés. Les feuilles exposées à la lumière, montrent des changements dans les voies de : signalisation calcique, protéolyse, trafic vésiculaire et l’expression de divers facteurs de transcription et protéines de régulation. Pour mieux comprendre le rôle potentiel de la signalisation calcique dans la modulation de la KF par la lumière, nous avons étudié l’effet d’un inhibiteur des canaux calciques [LaCl3] et d’un antagoniste de calmoduline [W7] sur la KF et les transcrits des 10 JrPIPs. Comparées aux feuilles témoins, les inhibiteurs calciques provoquent une réduction de la KF et de la majorité des JrPIPs étudiées à la lumière. Nos résultats confirment l’implication du complexe Ca2+ /calmoduline dans la transduction du signal lumineux responsable de la stimulation de la KF et des transcrits d’aquaporines chez le noyer.

To gain insights into the natural variation of root hydraulics and its molecular components, genotypic differences related to root water transport and plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporin expression were investigated in 13 natural accessions of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The hydraulic conductivity of excised root systems (Lpr) showed a 2-fold variation among accessions. The contribution of aquaporins to water uptake was characterized using as inhibitors mercury, propionic acid, and azide. The aquaporin-dependent and -independent paths of water transport made variable contributions to the total hydraulic conductivity in the different accessions. The distinct suberization patterns observed among accessions were not correlated with their root hydraulic properties. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed, by contrast, a positive overall correlation between Lpr and certain highly expressed PIP transcripts. Root hydraulic responses to salt stress were characterized in a subset of five accessions (Bulhary-1, Catania-1, Columbia-0, Dijon-M, and Monte-Tosso-0 [Mr-0]). Lpr was down-regulated in all accessions except Mr-0. In Mr-0 and Catania-1, cortical cell hydraulic conductivity was unresponsive to salt, whereas it was down-regulated in the three other accessions. By contrast, the five accessions showed qualitatively similar aquaporin transcriptional profiles in response to salt. The overall work provides clues on how hydraulic regulation allows plant adaptation to salt stress. It also shows that a wide range of root hydraulic profiles, as previously reported in various species, can be observed in a single model species. This work paves the way for a quantitative genetics analysis of root hydraulics. Fil: Sutka, Moira Romina. Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Plantes; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Li, Guowei. Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Plantes; Francia Fil: Boudet, Julie. Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Plantes; Francia Fil: Boursiac, Yann. Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Plantes; Francia Fil: Doumas, Patrick. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; Francia Fil: Maurel, Christophe. Institut de Biologie Intégrative des Plantes; Francia

This study consideres the molecular control of cell expansion in poplar root apex. The study was focused on the regulation of the TIP1 aquaporins expression under two levels of water deficit. A conceptual framework combining transcript density analysis (quantitative PCR) at a high spatial resolution and a fluid mechanics formalism was established to describe the regulation of gene expression in time and space along the root apex. Two contrasting growth status were both studied: root growth rate is either restored (after three days of moderate stress, 80 mmol kg-1, 100 g L-1 polyethylene glycol PEG 3500 g mol-1) or root growth rate is reduced (after 3 days of high stress, 250 mosmol kg-1, 200 g L-1 PEG). Kinematic analysis revealed a differential sensitivity of the relative elemental growth rate (REGR) according to the stress level and to the coordinate along the apex. At the molecular level, we showed that growth reduction was associated with a shift of maximal densities of transcripts towards the first millimeters of the apex, where cell expansion was maintained. Meanwhile the induction/repression levels were never stronger than in the control condition underlying that a high transcript density does not mean a high transcriptional induction. Focused on the combination of two dynamic processes, cell expansion and gene expression, my thesis showed that the conclusions issued from the analyses of these processes are influenced by the way time, space and age are considered, Cette étude porte sur le contrôle moléculaire de l'expansion cellulaire dans l'apex de la racine du peuplier. L'étude a été focalisée sur la régulation de l'expression des aquaporines TIP1s sous deux niveaux de déficit hydrique. Un cadre conceptuel, combinant analyse de la densité de transcrits à haute résolution spatiale et un formalisme de la mécanique des fluides, a été établi pour décrire la régulation de l'expression des gènes dans le temps et l'espace, le long de l'apex. Deux états de croissance contrastés ont été étudiés : un où la croissance de l'apex de la racine est rétablie (après 3 jours de stress modéré, 80 mosmol kg-1, 100 g L-1 de polyéthylène glycol PEG à 3500 g mol-1) et un où elle est réduite (après 3 jours de stress fort, 250 mosmol kg-1, 200 g L-1 de PEG). L'analyse cinématique a révélé une sensibilité différentielle de la vitesse d'allongement relatif (REGR) selon le niveau de stress et la position le long de l'apex. Au niveau moléculaire, nous montrons que lorsque la croissance est réduite, les pics de densité de transcrits des TIP1s sont plus forts et décalés dans les premiers millimètres de l'apex, zone où la croissance des cellules est maintenue. Cependant les niveaux d'induction/répression n'étaient jamais plus élevés que dans la condition témoin, soulignant qu'une forte densité de transcrits n'est pas forcément synonyme d'une forte induction de l'expression. Focalisé sur la combinaison de deux processus dynamiques, l'expansion cellulaire et l'expression des gènes, cette étude a mis en évidence que les conclusions tirées de l'analyse de ces processus sont influencées par la façon dont le temps, l'espace sont considérés

The effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on aquaporin content, root hydraulic conductivity (Lpr), whole plant hydraulic conductance, and leaf growth are controversial. We addressed these effects via a combination of experiments at different scales of plant organization and tested their consistency via a model. We analyzed under moderate water deficit a series of transformed maize (Zea mays) lines, one sense and three antisense, affected in NCED (for 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase) gene expression and that differed in the concentration of ABA in the xylem sap. In roots, the mRNA expression of most aquaporin PIP (for plasma membrane intrinsic protein) genes was increased in sense plants and decreased in antisense plants. The same pattern was observed for the protein contents of four PIPs. This resulted in more than 6-fold differences between lines in Lpr under both hydrostatic and osmotic gradients of water potential. This effect was probably due to differences in aquaporin activity, because it was nearly abolished by a hydrogen peroxide treatment, which blocks the water channel activity of aquaporins. The hydraulic conductance of intact whole plants was affected in the same way when measured either in steady-state conditions or via the rate of recovery of leaf water potential after rewatering. The recoveries of leaf water potential and elongation upon rehydration differed between lines and were accounted for by the experimentally measured Lpr in a model of water transfer. Overall, these results suggest that ABA has long-lasting effects on plant hydraulic properties via aquaporin activity, which contributes to the maintenance of a favorable plant water status.

Article recommandé par Faculty of 1000 Biology; Aquaporins form a family of water and solute channel proteins and are present in most living organisms. In plants, aquaporins play an important role in the regulation of root water transport in response to abiotic stresses. In this work, we investigated the role of phosphorylation of plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) aquaporins in the Arabidopsis thaliana root by a combination of quantitative mass spectrometry and cellular biology approaches. A novel phosphoproteomics procedure that involves plasma membrane purification, phosphopeptide enrichment with TiO(2) columns, and systematic mass spectrometry sequencing revealed multiple and adjacent phosphorylation sites in the C-terminal tail of several AtPIPs. Six of these sites had not been described previously. The phosphorylation of AtPIP2;1 at two C-terminal sites (Ser(280) and Ser(283)) was monitored by an absolute quantification method and shown to be altered in response to treatments of plants by salt (NaCl) and hydrogen peroxide. The two treatments are known to strongly decrease the water permeability of Arabidopsis roots. To investigate a putative role of Ser(280) and Ser(283) phosphorylation in aquaporin subcellular trafficking, AtPIP2;1 forms mutated at either one of the two sites were fused to the green fluorescent protein and expressed in transgenic plants. Confocal microscopy analysis of these plants revealed that, in resting conditions, phosphorylation of Ser(283) is necessary to target AtPIP2;1 to the plasma membrane. In addition, an NaCl treatment induced an intracellular accumulation of AtPIP2;1 by exerting specific actions onto AtPIP2;1 forms differing in their phosphorylation at Ser(283) to induce their accumulation in distinct intracellular structures. Thus, the present study documents stress-induced quantitative changes in aquaporin phosphorylation and establishes for the first time a link with plant aquaporin subcellular localization.

s of the Annual Main Meeting of the Society of Experimental Biology, 28th June - 1st July, Glasgow, UK; International audience; The effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on aquaporin content, root hydraulic conductivity (Lpr), whole plant hydraulic conductance, and leaf growth are controversial. We addressed these effects via a combination of experiments at different scales of plant organization and tested their consistency via a model. We analyzed under moderate water deficit a series of transformed maize (Zea mays) lines, one sense and three antisense, affected in NCED (for 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase) gene expression and that differed in the concentration of ABA in the xylem sap. In roots, the mRNA expression of most aquaporin PIP (for plasma membrane intrinsic protein) genes was increased in sense plants and decreased in antisense plants. The same pattern was observed for the protein contents of four PIPs. This resulted in more than 6-fold differences between lines in Lpr under both hydrostatic and osmotic gradients of water potential. This effect was probably due to differences in aquaporin activity, because it was nearly abolished by a hydrogen peroxide treatment, which blocks the water channel activity of aquaporins. The hydraulic conductance of intact whole plants was affected in the same way when measured either in steady-state conditions or via the rate of recovery of leaf water potential after rewatering. The recoveries of leaf water potential and elongation upon rehydration differed between lines and were accounted for by the experimentally measured Lpr in a model of water transfer. Overall, these results suggest that ABA has long-lasting effects on plant hydraulic properties via aquaporin activity, which contributes to the maintenance of a favorable plant water status.

Environmental and hormonal signaling pathways targeting or mediated by plant aquaporins. 27. International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR 2016)