To investigate the effects of calcineurin expression on cellular ion homeostasis in plants, we have obtained a transgenic cell culture of tomato, expressing constitutively activated yeast calcineurin. Transgenic cells exhibited reduced growth rates and proton extrusion activity in vivo. We show that reduction of plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity by expression of calcineurin is the basis for the observed phenotypes. Transgenic calli and cell suspensions displayed also increased salt tolerance and contained slightly higher Ca2+ and K+ levels. This demonstrates that calcineurin can modulate ion homeostasis in plants as it does in yeast by affecting the activity of primary ion transporters.
Copyright 2004 Federation of European Biochemical Societies