Plant cell growth and ion flux responses to the streptomycete phytotoxin thaxtomin A: calcium and hydrogen flux patterns revealed by the non-invasive MIFE technique

Plant Cell Physiol. 2005 Apr;46(4):638-48. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pci069. Epub 2005 Mar 7.

Abstract

Thaxtomin A, a key phytotoxin produced by plant pathogenic Streptomyces sp., is implicit in common scab disease expression in potato. Primary targets and modes of action of thaxtomin A toxicity in plant cells are not well understood. In this work, early signalling events associated with thaxtomin A toxicity were studied using the ion-selective microelectrode ion flux estimation (MIFE) technique. Thaxtomin A-induced changes in net ion fluxes were measured across the plasma membrane (PM) of root and pollen tube tissue in Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato. Within a minute after toxin application, a rapid and short-lived Ca2+ influx was observed. Well ahead of the marked inhibition of root growth, a significant shift towards net H+ efflux across the PM occurred in all tissues. Similar to root tissues, thaxtomin A significantly modified ion flux profiles from growing pollen tubes. Thaxtomin A was more effective in young, physiologically active tissues (root elongation zone or pollen tube apex), suggesting a higher density of thaxtomin A-binding sites in these regions. Overall, our data provide the first evidence that thaxtomin A triggers an early signalling cascade, which may be crucial in plant-pathogen interactions. It also suggests a possible interaction between thaxtomin A and PM auxin receptors, as revealed from experiments on the auxin-sensitive ucu2-2/gi2 A. thaliana mutant.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Electrophysiology / instrumentation
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Flowers / cytology
  • Flowers / drug effects
  • Flowers / growth & development
  • Hydrogen / metabolism
  • Indoles / toxicity*
  • Microelectrodes
  • Mutation
  • Piperazines / toxicity*
  • Plant Diseases*
  • Plant Roots / cytology
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Solanum lycopersicum / drug effects*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / growth & development
  • Streptomyces

Substances

  • Indoles
  • Piperazines
  • thaxtomine A
  • Hydrogen
  • Calcium