Relationship between NaCl- and H2O2-induced cytosolic Ca2+ increases in response to stress in Arabidopsis

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 4;8(10):e76130. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076130. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Salinity is among the environmental factors that affect plant growth and development and constrain agricultural productivity. Salinity stress triggers increases in cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) via Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane. Salinity stress, as well as other stresses, induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is well established that ROS also triggers increases in [Ca(2+)]i. However, the relationship and interaction between salinity stress-induced [Ca(2+)]i increases and ROS-induced [Ca(2+)]i increases remain poorly understood. Using an aequorin-based Ca(2+) imaging assay we have analyzed [Ca(2+)]i changes in response to NaCl and H2O2 treatments in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that NaCl and H2O2 together induced larger increases in [Ca(2+)]i in Arabidopsis seedlings than either NaCl or H2O2 alone, suggesting an additive effect on [Ca(2+)]i increases. Following a pre-treatment with either NaCl or H2O2, the subsequent elevation of [Ca(2+)]i in response to a second treatment with either NaCl or H2O2 was significantly reduced. Furthermore, the NaCl pre-treatment suppressed the elevation of [Ca(2+)]i seen with a second NaCl treatment more than that seen with a second treatment of H2O2. A similar response was seen when the initial treatment was with H2O2; subsequent addition of H2O2 led to less of an increase in [Ca(2+)]i than did addition of NaCl. These results imply that NaCl-gated Ca(2+) channels and H2O2-gated Ca(2+) channels may differ, and also suggest that NaCl- and H2O2-evoked [Ca(2+)]i may reduce the potency of both NaCl and H2O2 in triggering [Ca(2+)]i increases, highlighting a feedback mechanism. Alternatively, NaCl and H2O2 may activate the same Ca(2+) permeable channel, which is expressed in different types of cells and/or activated via different signaling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Cytosol / drug effects*
  • Cytosol / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Calcium

Grants and funding

ZJ and SZ were supported by fellowships from China Scholarship Council, Pandeng Project funds (PD11001008001; PD11002002004002) from Hangzhou Normal University, and a grant from Zhejiang NSF (Z3110443). This work is supported by grants from USDA (CSREES-2006-35100-17304) and from NSF (IOS-0848263) to ZMP. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.