Calcium sensor kinase activates potassium uptake systems in gland cells of Venus flytraps
Abstract
The Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula has been in the focus of scientists since Darwin's time. Carnivorous plants, with their specialized lifestyle, including insect capture, as well as digestion and absorption of prey, developed unique tools to gain scarce nutrients. In this study, we identified the molecular nature of the uptake machinery for prey-derived potassium and the posttranslational regulation. For the first time, to our knowledge, we functionally characterize DmHAK5 here—a KUP/HAK/KT family member as activated by a CBL-CIPK kinase complex. Detailed electrophysiological characterization identified DmHAK5 as a proton-driven, high-affinity potassium transporter with a weak selectivity. Working hand-in-hand with the low-affinity, high-capacity K+-channel DmKT1 activated by the same kinase, the transporters allow the Venus flytrap to take up prey-derived potassium.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- June 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1507810112
- Bibcode:
- 2015PNAS..112.7309S