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K+ transport by Arabidopsis root hairs at low pH

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 12:55 authored by Babourina, OK, Hawkins, B, Lew, R, Ian NewmanIan Newman, Sergey ShabalaSergey Shabala
Mechanisms underlying changed K+ uptake by plants at low pH need to be deciphered. One possibility is that K+ acquisition is under the strict control of plasma membrane potential (Em), which, in turn, is affected by external pH. To test this hypothesis, we used the microelectrode ion flux measurement (MIFE®) technique to study net K+ and H+ fluxes near Arabidopsis root hairs at different external pH, KCl concentrations and clamped Em. Lowering the solution pH led to strong H+ influx, K+ efflux and significant Em depolarisation. Addition of K+ to the bathing media caused significant net K+ uptake when external pH was over the range 5.5-6.0. At external pH below 5.0, however, correlation between K+ availability and net K+ uptake was negative. To explain this apparent paradox, measurements of net K+ and H+ fluxes from the root hair surface were performed concurrently with Em clamped at different values above and below the resting potential (approx. -180 mV). Our data revealed a strong dependence of net K+ flux on the clamping voltage. Clamping at values more negative than the resting potential caused a significant increase in K+ uptake into the root hair; clamping at less negative values (-20 and 0 mV) caused significant net K+ efflux from the cell. Qualitatively similar results were observed for net H+ flux. Our observations indicate direct control of K+ flux by changing Em, and suggest that Em depolarisation could be the main reason for the observed K+ efflux at low pH.

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of Plant Physiology

Volume

28

Issue

7

Pagination

635-641

ISSN

0310-7841

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Place of publication

Collingwood, Australia

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences

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