Ion transport in Nitellopsis obtusa

Potassium physiology from Archean to Holocene: A higher-plant perspective

In this paper, we discuss biological potassium acquisition and utilization processes over an evolutionary timescale, with emphasis on modern vascular plants. The quintessential osmotic and electrical functions of the K⁺ ion are shown to be intimately tied to K⁺-transport systems and membrane energization. Several prominent themes in plant K⁺-transport physiology are explored in greater detail, including: (1) channel mediated K⁺ acquisition by roots at low external [K⁺]; (2) K⁺ loading of root xylem elements by active transport; (3) variations on the theme of K⁺ efflux from root cells to the extracellular environment; (4) the veracity and utility of the "affinity" concept in relation to transport systems. We close with a discussion of the importance of plant-potassium relations to our human world, and current trends in potassium nutrition from farm to table.

Biomarker identification of isolated compartments of the cell wall, cytoplasm and vacuole from the internodal cell of characean Nitellopsis obtusa

Cells of characean algae are attractive for plant cell physiologists because of their large size and their close relation to higher plant cells. The objective of our study was to evaluate the purity of the compartments (cell wall, cytoplasm with plastids, mitochondria, nuclei and endomembrane system, and vacuole) separated mechanically from the internodal cells of Nitellopsis obtusa using enzymatic markers. These included α-mannosidase and malate dehydrogenase, vacuolar and cytoplasmic enzymes, respectively. The biomarkers applied revealed the degree of compartment contamination with the material from unwanted cell parts. The cell wall was contaminated slightly by vacuole and cytoplasm residuals, respectively by 12.3 and 1.96% of corresponding biomarker activities. Relatively high activity of vacuolar marker in the cell wall could be associated with the cell vacuoles in the multicellular structure of the nodes. The biomarkers confirmed highly purified vacuolar (99.5%) and cytoplasmic (86.7%) compartments. Purity estimation of the cell fractions enabled reevaluating nCuO related Cu concentrations in the compartments of charophyte cell. The internalisation of CuO nanoparticles in N. obtusa cell occurred already after 0.5h. In general, the approach seems to be useful for assessing the accumulation and distribution of various xenobiotics and/or metabolites within plant cell. All this justifies N.obtusa internodal cells as a model organism for modern studies in cell biology and nanotoxicology.

Salinity tolerance in plants. Quantitative approach to ion transport starting from halophytes and stepping to genetic and protein engineering for manipulating ion fluxes

Ion transport is the fundamental factor determining salinity tolerance in plants. The Review starts from differences in ion transport between salt tolerant halophytes and salt-sensitive plants with an emphasis on transport of potassium and sodium via plasma membranes. The comparison provides introductory information for increasing salinity tolerance. Effects of salt stress on ion transport properties of membranes show huge opportunities for manipulating ion fluxes. Further steps require knowledge about mechanisms of ion transport and individual genes of ion transport proteins. Initially, the Review describes methods to measure ion fluxes, the independent set of techniques ensures robust and reliable basement for quantitative approach. The Review briefly summarizes current data concerning Na(+) and K(+) concentrations in cells, refers to primary thermodynamics of ion transport and gives special attention to individual ion channels and transporters. Simplified scheme of a plant cell with known transport systems at the plasma membrane and tonoplast helps to imagine the complexity of ion transport and allows choosing specific transporters for modulating ion transport. The complexity is enhanced by the influence of cell size and cell wall on ion transport. Special attention is given to ion transporters and to potassium and sodium transport by HKT, HAK, NHX, and SOS1 proteins. Comparison between non-selective cation channels and ion transporters reveals potential importance of ion transporters and the balance between the two pathways of ion transport. Further on the Review describes in detail several successful attempts to overexpress or knockout ion transporters for changing salinity tolerance. Future perspectives are questioned with more attention given to promising candidate ion channels and transporters for altered expression. Potential direction of increasing salinity tolerance by modifying ion channels and transporters using single point mutations is discussed and questioned. An alternative approach from synthetic biology is to create new regulation networks using novel transport proteins with desired properties for transforming agricultural crops. The approach had not been widely used earlier; it leads also to theoretical and pure scientific aspects of protein chemistry, structure-function relations of membrane proteins, systems biology and physiology of stress and ion homeostasis. Summarizing, several potential ways are aimed at required increase in salinity tolerance of plants of interest.

Increased Uptake of Chelated Copper Ions by Lolium perenne Attributed to Amplified Membrane and Endodermal Damage

The contributions of mechanisms by which chelators influence metal translocation to plant shoot tissues are analyzed using a combination of numerical modelling and physical experiments. The model distinguishes between apoplastic and symplastic pathways of water and solute movement. It also includes the barrier effects of the endodermis and plasma membrane. Simulations are used to assess transport pathways for free and chelated metals, identifying mechanisms involved in chelate-enhanced phytoextraction. Hypothesized transport mechanisms and parameters specific to amendment treatments are estimated, with simulated results compared to experimental data. Parameter values for each amendment treatment are estimated based on literature and experimental values, and used for model calibration and simulation of amendment influences on solute transport pathways and mechanisms. Modeling indicates that chelation alters the pathways for Cu transport. For free ions, Cu transport to leaf tissue can be described using purely apoplastic or transcellular pathways. For strong chelators (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)), transport by the purely apoplastic pathway is insufficient to represent measured Cu transport to leaf tissue. Consistent with experimental observations, increased membrane permeability is required for simulating translocation in EDTA and DTPA treatments. Increasing the membrane permeability is key to enhancing phytoextraction efficiency.

Ionic Relations of Nitella translucens

The ionic state of single internodal cells of a fresh water characean, Nitella translucens, has been studied. In mature cells the vacuolar concentrations were 78 mM K, 60 mM Na, and 151 mM Cl, compared with concentrations of 0.1 mM K, 1.0 mM Na, and 1.3 mM Cl in the bathing medium. The results suggest an active influx of potassium and an active efflux of sodium at the plasmalemma, and an active influx of chloride, probably at the tonoplast. The cation transport is inhibited by ouabain, and is more efficient in young cells; the chloride transport is insensitive to ouabain, and unaffected by age. Thus the two systems appear to be independent. It is suggested that the active fluxes are 0.5 to 0.6 micromicromoles K/cm(2) sec. inwards, and 0.45 micromicromoles Na/cm(2) sec. outwards. The passive influxes, 0.3 micromicromoles K/cm(2) sec. and 0.55 micromicromoles Na/cm(2)sec., give a value for the relative permeabilities of the plasmalemma, P(Na)/P(K), of 0.18. The absolute magnitudes of the permeabilities, compared with those derived from resistance measurements, suggest that potassium ions interact strongly in the membrane. The cation fluxes at the tonoplast are much higher than those at the plasmalemma. The active influx of chloride is 0.85 micromicromoles/cm(2) sec. in light, but only 0.052 micromicromoles/cm(2) sec. in the dark. The potassium influx is also reduced in the dark. Thus the energy for both active transport processes is closely geared to light-dependent metabolism, rather than to respiration.

Na and K Fluxes in Nitella clavata

Na and K influxes and effluxes, membrane potentials, and cell ion concentrations of Nitella clavata were measured as functions of external NaCl concentrations and time. It appears necessary to conclude that active K transport into the cells as well as active Na extrusion is present, although the latter is of small magnitude and possibly is explicable as exchange-diffusion. An attempt has been made to account for the capacity of the cells to discriminate between K and Na ions and yet have fairly independent passive ion movements. This is done by proposing a model in which the permeation areas are "slit-pores" rather than cylindrical pores. The slit-pores would permit rather independent movements of ions within them so long as the pores do not tend to become saturated from both or either side. In the latter case one way movement results. The experimental results are in fair agreement with this suggested model.

Cellular mechanisms of potassium transport in plants

Potassium (K(+)) is the most abundant ion in the plant cell and is required for a wide array of functions, ranging from the maintenance of electrical potential gradients across cell membranes, to the generation of turgor, to the activation of numerous enzymes. The majority of these functions depend more or less directly upon the activities and regulation of membrane-bound K(+) transport proteins, operating over a wide range of K(+) concentrations. Here, we review the physiological aspects of potassium transport systems in the plasma membrane, re-examining fundamental problems in the field such as the distinctions between high- and low-affinity transport systems, the interactions between K(+) and other ions such as NH(4)(+) and Na(+), the regulation of cellular K(+) pools, the generation of electrical potentials and the problems involved in measurement of unidirectional K(+) fluxes. We place these discussions in the context of recent discoveries in the molecular biology of K(+) acquisition and produce an overview of gene families encoding K(+) transporters.

What are aquaporins for?

The prime function of aquaporins (AQPs) is generally believed to be that of increasing water flow rates across membranes by raising their osmotic or hydraulic permeability. In addition, this applies to other small solutes of physiological importance. Notable applications of this 'simple permeability hypothesis' (SPH) have been epithelial fluid transport in animals, water exchanges associated with transpiration, growth and stress in plants, and osmoregulation in microbes. We first analyze the need for such increased permeabilities and conclude that in a range of situations at the cellular, subcellular and tissue levels the SPH cannot satisfactorily account for the presence of AQPs. The analysis includes an examination of the effects of the genetic elimination or reduction of AQPs (knockouts, antisense transgenics and null mutants). These either have no effect, or a partial effect that is difficult to explain, and we argue that they do not support the hypothesis beyond showing that AQPs are involved in the process under examination. We assume that since AQPs are ubiquitous, they must have an important function and suggest that this is the detection of osmotic and turgor pressure gradients. A mechanistic model is proposed--in terms of monomer structure and changes in the tetrameric configuration of AQPs in the membrane--for how AQPs might function as sensors. Sensors then signal within the cell to control diverse processes, probably as part of feedback loops. Finally, we examine how AQPs as sensors may serve animal, plant and microbial cells and show that this sensor hypothesis can provide an explanation of many basic processes in which AQPs are already implicated. Aquaporins are molecules in search of a function; osmotic and turgor sensors are functions in search of a molecule.

Ion fluxes and cytosolic pool sizes: examining fundamental relationships in transmembrane flux regulation

The relationships among cellular ion fluxes, ion compartmentation, and the turnover kinetics of cytosolic ion pools are crucial to the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms and thermodynamic gradients that determine plasma membrane ion fluxes. We here provide an analysis of published data to quantify these relationships for the two major nutrient elements in plants, nitrogen and potassium. We discuss the implications of these relationships for plant ion fluxes in general, and focus more specifically on problems associated with the accurate measurement of fluxes to and from rapidly exchanging pools, particularly the cytosolic calcium pool.

Intracellular potassium compartments in Nitella axillaris

Three intracellular compartments for potassium exchange have been observed in intact cells of the giant-celled alga, Nitella axillaris. These compartments have been compared with the exchange properties of isolated subcellular structures. The smallest and fastest compartment (apparent half-time, 23 seconds) appears to involve passive absorption on the cell wall. The next largest (apparent half-time, 5 hours) may represent exchange with the cytoplasmic layer through the plasma membrane, the chloroplasts being in rapid equilibrium with the surrounding cytoplasm. The largest and slowest compartment (apparent half-time, 40 days) has been identified with the central vacuole. The vacuolar membrane and the plasma membrane have similar properties with respect to K permeability. Thus, the experimental data from the whole cell can be accounted for by a structural model of the compartments. Cyanide in concentrations up to 10^-3M causes no net loss of K. The fastest compartment in Nitella and in higher plants is compared, and the ecological significance of the slow rate of potassium transport in Nitella is discussed.

Cation transport in Escherichia coli. II. Intracellular chloride concentration

The intracellular Cl concentration in E. coli has been studied as a function of the Cl concentration in the growth medium and the age of the bacterial culture. The ratio of extracellular to intracellular Cl concentration is shown to be 3.0 in the logarithmic phase and 1.13 in the stationary phase, both ratios being independent of the extracellular Cl concentration. If it may be assumed that Cl is passively distributed in this organism, these results are consistent with a transmembrane P.D. of 29 mv, interior negative, during the logarithmic phase, and 3 mv, interior negative, in the stationary phase.

Potassium accumulation and sodium efflux by Porphyra perforata tissues in lithium and magnesium sea water

Cells of Porphyra perforata, a red marine alga, accumulate K in the absence of concomitant Na or Li extrusion while immersed in Li- or Mg-sea waters lacking Na. This suggests that the coupling observed between K and Na transport is facultative. No evidence is obtained for net extrusion of Li. Na efflux, with the concentration gradient, is facilitated by K and is proportional to the cellular Na content. Either Na efflux does not involve an ion carrier or the number of Na sites is large. Because K accumulation has been observed in the absence of Na extrusion, but not vice versa, it seems that K uptake is the primary secretory event, with Na extrusion a secondary process dependent upon K accumulation.

Compartmental efflux analysis: an evaluation of the technique and its limitations

Efflux analysis is an established tool for characterizing the exchange properties of multicomponent systems. In this report, we have simulated several three- and four-compartment systems with error-free and imperfect data, the errors being designed to mimic actual, nonbiological variability in isotope efflux studies. The data sets were analyzed using computerized nonlinear regression techniques to identify the important aspects of actual experimental design (uptake times, efflux collection schedules, and total efflux times), and to consider the possibility that a properly designed and executed experiment might fail to resolve compartmentation correctly. The results showed that for any of the systems simulated, including those with error-free four-component data, a reasonable three-component fit was obtainable. Resolution of the additional compartment was not always possible. In correctly resolved systems, failure to estimate the correct decay constants was common, especially when the half-times were separated by less than an order of magnitude. We conclude that efflux analysis, by itself, lacks the power to provide reliable information about multicompartment systems.

Sodium and potassium fluxes and compartmentation in roots of atriplex and oat

K(+) and Na(+) fluxes and ion content have been studied in roots of Atriplex nummularia Lindl. and Avena sativa L. cv Goodfield grown in 3 millimolar K(+) with or without 3 or 50 millimolar NaCl. Compartmental analysis was carried out with entire root systems under steady-state conditions.Increasing ambient Na(+) concentrations from 0 to 50 millimolar altered K(+), in Atriplex, as follows: slightly decreased the cytoplasmic content (Q(c)), the vacuolar content (Q(v)), and the plasma membrane influx and efflux. Xylem transport for K(+) decreased by 63% in Atriplex. For oat roots, similar increases in Na(+) altered K(+) parameters as follows: plasma membrane influx and efflux decreased by about 80%. Q(c) decreased by 65%, and xylem transport decreased by 91%. No change, however, was observed in Q(v) for K(+). Increasing ambient Na(+) resulted in higher (3 to 5-fold) Na(+) fluxes across the plasma membrane and in Q(c) of both species. In Atriplex, Na(+) fluxes across the tonoplast and Q(v) increased as external Na(+) was increased. In oat, however, no significant change was observed in Na(+) flux across the tonoplast or in Q(v) as external Na(+) was increased. In oat roots, Na(+) reduced K(+) uptake markedly; in Atriplex, this was not as pronounced. However, even at high Na(+) levels, the influx transport system at the plasma membrane of both species preferred K(+) over Na(+).Based upon the Ussing-Teorell equation, it was concluded that active inward transport of K(+) occurred across the plasma membrane, and passive movement of K(+) occurred across the tonoplast in both species. Na(+), in oat roots, was actively pumped out of the cytoplasm to the exterior, whereas, in Atriplex, Na(+) was passively distributed between the free space, cytoplasm, and vacuole.

Mycorrhizal effects on potassium fluxes by northwest coniferous seedlings

In ectomycorrhizae, the relative abilities of mycobiont and host plant to take up and store inorganic nutrients are not easily determined due to the intimate physical relationship of the two components forming the association. Since compartmental analysis of solute elution can estimate cellular compartment pool sizes and unidirectional fluxes across membranes, we have used this method to study ectomycorrhizal coniferous roots. Rubidium-86, used as a tracer for potassium, was loaded into and eluted from intact roots of nonmycorrhizal and mycorrhizal (with the fungus Hebeloma crustuliniformme [Bull.: St. Amans Quél] Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla [Raf.] Sarg.) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis [Bong.] Carr.) seedlings.Mycorrhizas significantly increased (86)Rb uptake rates while decreasing the amount of (86)Rb released to the external solution. Using compartmental analysis, the flux data suggest that the primary mycorrhizal effects were to increase inward potassium fluxes across the fungal tonoplast and to decrease potassium efflux across the fungal tonoplast, as compared with nonmycorrhizal seedling roots. The result was greater potassium storage, presumably in the fungal vacuole. The three coniferous species responded differently to fungal infection with respect to potassium fluxes. Both cytoplasmic and vacuolar fluxes for mycorrhizal hemlock were 2-fold greater than for spruce and 3-fold greater than for Douglas fir. These results demonstrate the usefulness of compartmental analysis for study of ion fluxes in intact mycorrhizal root systems and suggest that the fungal tonoplast may be the site for regulation of potassium fluxes in these coniferous roots.

A comparison of methods for determining compartmental analysis parameters

The traditional method for determining compartmental analysis parameters relies on a visual selection of data points to be used for regression of data from each cellular compartment. This method is appropriate when the compartments are kinetically discrete and are easily discernible. However, where treatment effects on compartment parameters are being evaluated, a more objective method for determining initial parameters is desirable.Three methods were examined for determining initial isotopic contents and half-times of (86)Rb elution from cellular compartments using theoretical data with known parameters. Experimental data from roots of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) intact seedlings were also used. The three methods were a visually assisted, linear regression on data of semilog plot of isotope elution versus time, a microcomputer-assisted, linear regression on semilog plot where maximization of the square of the correlation coefficient (r(2)) was the criterion to determine data points needed for each regression and a mainframe computer-assisted, direct nonlinear regression on elution data using a model of the sum of three exponential decay functions. The visual method resulted in the least accurate estimates of compartmental analysis parameters. The microcomputer-assisted and nonlinear regression methods calculated the parameters equally well.

Growth, water content, and solute accumulation of two tobacco cell lines cultured on sodium chloride, dextran, and polyethylene glycol

Simulated drought tolerance was compared for an NaCl-adapted and a nonadapted cell line of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Samsum) to determine the relationship of salt and drought tolerances. The osmotic adjustment and growth of these two lines was followed when cultured on solid media which contained isosmotic concentrations of NaCl, KCl, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or dextran. One line was adapted to growth on 130 millimolar NaCl, but the other was not.The growth of NaCl-adapted and nonadapted cell lines was equally inhibited (61 per cent of control) by 130 millimolar NaCl. Growth inhibition was greater on PEG or dextran than on NaCl. Growth ceased on the second passage of dextran for the nonadapted cells, while the NaCl-adapted cells grew slowly for four passages on dextran. Water contents for both cell lines were 95 per cent on NaCl or KCl and 70 to 88 per cent on PEG 1540 or 4000 or dextran after the second passage on these media.On dextran or PEG 4000, 46 to 89 per cent of the cellular osmotic potential was produced by the solutes initially present in the medium. Similarly, on NaCl, almost 100 per cent was attributable to solutes in the medium. It was concluded that cells grown on the nonpenetrating solutes had a more negative osmotic potential than those grown in the absence of added solute due to partial dehydration, greater uptake of external ions, and possibly the production of unidentified osmotica. Adjustment to growth on penetrating solutes may have enabled the adapted line to overcome the osmotic stress produced by nonpenetrating dextran.

Compartmental analysis of sulphate transport in Lemna minor L., taking plant growth and sulphate metabolization into consideration

The compartmental analysis of sulphate transport in cells of Lemna plants has been performed, taking into account the growth of the samples and the metabolization of sulphate into organic thiocompounds during the course of the experiment. The results obtained form efflux and influx experiments are fully consistent with one another. Both unidirectional fluxes between the external medium and the cell wall are very large (order of magnitude of 1 MUMOL/h per g fresh weight of plants). All the other unidirectional fluxes, including the flux of sulphate metabolization, are much smaller (from about 10 to 60 nmol/h per g). Over 70% of the total sulphur of the plant corresponds to that incorporated into organic thio compounds, and over 25% to free sulphate in the vacuola. The pool of free sulphate in the cytoplasm is only about 1% of the total sulphur, and the sulphate content of the cell wall (free spaces) is also about 1%. Two remarks of general relevance have been made concerning the influx curves. First, these curves exhibit a long (several hours), quasi-stationary phase after the first few minutes of absorption, though the slope of this straight line does not correspond to the unidirectional flux of sulphate entry through the plasmalemma (from cell wall to cytoplasm). Second, the Lemna plants seem to be sensitive to the effect of "gas shock'.

Determination of the membrane potential of vacuoles isolated from red-beet storage tissue : Evidence for an electrogenic ATPase

The membrane potential of isolated vacuoles of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) was estimated using several methods. The quenching of the fluorescence of the cyanine dyes 3,3'-diethylthiodicarbocyanine iodide (DiS-C2-(5)) and 3,3'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanine iodide (DiS-C3-(5)) in vacuoles indicated a transmembrane potential difference, negative inside at low external potassium concentrations. The Δψ was found to be-55 mV with two other methods, the distribution of (204)T1(+) in the presence of valinomycin and the distribution of the lipophilic cation triphenylmethylphosphonium. Uncouplers reduced this value to-35 mV. High external potassium concentrations, comparable to cytosolic values, abolished the membrane potential almost completely. The addition of 1 mM Tris-Mg(2+)-ATP markedly hyperpolarized the membrane to-75 mV. This effect was prevented by inhibitors of the ATPase activity located in isolated vacuole membranes.

Electrical Properties of the Plasmalemma and Tonoplast in Valonia ventricosa

Studies were made on the electric potentials of the plasmalemma (E(co)) and tonoplast (E(vc)) in small cells (1-3 mm diameter) of Valonia ventricosa. To measure E(co), microelectrodes with long tapers were inserted into the vacuole with the path of electrode entry off-center. The microelectrode then was pushed across the vacuole and into the cytoplasm on the opposite side of the cell. A reference electrode was placed in the artificial seawater bathing the cell. A similar method was used to measure E(vc) except that the reference electrode was placed in the vacuole.Both E(co) and E(vc) were influenced by light. In the light, E(co) was -70 millivolts and it changed to -60 millivolts in the dark (cytoplasm-negative to outside). For E(vc), the potentials were +86 millivolts in the light and +69 millivolts in the dark (vacuole-positive to cytoplasm). The vacuole potential (E(vo)) was demonstrated to be the algebraic sum of E(co) and E(vc). For example, in the light, the sum of the means (+/-se) for E(co) (= -70 +/- 1) and E(vc) (= +86 +/- 5) is +16 millivolts, which is comparable to the measured E(vo) of +17 +/- 2 millivolts. In the dark, the sum of E(co) (= -60 +/- 3) and E(vc) (+69 +/- 6) is +9 millivolts and the measured value of E(vo) is +9 +/- 4 millivolts.The external K(+) concentration had a controlling effect on both E(co) and the direct current resistance of the plasmalemma, which suggests that E(co) is largely a K(+) diffusion potential. The tonoplast electrical properties were affected only slightly by external K(+).The data presented are indicative of a K(+) electrogenic influx pump in the tonoplast. It is also considered possible that H(+) might be electrogenically pumped from the cytoplasm both into the vacuole and to the cell exterior.

Osmotic Adjustment of Cultured Tobacco Cells (Nicotiana tabacum var. Samsum) Grown on Sodium Chloride

Tobacco cell cultures (var. Samsum) were grown on increasing levels of NaCl to select variants for increased salt tolerance. The osmotic adjustment of NaCl-adapted and nonadapted cell lines was studied. Both cell lines were grown on modified Linsmaier and Skoog medium with or without NaCl. Few differences were found in the response of adapted and nonadapted lines to NaCl.The concentrations of sugars, Na(+), Cl(-), and NO(3) (-) were identical in the cells and medium. Potassium and amino acids were accumulated by the cells. All of the above solutes accounted for 80 to 90% of the osmotic potential for both cell lines when grown on basal medium with or without NaCl. The osmotic potential of growing cells was always 1 to 3 bars more negative than that of the medium. During the first 10 days culture, the cells hydrolyzed the 117 millimolar sucrose present in the fresh media, and the media became more negative by 3 bars. Growing cells absorbed and metabolized the sugars, NH(4) (+), and NO(3) (-) during the next 25 days, and the osmotic potential of the media and cells became less negative. The addition of 130 millimolar NaCl made the media and cells osmotically more negative by 6 bars throughout the growth cycle, as compared with cells growing on basal medium.The efflux of cellular solutes during distilled H(2)O washes was resolved into two components. The fast component (0.6 to 1.7 minutes half-time) included solutes of the free space and cytoplasm, whereas the slow component (1.6 to 4.9 hours half-time) represented the vacuolar solutes. Sodium and Cl(-) were present in the vacuole. No differences were observed in the solute efflux between the adapted and nonadapted cell lines.

Borate Exchanges of Lemna minor L. as Studied with the Help of the Enriched Stable Isotopes and of a (n,alpha) Nuclear Reaction

Despite the lack of a convenient radioisotope of boron, it is possible to measure unidirectional fluxes of borate between cellular systems and their external medium. It was accomplished by using the two purified stable isotopes ((10)B and (11)B), with (10)B specifically detected by a (n,alpha) nuclear reaction. The method was applied to compartmental analysis of borate with intact plants of Lemna minor L. Four compartments were suggested. Three of them apparently correspond to the three classical ones: free space (including easily dissociable borate monoesters), cytoplasm, and vacuole. The fourth one was interpreted as corresponding to very stable borate diesters in the cell walls. The method allows the determination of the borate capacities of the various compartments and of the borate unidirectional fluxes between the different compartments, at borate flux equilibrium. Other physicochemical data (mono and diester mass action constants, turn over numbers) were evaluated. The results are consistent with what is known of pure substances.

Boron uptake by excised barley roots: I. Uptake into the free space

At 2 C, all boron accumulated by excised barley roots (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Herta) remains in the free space; i.e. active uptake is nil at this temperature. Three component fractions of free space B were apparent: (a) a surface contaminant film of B on blotted roots, (b) water free space B, and (c) B reversibly bound in the cell walls. A stoichiometric release of H(+) from the roots in the presence of B indicated that B was bound by borate complexes with polysaccharides in the cell walls. Polysaccharide-borate complexes are much less stable than those of monosaccharides, and the bound B fraction could be readily removed by rinsing the roots in the presence of a monomeric polyol possessing the necessary cis-diol configuration. Cell wall material separated from excised barley roots had a B binding capacity 66% greater than that of intact roots.A 30-minute rinse in distilled H(2)O or 0.5 mm CaSO(4) was required to remove all cell wall-bound B from the roots after a 30-minute uptake period. Thus, although B in the contaminant surface film and the water free space is rinsed from the roots within 10 minutes, a 30-minute rinse is essential if all reversibly accumulated B is to be removed from the free space.

Cortical cell fluxes and transport to the stele in excised root segments of Allium cepa L. : I. Potassium, sodium and chloride

From compartmental analysis of radioisotope elution measurements, concentrations and fluxes of K(+), Na(+) and Cl(-) were estimated for cortical cells in root segments of onion, Allium cepa L., relative to a complete nutrient solution. The transported fraction of the total efflux was estimated separately. With the Ussing-Teorell flux ratio equation as the criterion, it was concluded that all three ions were actively accumulated from the outside medium into the cytoplasm and that only Na(+) was actively accumulated into the vacuole. K(+) and Cl(-) moved passively, in both directions across the tonoplast. Failure to account for leakage from the stele via the segment cut ends resulted in an over-estimate of exchange across the tonoplast but did not alter the conclusions qualitatively. The consequences of changing the assumed value of the tonoplast electrical potential (from 0 to+10- mV), and the effects of different experimental procedures, were also assessed, and found not to affect the main conclusions significantly. Separate measurement of ions leaking from the segment ends revealed that Na(+) was transported almost exclusively in an acropetal direction in the stele. Cl(-) appeared at both ends of the segments in similar amounts and K(+) was transported mainly in the basipetal direction. The implications of these findings for the mechanism and site of ion selectivity are discussed.

Cortical cell fluxes and transport to the stele in excised root segments of Allium cepa L. : II. Calcium

From compartmental analysis of radioisotope elution measurements, concentrations and fluxes of Ca(2+) were estimated for cortical cells in root segments of onion, Allium cepa L., relative to a complete nutrient solution containing 1 mM Ca(2+). Five compartments for Ca(2+) in the cortex were revealed. These were identified, in order of increasing rates of exchange, with the vacuole and cytoplasm of the cortical parenchyma, the Donnan free space in the cell walls, the water free space in the tissue and the superficial film of solution on the segments. With the Ussing-Teorell flux ratio equation as the criterion, it was concluded that Ca(2+) entered the cytoplasm passively and was actively pumped back to the external solution. Ca(2+) concentration in the vacuole could only be estimated as lying between wide limits (1.0 to 7.5 μeq. ml(-1)), but even at the maximum concentration, it was concluded that entry was passive and content limited by an efflux pump across the tonoplast. Net flux was zero and the vacuolar concentration of Ca(2+) compatible with this was found to be 2.6 μeq. ml(-1). The transported fraction of the total efflux, appearing at the segment cut ends, was estimated separately. Calcium was found to be transported almost exclusively in the basipetal direction.

The simultaneous movement of two ions in the phloem of the Saxifraga stolon

Paris of tracers were applied simultaneously to the long thin stolons of Saxifraga sarmentosa. After several hours of translocation the very precise pattern of exponential fall-off was examined and interpreted in the light of a model of mass flow with leakage. (42)K appears to leak faster than (22)Na; (86)Rb is very close to (42)K. The anion (82)Br shows a lower fall-off than (137)Cs; this is tentatively regarded as due to a much-reduced leakage, though it might imply a higher velocity. The implications of these findings for sieve-tube mechanism are uncertain.

Effect of metabolic inhibitors and temperature on uptake and translocation of ca and k by intact bean plants

The dependence of Ca uptake and translocation by intact roots of Phaseolus vulgaris on concurrent root metabolism was investigated using (45)Ca-labeled Hoagland solutions at one-half and one-twentieth strength (2.5 and 0.25 mM Ca(2+)). Adsorbed and absorbed (45)Ca fractions in the roots were distinguished on the basis of the time course of exchange with the outer solution. Uptake of (42)K, of which the characteristics are better known, was measured for comparison. The absorbed (45)Ca fraction showed a markedly nonlinear increase with time in contrast to the near linear increase in (42)K. Exposure of roots to cyanide, arsenate, 2,4-dinitrophenol, or low temperatures caused only slight reductions in (45)Ca absorption by roots, but significant reductions of (42)K. In all treatments involving inhibitors and low temperatures, the translocation to shoots of both (45)Ca and (42)K was strongly inhibited. The conclusion that much of the absorbed (45)Ca fraction in the root tissue is taken up by processes which are not rate-limited by metabolism is discussed.

Method for determining solutes in the cell walls of leaves

A perfusion method is described whereby large discs of amphistomatous leaves are vacuum-perfused with water so that either successive fractions of perfusate may be analyzed for solutes or the infused water may be displaced and collected after equilibration with the leaf cells. With castor bean leaves, estimates of electrolyte concentration in cell wall water by the two methods were similar. Total electrolytes in leaf cell wall water of castor beans (Ricinus communis), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata) from nonsaline cultures were about 2, 2, and 10 milliequivalents per liter, respectively, increasing to 4, 10, and 30 milliequivalents per liter under saline conditions. Electrolytes recovered in successive fractions were similar in composition, and continuous perfusion resulted in a steady release of solutes, the concentration in the perfusate varying inversely with the perfusion rate. Diffusional release of solutes from cells was less than expected at low perfusion rates, suggesting that solute reabsorption may increase as solute concentration in the perfusate increases with decreased perfusion rates. Perfusate concentration and composition were essentially unaffected by temperature (2 and 23 C) or by perfusing with 0.5 mm CaSO(4) rather than with water. Electrolytes in perfusates on an equivalent basis were Ca(2+), 30%; Mg(2+), 10%; and Na(+) + K(+), 60%, the proportions of sodium increasing from 10 to 50% in leaves (cabbage) that accumulated sodium under saline conditions. Salinity (added NaCl) of the root culture medium caused a 3- to 5-fold increase in total cell wall electrolyte concentration, but this amounted to an increase from less than 1 or a few per cent to no more than 7% (in cabbage) of the cell sap electrolyte concentrations. Solutes in the cell wall appear to be in dynamic equilibrium with intracellular solutes.

Electrical potential differences in cells of barley roots and their relation to ion uptake

Single cell electropotentials of barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. ;Compana') root cortex were measured at different external concentrations of KCl in the presence of Ca(2+). The roots were low in salt from seedlings grown on 0.5 mm aerated CaSO(4) solution. Thus, the conditions were equivalent to those used to define the dual mechanisms found with radioactive tracer-labeled ion uptake. In 0.5 mm CaSO(4) alone, there is an increase with time of cell negativity from about -65 millivolts 15 minutes after cutting segments to about -185 millivolts in 6 to 8 hours. Two possible hypotheses, not mutually exclusive, are offered to explain this aging effect: that cutting exposes plasmodesmata which are leaky initially but which seal in time, and that some internal factors, e.g., hormones diffusing from the apex, have a regulatory effect on the cell potential, an influence which becomes dissipated in isolated segments and permits the development of a higher potential difference. In any case changes in selective ion transport must be involved. The cell potentials at KCl concentrations above 2.0 mm are more negative than would be expected for a passive diffusion potential. It is suggested that this discrepancy may be due to an electrogenic pump or to a higher K(+) concentration in the cytoplasm than in the remainder of the cell, or perhaps to both. Whether there is a clear relationship between cell potential and mechanisms 1 and 2 of cation transport depends upon whether the cell potentials of freshly cut or of aged tissue represent the values relevant to intact roots.