γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) homeostasis regulates pollen germination and polarized growth in Picea wilsonii

Planta. 2013 Nov;238(5):831-43. doi: 10.1007/s00425-013-1938-5. Epub 2013 Jul 31.

Abstract

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a four-carbon non-protein amino acid found in a wide range of organisms. Recently, GABA accumulation has been shown to play a role in the stress response and cell growth in angiosperms. However, the effect of GABA deficiency on pollen tube development remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that specific concentrations of exogenous GABA stimulated pollen tube growth in Picea wilsonii, while an overdose suppressed pollen tube elongation. The germination percentage of pollen grains and morphological variations in pollen tubes responded in a dose-dependent manner to treatment with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MP), a glutamate decarboxylase inhibitor, while the inhibitory effects could be recovered in calcium-containing medium supplemented with GABA. Using immunofluorescence labeling, we found that the actin cables were disorganized in 3-MP treated cells, followed by the transition of endo/exocytosis activating sites from the apex to the whole tube shank. In addition, variations in the deposition of cell wall components were detected upon labeling with JIM5, JIM7, and aniline blue. Our results demonstrated that calcium-dependent GABA signaling regulates pollen germination and polarized tube growth in P. wilsonii by affecting actin filament patterns, vesicle trafficking, and the configuration and distribution of cell wall components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid / pharmacology
  • Actin Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Cell Wall / drug effects
  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Cytoplasmic Vesicles / drug effects
  • Cytoplasmic Vesicles / metabolism
  • Fluorescence
  • Germination / drug effects*
  • Homeostasis / drug effects*
  • Picea / drug effects*
  • Picea / growth & development*
  • Pollen / anatomy & histology
  • Pollen / drug effects
  • Pollen / growth & development*
  • Pollen Tube / drug effects
  • Pollen Tube / growth & development
  • Pyridinium Compounds / metabolism
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Actins
  • FM 4-64
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid
  • Calcium