Blue light signaling in stomatal guard cells

  • Published : 2002.08.01

Abstract

Blue light activates proton pump, and creates electrical gradient across the plasma membrane and drives $K^{+}$ uptake in stomatal guard cells. In this presentation, we provide evidence for regulatory mechanisms of the pump and the identification of blue light receptor. The pump is shown to be the plasma membrane H$^{+}$- ATPase and is activated through phosphorylation of the C-terminus. Phosphorylation occurred and 14-3-3 protein bound to the phosphorylation site. The binding of 14-3-3 protein was required for the H$^{+}$-ATPase activation. We also found that phot1 phot2 double mutant does not respond to blue light but other mutants respond to blue light by stomatal opening. However, all these mutants are capable of stomatal opening in the presence of fusicoccin, an activator of the H$^{+}$-ATPase. These results suggest that both photl and phot2 act as blue light receptors in guard cells.d cells.

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