title: Methylation of aquaporins in plant plasma membrane.
abstract: A thorough analysis, using MS, of aquaporins expressed in plant root PM (plasma membrane) was performed, with the objective of revealing novel post-translational regulations. Here we show that the N-terminal tail of PIP (PM intrinsic protein) aquaporins can exhibit multiple modifications and is differentially processed between members of the PIP1 and PIP2 subclasses. Thus the initiating methionine was acetylated or cleaved in native PIP1 and PIP2 isoforms respectively. In addition, several residues were detected to be methylated in PIP2 aquaporins. Lys3 and Glu6 of PIP2;1, one of the most abundant aquaporins in the PM, occurred as di- and mono-methylated residues respectively. Ectopic expression in Arabidopsis suspension cells of PIP2;1, either wild-type or with altered methylation sites, revealed an interplay between methylation at the two sites. Measurements of water transport in PM vesicles purified from these cells suggested that PIP2;1 methylation does not interfere with the aquaporin intrinsic water permeability. In conclusion, the present study identifies methylation as a novel post-translational modification of aquaporins, and even plant membrane proteins, and may represent a critical advance towards the identification of new regulatory mechanisms of membrane transport.
authors.affiliation: Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Agro-M/INRA/CNRS/UM2 UMR5004, 2 place Viala, F-34060 Montpellier cedex 1, France. santoniv@ensam.inra.fr
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verdoucq
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sommerer
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vinh
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pflieger
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maurel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014162:Transfection; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C491680:plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2 Arabidopsis; D014867:Water