Spatiotemporal dynamics of the electrical network activity in the root apex.
The study of electrical network systems, integrated with chemical signaling networks, is becoming a common trend in contemporary biology. Classical techniques are limited to the assessment of signals from doublets or triplets of cells at a fixed temporal bin width. At present, full characteristics of the electrical network distribution and dynamics in plant cells and tissues has not been established. Here, a 60-channels multielectrode array (MEA) is applied to study spatiotemporal characteristics of the electrical network activity of the root apex. Both intense spontaneous electrical activities and stimulation-elicited bursts of locally propagating electrical signals have been observed. Propagation of the spikes indicates the existence of excitable traveling waves in plants, similar to those observed in non-nerve electrogenic tissues of animals. Obtained data reveal synchronous electric activities of root cells emerging in a specific root apex region. The dynamic electrochemical activity of root apex cells is proposed to continuously integrate internal and external signaling for developmental adaptations in a changing environment.
Masi
E
E
Department of Horticulture, International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology, University of Florence, Viale delle idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.
Ciszak
M
M
Stefano
G
G
Renna
L
L
Azzarello
E
E
Pandolfi
C
C
Mugnai
S
S
Baluska
F
F
Arecchi
F T
FT
Mancuso
S
S
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004566:Electrodes; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D018519:Meristem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D003313:Zea mays / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium