title: AtALMT12 represents an R-type anion channel required for stomatal movement in Arabidopsis guard cells.
abstract: Stomatal pores formed by a pair of guard cells in the leaf epidermis control gas exchange and transpirational water loss. Stomatal closure is mediated by the release of potassium and anions from guard cells. Anion efflux from guard cells involves slow (S-type) and rapid (R-type) anion channels. Recently the SLAC1 gene has been shown to encode the slow, voltage-independent anion channel component in guard cells. In contrast, the R-type channel still awaits identification. Here, we show that AtALMT12, a member of the aluminum activated malate transporter family in Arabidopsis, represents a guard cell R-type anion channel. AtALMT12 is highly expressed in guard cells and is targeted to the plasma membrane. Plants lacking AtALMT12 are impaired in dark- and CO₂ -induced stomatal closure, as well as in response to the drought-stress hormone abscisic acid. Patch-clamp studies on guard cell protoplasts isolated from atalmt12 mutants revealed reduced R-type currents compared with wild-type plants when malate is present in the bath media. Following expression of AtALMT12 in Xenopus oocytes, voltage-dependent anion currents reminiscent to R-type channels could be activated. In line with the features of the R-type channel, the activity of heterologously expressed AtALMT12 depends on extracellular malate. Thereby this key metabolite and osmolite of guard cells shifts the threshold for voltage activation of AtALMT12 towards more hyperpolarized potentials. R-Type channels, like voltage-dependent cation channels in nerve cells, are capable of transiently depolarizing guard cells, and thus could trigger membrane potential oscillations, action potentials and initiate long-term anion and K(+) efflux via SLAC1 and GORK, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mumm
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Imes
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Endler
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weder
authors.forename: Khaled A S
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Al-Rasheid
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marten
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinoia
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hedrich
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters