title: Aquaporin-facilitated water uptake in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) roots.
abstract: It is not known to what degree aquaporin-facilitated water uptake differs between root developmental regions and types of root. The aim of this study was to measure aquaporin-dependent water flow in the main types of root and root developmental regions of 14- to 17-d-old barley plants and to identify candidate aquaporins which mediate this flow. Water flow at root level was related to flow at cell and plant level. Plants were grown hydroponically. Hydraulic conductivity of cells and roots was determined with a pressure probe and through exudation, respectively, and whole-plant water flow (transpiration) determined gravimetrically in response to the commonly used aquaporin inhibitor HgCl(2). Expression of aquaporins was analysed by real-time PCR and in situ hybridization. Hydraulic conductivity of cortical cells in seminal roots was largest in lateral roots; it was smallest in the fully mature zone and intermediate in the not fully mature 'transition' zone along the main root axis. Adventitious roots displayed an even higher (3- to 4-fold) cortical cell hydraulic conductivity in the transition zone. This coincided with 3- to 4-fold higher expression of three aquaporins (HvPIP2;2, HvPIP2;5, HvTIP1:1). These were expressed (also) in cortical tissue. The largest inhibition of water flow (83-95%) in response to HgCl(2) was observed in cortical cells. Water flow through roots and plants was reduced less (40-74%). It is concluded that aquaporins contribute substantially to root water uptake in 14- to 17-d-old barley plants. Most water uptake occurs through lateral roots. HvPIP2;5, HvPIP2;2, and HvTIP1;1 are prime candidates to mediate water flow in cortical tissue.
authors: School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors: Thorsten
authors: T
authors: Knipfer
authors: Matthieu
authors: M
authors: Besse
authors: Jean-Luc
authors: JL
authors: Verdeil
authors: Wieland
authors: W
authors: Fricke
mesh_terms: D020346:Aquaporins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D001467:Hordeum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000187:drug effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014867:Water; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D004229:Dithiothreitol