title: Blue Light Induces a Distinct Starch Degradation Pathway in Guard Cells for Stomatal Opening.
abstract: Stomatal pores form a crucial interface between the leaf mesophyll and the atmosphere, controlling water and carbon balance in plants [1]. Major advances have been made in understanding the regulatory networks and ion fluxes in the guard cells surrounding the stomatal pore [2]. However, our knowledge on the role of carbon metabolism in these cells is still fragmentary [3-5]. In particular, the contribution of starch in stomatal opening remains elusive [6]. Here, we used Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant to provide the first quantitative analysis of starch turnover in guard cells of intact leaves during the diurnal cycle. Starch is present in guard cells at the end of night, unlike in the rest of the leaf, but is rapidly degraded within 30 min of light. This process is critical for the rapidity of stomatal opening and biomass production. We exploited Arabidopsis molecular genetics to define the mechanism and regulation of guard cell starch metabolism, showing it to be mediated by a previously uncharacterized pathway. This involves the synergistic action of β-amylase 1 (BAM1) and α-amylase 3 (AMY3)-enzymes that are normally not required for nighttime starch degradation in other leaf tissues. This pathway is under the control of the phototropin-dependent blue-light signaling cascade and correlated with the activity of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. Our results show that guard cell starch degradation has an important role in plant growth by driving stomatal responses to light.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Horrer
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flütsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pazmino
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jack S A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thalmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement des Plantes (LBDP), UMR 7265 CNRS-CEA Université Aix-Marseille II, CEA Cadarache Bat 156, 13108 Saint Paul Lez Durance, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leonhardt
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: dsantelia@botinst.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santelia
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008027:Light; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000502:physiology*; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013213:Starch