Identification and characterization of two plasma membrane aquaporins in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) and their role in abiotic stress tolerance

Ayadi, Malika;Cavez, Damien;Miled, Nabil;Chaumont, François;Masmoudi, Khaled
(2011) Plant Physiology and Biochemistry — Vol. 49, n° 9, p. 1029-1039 (2011)

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Authors
  • Ayadi, Malika
    Author
  • Cavez, Damien
    Author
  • Miled, Nabil
    Author
  • Author
  • Masmoudi, Khaled
    Author
Abstract
Plant plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIP) cluster in two phylogenetic groups, PIP1 and PIP2 that have different water channel activities when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. PIP2s induce a marked increase of the membrane osmotic water-permeability coefficient (P(f)), whereas PIP1s are generally inactive. Here we report the cloning of two durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) cDNAs encoding TdPIP1;1 and TdPIP2;1 belonging to the PIP1 and PIP2 subfamilies, respectively. Contrary to TdPIP1;1, expression of TdPIP2;1 in Xenopus oocytes resulted in an increase in P(f) compared to water-injected oocytes. Co-expression of the non-functional TdPIP1;1 and the functional TdPIP2;1 lead to a significant increase in P(f) compared with oocytes expressing TdPIP2;1 alone. A truncated form of TdPIP2;1, tdpip2;1, missing the first two transmembrane domains, had no water channel activity. Nonetheless, its co-expression with the functional TdPIP2;1 partially inhibits the P(f) and disrupt the activities of plant aquaporins. In contrast to the approach developed in Xenopus oocytes, phenotypic analyses of transgenic tobacco plants expressing TdPIP1;1 or TdPIP2;1 generated a tolerance phenotype towards osmotic and salinity stress. TdPIP1;1 and TdPIP2;1 are differentially regulated in roots and leaves in the salt-tolerant wheat variety when challenged with salt stress and abscisic acid. Confocal microscopy analysis of tobacco roots expressing TdPIP1;1 and TdPIP2;1 fused to the green fluorescent protein showed that the proteins were localized at the plasma membrane.
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Citations

Ayadi, M., Cavez, D., Miled, N., Chaumont, F., & Masmoudi, K. (2011). Identification and characterization of two plasma membrane aquaporins in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) and their role in abiotic stress tolerance. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 49(9), 1029-1039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2011.06.002 (Original work published 2011)