Pollen germination and subsequent pollen tube elongation are essential for successful land plant reproduction. These processes are achieved through well-documented activation of membrane trafficking and cell metabolism. Despite this, our knowledge of the dynamics of cellular phospholipids remains scarce. Here we present the turnover of the glycerolipid composition during the establishment of cell polarity and elongation processes in tobacco pollen and show the lipid composition of pollen plasma membrane-enriched fraction for the first time. To achieve this, we have combined several techniques, such as lipidomics, plasma membrane isolation, and live-cell microscopy, and performed a study with different time points during the pollen germination and pollen tube growth. Our results showed that tobacco pollen tubes undergo substantial changes in their whole-cell lipid composition during the pollen germination and growth, finding differences in most of the glycerolipids analyzed. Notably, while lysophospholipid levels decrease during germination and growth, phosphatidic acid increases significantly at cell polarity establishment and continues with similar abundance in cell elongation. We corroborated these findings by measuring several phospholipase activities in situ. We also observed that lysophospholipids and phosphatidic acid are more abundant in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction than that in the whole cell. Our results support the important role for the phosphatidic acid in the establishment and maintenance of cellular polarity in tobacco pollen tubes and indicate that plasma membrane lysophospholipids may be involved in pollen germination.

• Keywords
• lipidomics, phosphatidic acid, phospholipid, plasma membrane, pollen, pollen tube, tip growth, tobacco,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Magnesium (Mg2+) is a macronutrient involved in essential cellular processes. Its deficiency or excess is a stress factor for plants, seriously affecting their growth and development and therefore, its accurate regulation is essential. Recently, we discovered that phospholipase Dα1 (PLDα1) activity is vital in the stress response to high-magnesium conditions in Arabidopsis roots. This study shows that PLDα1 acts as a negative regulator of high-Mg2+-induced leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. The level of phosphatidic acid produced by PLDα1 and the amount of PLDα1 in the leaves increase in plants treated with high Mg2+. A knockout mutant of PLDα1 (pldα1-1), exhibits premature leaf senescence under high-Mg2+ conditions. In pldα1-1 plants, higher accumulation of abscisic and jasmonic acid (JA) and impaired magnesium, potassium and phosphate homeostasis were observed under high-Mg2+ conditions. High Mg2+ also led to an increase of starch and proline content in Arabidopsis plants. While the starch content was higher in pldα1-1 plants, proline content was significantly lower in pldα1-1 compared with wild type plants. Our results show that PLDα1 is essential for Arabidopsis plants to cope with the pleiotropic effects of high-Mg2+ stress and delay the leaf senescence.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis thaliana, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, leaf senescence, magnesium homeostasis, phospholipase D, proline, starch,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) is a new member of the plant phospholipase family that reacts to abiotic environmental stresses, such as phosphate deficiency, high salinity, heat and aluminium toxicity, and is involved in root development, silicon distribution and brassinolide signalling. Six NPC genes (NPC1-NPC6) are found in the Arabidopsis genome. The NPC2 isoform has not been experimentally characterized so far. METHODS: The Arabidopsis NPC2 isoform was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. NPC2 enzyme activity was determined using fluorescent phosphatidylcholine as a substrate. Tissue expression and subcellular localization were analysed using GUS- and GFP-tagged NPC2. The expression patterns of NPC2 were analysed via quantitative real-time PCR. Independent homozygous transgenic plant lines overexpressing NPC2 under the control of a 35S promoter were generated, and reactive oxygen species were measured using a luminol-based assay. KEY RESULTS: The heterologously expressed protein possessed phospholipase C activity, being able to hydrolyse phosphatidylcholine to diacylglycerol. NPC2 tagged with GFP was predominantly localized to the Golgi apparatus in Arabidopsis roots. The level of NPC2 transcript is rapidly altered during plant immune responses and correlates with the activation of multiple layers of the plant defence system. Transcription of NPC2 decreased substantially after plant infiltration with Pseudomonas syringae, flagellin peptide flg22 and salicylic acid treatments and expression of the effector molecule AvrRpm1. The decrease in NPC2 transcript levels correlated with a decrease in NPC2 enzyme activity. NPC2-overexpressing mutants showed higher reactive oxygen species production triggered by flg22. CONCLUSIONS: This first experimental characterization of NPC2 provides new insights into the role of the non-specific phospholipase C protein family. The results suggest that NPC2 is involved in the response of Arabidopsis to P. syringae attack.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis thaliana, MAMP-triggered immunity, Pseudomonas syringae, effector-triggered immunity, flagellin, non-specific phospholipase C, phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, reactive oxygen species,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis enzymology   immunology   microbiology   MeSH
• Phosphatidylcholines metabolism   MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases genetics   physiology   MeSH
• Golgi Apparatus enzymology   MeSH
• Plant Immunity physiology   MeSH
• Cloning, Molecular MeSH
• Microscopy, Confocal MeSH
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Plant Diseases immunology   microbiology   MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins genetics   physiology   MeSH
• Protoplasts enzymology   MeSH
• Pseudomonas syringae * MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Phosphatidylcholines MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases MeSH
• NPC2 protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Browser
• Arabidopsis Proteins MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species MeSH

The Arabidopsis non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) protein family is encoded by the genes NPC1 - NPC6. It has been shown that NPC4 and NPC5 possess phospholipase C activity; NPC3 has lysophosphatidic acid phosphatase activity. NPC3, 4 and 5 play roles in the responses to hormones and abiotic stresses. NPC1, 2 and 6 has not been studied functionally yet. We found that Arabidopsis NPC1 expressed in Escherichia coli possesses phospholipase C activity in vitro. This protein was able to hydrolyse phosphatidylcholine to diacylglycerol. NPC1-green fluorescent protein was localized to secretory pathway compartments in Arabidopsis roots. In the knock out T-DNA insertion line NPC1 (npc1) basal thermotolerance was impaired compared with wild-type (WT); npc1 exhibited significant decreases in survival rate and chlorophyll content at the seventh day after heat stress (HS). Conversely, plants overexpressing NPC1 (NPC1-OE) were more resistant to HS compared with WT. These findings suggest that NPC1 is involved in the plant response to heat.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis thaliana, diacylglycerol, heat stress, non-specific phospholipase C, phospholipids,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The first indication of the aluminum (Al) toxicity in plants growing in acidic soils is the cessation of root growth, but the detailed mechanism of Al effect is unknown. Here we examined the impact of Al stress on the activity of non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) in the connection with the processes related to the plasma membrane using fluorescently labeled phosphatidylcholine. We observed a rapid and significant decrease of labeled diacylglycerol (DAG), product of NPC activity, in Arabidopsis seedlings treated with AlCl₃. Interestingly, an application of the membrane fluidizer, benzyl alcohol, restored the level of DAG during Al treatment. Our observations suggest that the activity of NPC is affected by Al-induced changes in plasma membrane physical properties.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis thaliana, BA, benzyl alcohol, BODIPY, BODIPY, 4, 4-difluoro-4-bora-3a, 4a-diaza-s-indacene, BY-2, Bright Yellow 2, DAG, diacylglycerol, HP-TLC, high-performance thin-layer chromatography, MS, Murashige-Skoog, NPC, non-specific phospholipase C, PA, phosphatidic acid, PC, phosphatidylcholine, PC-PLC, phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, PI-PLC, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, PIP2, phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate, PLD, phospholipase D, PM, plasma membrane., aluminum toxicity, benzyl alcohol, diacylglycerol, membrane fluidity, non-specific phospholipase C,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis drug effects   enzymology   MeSH
• Benzyl Alcohol pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Membrane drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Diglycerides metabolism   MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases metabolism   MeSH
• Aluminum pharmacology   MeSH
• Ions MeSH
• Plant Roots drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Seedlings drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Boron Compounds metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 1,2-diacylglycerol MeSH Browser
• 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene MeSH Browser
• Benzyl Alcohol MeSH
• Diglycerides MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases MeSH
• Aluminum MeSH
• Ions MeSH
• Boron Compounds MeSH

Aluminum ions (Al) have been recognized as a major toxic factor for crop production in acidic soils. The first indication of the Al toxicity in plants is the cessation of root growth, but the mechanism of root growth inhibition is largely unknown. Here we examined the impact of Al on the expression, activity, and function of the non-specific phospholipase C4 (NPC4), a plasma membrane-bound isoform of NPC, a member of the plant phospholipase family, in Arabidopsis thaliana. We observed a lower expression of NPC4 using β-glucuronidase assay and a decreased formation of labeled diacylglycerol, product of NPC activity, using fluorescently labeled phosphatidylcholine as a phospholipase substrate in Arabidopsis WT seedlings treated with AlCl3 for 2 h. The effect on in situ NPC activity persisted for longer Al treatment periods (8, 14 h). Interestingly, in seedlings overexpressing NPC4, the Al-mediated NPC-inhibiting effect was alleviated at 14 h. However, in vitro activity and localization of NPC4 were not affected by Al, thus excluding direct inhibition by Al ions or possible translocation of NPC4 as the mechanisms involved in NPC-inhibiting effect. Furthermore, the growth of tobacco pollen tubes rapidly arrested by Al was partially rescued by the overexpression of AtNPC4 while Arabidopsis npc4 knockout lines were found to be more sensitive to Al stress during long-term exposure of Al at low phosphate conditions. Our observations suggest that NPC4 plays a role in both early and long-term responses to Al stress.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis, aluminum toxicity, diacylglycerol, non-specific phospholipase C, plasma membrane, pollen tube, signaling, tobacco,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Phosphatidylcholine-hydrolysing phospholipase C, also known as non-specific phospholipase C (NPC), is a new member of the plant phospholipase family that reacts to environmental stresses such as phosphate deficiency and aluminium toxicity, and has a role in root development and brassinolide signalling. Expression of NPC4, one of the six NPC genes in Arabidopsis, was highly induced by NaCl. Maximum expression was observed from 3 h to 6 h after the salt treatment and was dependent on salt concentration. Results of histochemical analysis of P(NPC4):GUS plants showed the localization of salt-induced expression in root tips. On the biochemical level, increased NPC enzyme activity, indicated by accumulation of diacylglycerol, was observed as early as after 30 min of salt treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings. Phenotype analysis of NPC4 knockout plants showed increased sensitivity to salinity as compared with wild-type plants. Under salt stress npc4 plants had shorter roots, lower fresh weight, and reduced seed germination. Expression levels of abscisic acid-related genes ABI1, ABI2, RAB18, PP2CA, and SOT12 were substantially reduced in salt-treated npc4 plants. These observations demonstrate a role for NPC4 in the response of Arabidopsis to salt stress.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis drug effects   enzymology   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Sodium Chloride metabolism   pharmacology   MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases genetics   metabolism   physiology   MeSH
• Plants, Genetically Modified MeSH
• Plant Roots drug effects   enzymology   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Abscisic Acid genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins genetics   metabolism   physiology   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant MeSH
• Signal Transduction MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Sodium Chloride MeSH
• Type C Phospholipases MeSH
• Abscisic Acid MeSH
• NPC4 protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Browser
• Arabidopsis Proteins MeSH