Glutamate receptor-like genes form Ca2+ channels in pollen ubes and are regulated by pistil D-serine

作者：Michard E; Lima P T; Borges F; Catarina Silva A; Teresa Portes M; Carvalho J E; Gilliham M; Liu L H; Obermeyer G; Feijo J A

来源：Science, 2011, 332(6028): 434-437.

DOI：10.1126/science.1201101

Elevations in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+] cyt) constitute a fundamental signal transduction mechanism in eukaryotic cells, but the molecular identity of Ca2+ channels initiating this signal in plants is still under debate. Here, we show by pharmacology and loss-of-function mutants that in tobacco and Arabidopsis, glutamate receptor-like channels (GLRs) facilitate Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane, modulate apical [Ca2+]cyt gradient, and consequently affect pollen tube growth and morphogenesis. Additionally, wild-type pollen tubes grown in pistils of knock-out mutants for serine-racemase (SR1) displayed growth defects consistent with a decrease in GLR activity. Our findings reveal a novel plant signaling mechanism between male gametophyte and pistil tissue similar to amino acid-mediated communication commonly observed in animal nervous systems.

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