The role of anion channels in polarity control of tip growing plant cells

• Applicant: Kai Konrad, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics ; Plant Physiology
• Term: from 2009 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 137317768

Tip growing plant cells such as root hairs and pollen tubes create an external electrical field. When this endogenous field is superimposed by an external electromagnetic field or exposed to ionic gradients across the cell, growth direction changes. The internal electrical field of polar growing cells is generated by distinct zones extruding protons, potassium and/or anions as well as zones characterized by calciumand/ or K+ influx.The final goal of this project is to unravel the molecular nature of the ion conductance required to establish the endogenous electrical field and in turn growth direction. This will be realized by studying root hair growth in Arabidopsis mutants lacking the K+ channel uptake module AKT1/AtKC1 as well as the K+ release channel GORK. Major focus, however, will be on the root hair anion channel RHAC1, very recently identified in the lab of the applicant. In parallel to monitoring polar growth, we will measure membrane potential and ionic currents and map ROS production as well as cytoplasmic calcium activity along the expanding cell.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. José Alberto Feijó; Professorin Dr. Tina Romeis