Journal
CURRENT BIOLOGY
Volume 26, Issue 3, Pages 362-370Publisher
CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.036
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Funding
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) [31003A_147074]
- SNSF [PMPDP3_139645]
- Vontobel Stiftung grant [F-74503-12]
- Agence Nationale a la Recherche [ANR-ENERGIZER ANR-JC09_439044]
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) [BB/1001187_1]
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [BB/L001187/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) [31003A_147074, PMPDP3_139645] Funding Source: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
- BBSRC [BB/L001187/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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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 beta-amylase 1 (BAM1) and alpha-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.
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