Present address: The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and the University of Adelaide, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
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Investigating glutamate receptor-like gene co-expression in Arabidopsis thaliana
Article first published online: 12 FEB 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2008.01801.x
© 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
ROY, S. J., GILLIHAM, M., BERGER, B., ESSAH, P. A., CHEFFINGS, C., MILLER, A. J., DAVENPORT, R. J., LIU, L.-H., SKYNNER, M. J., DAVIES, J. M., RICHARDSON, P., LEIGH, R. A. and TESTER, M. (2008), Investigating glutamate receptor-like gene co-expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant, Cell & Environment, 31: 861–871. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2008.01801.x
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Present address: The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics and the University of Adelaide, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
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Present address: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
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Present address: Institute of Botany II, University of Cologne, Gyrhofstrasse 15, D-50931 Cologne, Germany.
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Present address: Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JY, UK.
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Present address: Oxford Institute of Ageing, Manor Rd Building, Manor Rd, Oxford, OX1 3UQ, UK.
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Present address: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agriculture University, 100094, Beijing, China.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 5 MAR 2008
- Article first published online: 12 FEB 2008
- Received 29 November 2007; received in revised form 3 February 2008; accepted for publication 5 February 2008
Keywords:
- AtGLR3.7;
- glutamate receptor-like genes;
- micro-EXpression amplification;
- single-cell sampling;
- two-electrode voltage clamp;
- Xenopus oocytes
ABSTRACT
There is increasing evidence of the important roles of glutamate receptors (GLRs) in plant development and in adaptation to stresses. However, the studies of these putative ion channels, both in planta and in Xenopus oocytes, may have been limited by our lack of knowledge of possible GLR heteromer formation in plants. We have developed a modification of the single-cell sampling technique to investigate GLR co-expression, and thus potential heteromer formation, in single cells of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. Micro-EXpression amplification (MEX) has allowed us to amplify gene transcripts from a single cell, enabling expression of up to 100 gene transcripts to be assayed. We measured, on average, the transcripts of five to six different AtGLRs in a single cell. However, no consistent patterns of co-expression or cell-type-specific expression were detected, except that cells sampled from the same plant showed similar expression profiles. The only discernible feature was the detection of AtGLR3.7 in every cell examined, an observation supported by GUS staining patterns in plants stably expressing promoter::uidA fusions. In addition, we found AtGLR3.7 expression in oocytes induces a Ba2+-, Ca2+- and Na+-permeable plasma membrane conductance.