Search

Potassium is very mobile in plants and is transported across membranes using transporters and channels. It is present in the ionic form K+ in plants. Also, in the form of this ion, K+ is taken up by plants from the soil solution. The uptake is mediated by the transporter HAK5 and by the channel AKT1. The transfer of K+ to the xylem is provided by the channel SKOR and the transporter KUP7. The role of potassium as an osmotically active element is crucial. K+ helps to regulate the amount of water in the cells and thus to maintain the turgor. Turgor is important for maintaining the shape of the plant cells and for its growth. Stomatal guard cells are used as a model system for describing processes related to the K+ osmotic function. Movement of K+ is involved in the regulation of opening and closing of stomata on the principle of turgor changes. Transport of K+ into guard cells is provided by channels KAT1, KAT2, AKT1 and AKT2. On the contrary, K+ release is mediated by the channel GORK on the plasma membrane and TPK1 on the tonoplast. K+ supports also the transport of assimilates in the phloem, where the channel AKT2 plays a role. The osmotic functions of K+ are the main topic of this bachelor thesis, which summarizes current knowledge about transport mechanisms necessary for the function of K+ as osmotically...

Stomata are structures in plant epidermis which regulate contact between inner and outer environment of the plant by mediating their stomatal aperture. Many inner and outer signals contribute to the ontogenesis of the stomatal pattern. Guard cells undergo significant change of volume and surface during stomatal movement. This change of surface must be compensated by intracellular trafficking of membrane material because biological membrane has limited elasticity. Most of this trafficking takes place between plasma membrane and endosomal compartments. Complex exocyst is protein complex that ensures proper targeting of secretory vesicles to their destination on the plasma membrane. Function of this complex is essential for many cellular processes that require precise targeting of secretion. Mutation in gene Exo70B1 causes different development of the stomatal pattern. Plants with mutated Exo70B1 differ in stomatal size depending on the cultivation conditions more than wild type plant. Protein EXO70B1 is also directly involved in stomatal dynamics because mutants exo70B1 have retarded stomatal opening in response to light. This direct connection can be observed on the fluorescently labeled protein EXOB1 which significantly changes its localization during stomatal movements. None of these observed phenotypes is...

Stomata are epidermal structures mediating regulated contact of plant apoplast with surrounding environment via stomatal opening. Change of turgor plays crucial part in initiation of stomatal opening or closure. During stomatal movement, guard cell undergo considerable and repetitive changes in cell volume and consequently surface area over a period of minutes. Alteration in the surface of membrane must occurs due to limited stretching capability of the plasma membrane. It can be achieved through membrane invaginations and endocytosis of small vesicles. Microscopy and electrophysiology techniques have proven that both processes are happening in guard cells. These processes are controlled and managed by complex web of signal pathways in which actin and microtubular cytoskeletons, SNARE proteins, ion channels and others molecules have crucial parts. The aim of this work is to summarize current knowledge on the processes and mechanisms of these membranes surface changes and their molecular principle.