Sistema de absorção de k+ de alta afinidade em plantas de sorgo forrageiro: papel da h+-atpase de membrana plasmática e dos componentes sensível e não-sensível ao íon nh4+

Abstract

K+ influx in the range of high affinity is mediated by K+ carriers and channels, which can be distinguished by its differential sensibility to NH4+. The activity of the NH4+-sensitive component (carrier) and NH4+-insensitive component (channel) depend upon plasma membrane H+-ATPase. This work aimed the physiological and molecular characterization of system mediating K+ uptake in the high-affinity range of concentration in sorghum [(Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)]. The effect of K+ starvation and nitrogen inorganic source of the growth solution on high-affinity K+ uptake was also studied. Seeds of sorghum, genotype CSF20, were germinated and placed in modified one-fourth Hoagland solutions, which were formulated to contain 0,2 and 1,4 mM K+ and three nitrogen inorganic source, NO3- and NH4+ (4 mM) and NO3-/NH4+ in combination (2mM/2mM). Plants were grown for 15 days (t0) in complete nutritive solutions and then incubated in a K+-free solutions for one (t1), two (t2) and three (t3)days. At t0, K+ content of shoot was significantly decreased in plants grown in the presence of NH4+. In roots, the presence of NH4+ did altered the K+ content only of plants cultivated in solutions with lowest K+ concentration. The K+ content of the plant tissues was progressively reduced according to increasing of starvation period and increasing of dry matter (dilution). The highest reductions were observed in K+ content of the shoot. At the lowest level of K+ (0,2 mM), plants grown in solutions containing NO3- and NO3-/NH4+ showed similar uptake efficiency of K+. Whereas, the presence of NH4 as sole nitrogen source, reduced severely the absorption rates of K+. The effect of NH4+ on uptake efficiency of K+ was alleviated by increasing the external K+ concentration to 1,4 mM K+. At both levels of K+, the translocation rate of K+ was not altered by the presence of NH4 + and by K+ starvation. Assays of depletion in the external medium of K+ (100 μM) showed that plants growing in the presence of NO3-/NH4+ and NH4+ were more efficient to deplete external K+ than plants grown with NO3- , as sole nitrogen source. Kinetic parameters were significantly different at second day (t2) of deprivation. In the presence of NH4 +, as sole nitrogen source, Imax values were higher than those of plants grown in NO3-/NH4 + and NO3 -. On the other hand, Km values were lower in plants from solutions containing NH4+ and NO3 -/NH4 + than those cultivated in NO3-, as sole nitrogen source. High-affinity uptake of K+ responded to changes in plant K+ status, mainly to K+ content of aerial parts. K+ uptake by plants growing in NO3- was significantly inhibited by inclusion of NH4 at 1 mM in depletion solution, whereas it was not inhibited in plants grown with NH4 +, as sole nitrogen source. TEA (tetraethylammonium) inhibited the K+ influx of plants cultivated in solution containing NH4 +, as sole nitrogen source. The results suggest that factors such as presence of K+ or NH4 + during plant growth determine the relative contribution of each component to high-affinity uptake system of K+. In K+-starved plants grown in the presence of NH4 +, K+ channel could contribute to K+ uptake in the range of high-affinity concentration. On the other hand, in K+-starved plants grown without NH4 +, K+ carrier could constitute the principal route for K+ uptake. Active H+-transport driven by plasma membrane H+-ATPase of sorghum roots was stimulated by K+ deficiency and NH4 + in plants from solutions with high K+ level. However, these factors affected the initial rate 13 of H+-pumping and hydrolytic activity of ATP, but not H+-gradient formation, in plants from solutions containing 0,2 mM K+. These activities were not changed when plants were cultivated in growth solutions containing NO3 - and submitted to K+-starvation. Two specific isoforms of PM H+-ATPase by immuno-detection were detected, independent of the nitrogen source and deficiency period. No change in enzyme activity was observed in NO3 --grown. cDNA sequences corresponding to plasma membrane H+-ATPase (SBA1 and SBA2), K+ channels (SbAKT) and K+ carrier (SbHAK1) from sorghum genome were identified. The expression level of these genes was analyzed by real-time PCR. SBA1 and SBA2 genes were included at subfamily II and I of plasma membrane H+-ATPase, respectively. In plants cultivated in solutions containing 0,2 mM K+ and with NH4+, the accumulation of SBA1 and SBA2 transcripts was observed after 48 h (t2) of K+ deficiency. Whereas, the expression level of these genes was reduced in plants cultivated with NO3 -. In roots came from solutions containing 1,4 mM K+ level, the accumulation of SBA1 transcripts was only observed in the presence of NH4 + and after 48 h (t2) of K+ deficiency. The transcript level of both genes increased only at t1 in roots cultivated in solution containing NO3 -, as sole nitrogen source. Transcipts of SbAKT and SbHAK1 were not detectable by real-time PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that SbAKT belongs to Shaker channel family of plants and is also closely related to members of other gramineous species. The results suggest that K+ homeostasis in NH4+-grown sorghum plants may be regulated by a high capacity for K+ uptake, which is dependent upon the H+ -pumping activity of PM H+-ATPase and K+ channels.