Biomedical subjects

F Vicente-Agullo

Publications and source records attributed to F Vicente-Agullo.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Morphometric analysis of root shape.

Alterations in the root shape in plant mutants indicate defects in hormonal signalling, transport and cytoskeleton function. To quantify the root shape, we introduced novel parameters designated vertical growth index (VGI) and horizontal growth index (HGI). VGI was defined as a ratio between the root tip ordinate and the root length. HGI was the ratio between the root tip abscissa and the root length. To assess the applicability of VGI and HGI for quantification of root shape, we analysed root development in agravitropic Arabidopsis mutants. Statistical analysis indicated that VGI is a sensitive morphometric parameter enabling detection of weak gravitropic defects. VGI dynamics were qualitatively similar in auxin-transport mutants aux1, pin2 and trh1, but different in the auxin-signalling mutant axr2. Analysis of VGI and HGI of roots grown on tilted plates showed that the trh1 mutation affected downstream cellular responses rather than perception of the gravitropic stimulus. All these tests indicate that the VGI and HGI analysis is a versatile and sensitive method for the study of root morphology.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2001

Multiple roles of the conserved key residue arginine 209 in neuronal nicotinic receptors.

We have examined the role of a highly conserved arginine (R209), which flanks the M1 transmembrane segment of nAChRs, in the biogenesis and function of neuronal nAChRs. Point mutations revealed that, in alphaBgtx-sensitive neuronal alpha7 nAChRs, the conserved arginine is required for the transport of assembled receptors to the cell surface. By contrast, R209 does not play any role in the transport of assembled alpha-Bgtx-insensitive neuronal alpha3beta4 nAChRs to the cell surface. However, a basic residue at this position of alpha3 and beta4 subunits is necessary for either synthesis, folding, or assembly of alpha3beta4 receptors. Moreover, electrophysiological experiments revealed that in alpha3beta4 receptors the conserved arginine of the alpha3 subunit is involved in either coupling agonist binding to the channel or regulating single channel kinetics.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

TRH1 encodes a potassium transporter required for tip growth in Arabidopsis root hairs.

Root hair initiation involves the formation of a bulge at the basal end of the trichoblast by localized diffuse growth. Tip growth occurs subsequently at this initiation site and is accompanied by the establishment of a polarized cytoplasmic organization. Arabidopsis plants homozygous for a complete loss-of-function tiny root hair 1 (trh1) mutation were generated by means of the T-DNA-tagging method. Trichoblasts of trh1 plants form initiation sites but fail to undergo tip growth. A predicted primary structure of TRH1 indicates that it belongs to the AtKT/AtKUP/HAK K(+) transporter family. The proposed function of TRH1 as a K(+) transporter was confirmed in (86)Rb uptake experiments, which demonstrated that trh1 plants are partially impaired in K(+) transport. In line with these results, TRH1 was able to complement the trk1 potassium transporter mutant of Saccharomyces, which is defective in high-affinity K(+) uptake. Surprisingly, the trh1 phenotype was not restored when mutant seedlings were grown at high external potassium concentrations. These data demonstrate that TRH1 mediates K(+) transport in Arabidopsis roots and is responsible for specific K(+) translocation, which is essential for root hair elongation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗