Single-molecule analysis of PIP2;1 dynamics and partitioning reveals multiple modes of Arabidopsis plasma membrane aquaporin regulation

Plant Cell. 2011 Oct;23(10):3780-97. doi: 10.1105/tpc.111.091454. Epub 2011 Oct 18.

Abstract

PIP2;1 is an integral membrane protein that facilitates water transport across plasma membranes. To address the dynamics of Arabidopsis thaliana PIP2;1 at the single-molecule level as well as their role in PIP2;1 regulation, we tracked green fluorescent protein-PIP2;1 molecules by variable-angle evanescent wave microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Single-particle tracking analysis revealed that PIP2;1 presented four diffusion modes with large dispersion of diffusion coefficients, suggesting that partitioning and dynamics of PIP2;1 are heterogeneous and, more importantly, that PIP2;1 can move into or out of membrane microdomains. In response to salt stress, the diffusion coefficients and percentage of restricted diffusion increased, implying that PIP2;1 internalization was enhanced. This was further supported by the decrease in PIP2;1 density on plasma membranes by FCS. We additionally demonstrated that PIP2;1 internalization involves a combination of two pathways: a tyrphostin A23-sensitive clathrin-dependent pathway and a methyl-β-cyclodextrin-sensitive, membrane raft-associated pathway. The latter was efficiently stimulated under NaCl conditions. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that PIP2;1 molecules are heterogeneously distributed on the plasma membrane and that clathrin and membrane raft pathways cooperate to mediate the subcellular trafficking of PIP2;1, suggesting that the dynamic partitioning and recycling pathways might be involved in the multiple modes of regulating water permeability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aquaporins / analysis
  • Aquaporins / genetics
  • Aquaporins / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / ultrastructure
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / analysis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Clathrin / metabolism
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Models, Biological
  • Permeability
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / genetics
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / ultrastructure
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Transport / physiology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Water / metabolism
  • beta-Cyclodextrins / metabolism

Substances

  • Aquaporins
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Clathrin
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • beta-Cyclodextrins
  • methyl-beta-cyclodextrin
  • plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2 Arabidopsis
  • Water
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Sodium Chloride