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Regulation of sulfate uptake and xylem loading of poplar roots (Populus tremula x P. alba)

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Abstract

Sulfate transport processes and its regulation were studied in roots of poplar trees (Populus tremula x P. alba). From the exponential increase in sulfate uptake with temperature an activation energy (Ea) of 9.0±0.8 kJ mol−1 was calculated. In the concentration range 0.005–10 mM sulfate uptake showed biphasic Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of 3.2±3.4 μM and a Vmax of 49±11 nmol SO42− g−1 FW h−1 for the high-affinity uptake system (phase 1) and a Km of 1.33±0.41 mM and a Vmax of 255±25 nmol SO42− g−1 FW h−1 for the low-affinity system (phase 2). Xylem loading decreased linearly with temperature and remained unchanged within the sulfate concentration range studied. Regulation of sulfate uptake and xylem loading by O-acetyl serine (OAS), Cys, reduced glutathione (GSH), Met and S-methylmethionine (SMM) were tested by perfusion into the xylem sap with the pressure probe and by addition to the incubation medium. When added directly to the transport medium, Cys and GSH repressed, and OAS stimulated sulfate uptake; xylem loading was stimulated by Cys, repressed by GSH and only slightly affected by OAS. When perfused into the xylem, none of the compounds tested affected sulfate uptake of excised roots, but xylem loading was stimulated by SMM and OAS and repressed by Met. Apparently, the site of application strongly determined the effect of regulatory compounds of sulfate transport processes.

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Abbreviations

CHES::

2-(Cyclohexylamino)-ethanesulfonic acid

Ea::

Activation energy

mBBr::

Monobromobimane

MS::

Murashige and Skoog

OAS::

O-Acetyl-l-serine

OAS-TL::

O-Acetyl-l-serine thiol lyase

SAT::

Serine acetyl transferase

SMM::

S-Methyl-l-methionine

SMMI::

Iodide salt of SMM

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. E. Steudle for introducing us to the pressure probe technique. R. Nitschke and M. Eiblmeier are gratefully acknowledged for expert technical assistance. Dr. J. Kreuzwieser is gratefully acknowledged for helpful discussions. We thank Dr. G. Leubner and Dr. S. Kopriva for critically reading the manuscript. This research was financially supported by the German National Science Foundation (DFG) under project number Re-515/6-1

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  1. Institute for Biology II, Department of Botany, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104, Freiburg i. Br., Germany

    Esther van der Zalm

  2. Institute of Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Chair of Tree Physiology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 053/054, 79110, Freiburg i. Br., Germany

    Andrea Schneider & Heinz Rennenberg

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  1. Esther van der Zalm
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Correspondence to Heinz Rennenberg.

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van der Zalm, E., Schneider, A. & Rennenberg, H. Regulation of sulfate uptake and xylem loading of poplar roots (Populus tremula x P. alba). Trees 19, 204–212 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0383-2

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