Early Sr2+-induced effects on membrane potential, proton pumping- and ATP hydrolysis-activities of plasma membrane vesicles from maize root cells

When released in plant environment, strontium (Sr2+) can be absorbed predominantly by the plant roots. As the plasma membrane of root cells is amongst the first barriers encountered by Sr2+ during its soil/plant transfer and the main entry point of Sr2+ into the roots, the main objective of this work aimed to enlighten on some of the Sr2+-induced effects at this level in Zea mays L. cv. “Liberal”.Thus this study focused on the Sr2+-induced changes on membrane potential of cortical root cells and on proton fluxes in maize roots, in order to determine whether the activity of some of the ion transport systems present in the plasma membrane of maize root cell could be among the first targets of Sr2+. We focused in particular on the plasma membrane H+-ATPase, known to be one of the major transport systems found in the plasmalemma where it generates a proton motive force (contributing to membrane potential maintaining, and providing energy for ion transport through membrane).The data presented here showed that Sr2+ triggered an early and transient membrane depolarisation whose magnitude and duration were dependent on the Sr2+-concentration. The time course pattern of a second longer lasting depolarisation could be examined in perspective with the Sr2+-induced decrease of the spontaneous proton extrusion observed in root tissues, suggesting a relationship between Sr2+-effects on membrane potential and H+ excretion. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect exerted by Sr2+ on the fusicoccin (FC)-enhanced proton extrusion strongly suggested an inhibition of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. This hypothesis was supported by the inhibition induced by Sr2+ on proton pumping- and ATP hydrolysis-activities measured in plasma membrane vesicles (PMV) prepared from maize roots.Taken together the data reported here evidence that, with however a lower efficiency, Sr2+ behaved in a quite similar way to Ca2+ when inhibiting the H+-ATPase activity, and suggest that Sr2+ could partially mimic Ca2+ onto regulation of the H+-ATPase activity.

Research highlights▶ Sr2+ depolarises the plasma membrane of cortical root cells in a [Sr2+]-dependent way. ▶ Sr2+ reduces the spontaneous and FC-stimulated H+ extrusion observed in root tissues. ▶ Sr2+ decreases ATP hydrolysis- and H+ pumping activities in plasma membrane vesicles. ▶ Sr2+ inhibits the H+-ATPase activity of the plasma membrane of maize root cells. ▶ Sr2+could partially mimic Ca2+ onto regulation of the H+-ATPase activity.