A mechanosensitive ion channel controls touch-triggered stigma movement through manipulation of calcium signature in Torenia

Abstract Rapid movements of plant structures triggered by mechanical force have been documented for centuries; however, how plant cells sense mechanical stimuli and generate rapid response remains unknown. Here we show the central role of a mechanosensitive channel gene in touch-triggered rapid stig...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xuan Zhou, Binghou Li, Jiahuizi Li, Yufei Sun, Ruohan Xie, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Shi Xiao, Guorong Xin, Shihao Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61770-6
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Summary:Abstract Rapid movements of plant structures triggered by mechanical force have been documented for centuries; however, how plant cells sense mechanical stimuli and generate rapid response remains unknown. Here we show the central role of a mechanosensitive channel gene in touch-triggered rapid stigma movement of Torenia fournieri. T. fournieri possesses a bilobed stigma sensitive to mechanical stimuli. Using live-cell calcium imaging, we detect that touch induces a wave of cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) essential for stigma movement. Transcriptomic analysis reveals distinct gene expression profiles between the stigma and style, leading to the identification of the MscS-like gene JUE1, predominantly expressed in stigmas. Stigmas of jue1 mutants exhibit complete loss of touch-triggered movement, confirming its role as a key regulator in sensitive stigma movement. JUE1 is required for rapid propagation of the touch-induced [Ca2+]cyt, as cell-to-cell spreading of the [Ca2+]cyt wave is impaired in the jue1. To conclude, we report a plant mechanosensitive ion channel involved in touch-triggered organ movement by modulating calcium dynamics.
ISSN:2041-1723