Technology Partnership of Nagoya University, Inc.

Light-Induced Stomatal Opening and Its Impact on Plant Growth​​

 

Opening of stomata facilitates CO2 uptake for photosynthesis and transpiration, exerting a profound impact on plant growth and yield. The plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase plays a critical role in light-induced stomatal opening, with the phosphorylation of key residues—Thr948 and Thr881 (based on the Arabidopsis AHA1 sequence)—being essential for its activation. Recently, we identified that type 2C protein phosphatase clade Ds (PP2C.Ds) directly dephosphorylate both of these residues in guard cells.

 

To further explore stomatal regulation, we have employed genetic and chemical approaches. Notably, enhancing light-induced stomatal opening by overexpressing PM H+-ATPase in guard cells increased photosynthesis and plant growth. Conversely, suppressing stomatal opening using chemical treatments improved drought tolerance in plants. These findings underscore the potential of stomatal manipulation as an effective strategy for optimizing plant growth and resilience. Moreover, we successfully enhanced PM H+-ATPase expression in Arabidopsis through genome editing. In this presentation, I will share our recent advancements and discuss the potential applications of these approaches.

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Selected Publication

• Hayashi et al. (2024) Phosphorylation of plasma membrane H+-ATPase Thr881 participates in light-induced stomatal opening. Nature Communications, 15, 1194.

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•  Aihara et al. (2023) Identification and improvement of isothiocyanate-based inhibitors on stomatal opening to act as drought tolerance-conferring agrochemicals. Nature Communications, 14, 2665.

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• Zhang et al. (2021) Plasma membrane H+-ATPase overexpression increases rice yield via simultaneous enhancement of nutrient uptake and photosynthesis. Nature Communications, 12, 735.

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• Kinoshita et al. (2005) Binding of brassinosteroids to the extracellular domain of plant receptor kinase BRI1. Nature, 433, 167-171.

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• Kinoshita et al. (2001) phot1 and phot2 mediate blue light regulation of stomatal opening. Nature, 414, 656-660.

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Full list of Publication

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