Aluminum Induces Rigor within the Actin Network of Soybean Cells.
Abstract
Aluminum is toxic to both plants and animals. Root growth and pollen-tube extension are inhibited after aluminum stress in acidic environments. Incubation of cultured neurons with aluminum results in the formation of neurofibrillar tangles reminiscent of the neural pathology observed in Alzheimer's disease. The present communication demonstrates that aluminum induces a rapid and dramatic increase in the rigidity of the actin network in soybean (Glycine max) root cells. This rigidity can be prevented by either co-incubation with sodium fluoride or magnesium, or pretreatment with cytochalasin D. It is proposed that the growth-inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity of aluminum in plants may be a consequence of a global rigor that is induced within the actin network. This rigor may result from the formation of nonhydrolyzable [Al3+-ADP] or [Al3+-ATP] complexes whose binding to actin/myosin can modify contraction. Additionally, Al3+-mediated interference with the normal kinetics of F-actin filament assembly/disassembly could precipitate subsequent disorganization of associated cytoskeletal structures and promote altered expression of cytoskeletal proteins.
Full Text
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Alfrey AC, Mishell JM, Burks J, Contiguglia SR, Rudolph H, Lewin E, Holmes JH. Syndrome of dyspraxia and multifocal seizures associated with chronic hemodialysis. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs. 1972;18(0):257–267. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gassmann W, Schroeder JI. Inward-Rectifying K+ Channels in Root Hairs of Wheat (A Mechanism for Aluminum-Sensitive Low-Affinity K+ Uptake and Membrane Potential Control). Plant Physiol. 1994 Aug;105(4):1399–1408.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Van HL, Kuraishi S, Sakurai N. Aluminum-Induced Rapid Root Inhibition and Changes in Cell-Wall Components of Squash Seedlings. Plant Physiol. 1994 Nov;106(3):971–976.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Macdonald TL, Humphreys WG, Martin RB. Promotion of tubulin assembly by aluminum ion in vitro. Science. 1987 Apr 10;236(4798):183–186. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Macdonald TL, Martin RB. Aluminum ion in biological systems. Trends Biochem Sci. 1988 Jan;13(1):15–19. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Martin RB. Aluminium speciation in biology. Ciba Found Symp. 1992;169:5–25. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pasternak C, Elson EL. Lymphocyte mechanical response triggered by cross-linking surface receptors. J Cell Biol. 1985 Mar;100(3):860–872.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pasternak C, Spudich JA, Elson EL. Capping of surface receptors and concomitant cortical tension are generated by conventional myosin. Nature. 1989 Oct 12;341(6242):549–551. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Perl DP, Brody AR. Alzheimer's disease: X-ray spectrometric evidence of aluminum accumulation in neurofibrillary tangle-bearing neurons. Science. 1980 Apr 18;208(4441):297–299. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Short AI, Winney RJ, Robson JS. Reversible microcytic hypochromic anaemia in dialysis patients due to aluminium intoxication. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc. 1980;17:226–233. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Siegel N, Haug A. Aluminum interaction with calmodulin. Evidence for altered structure and function from optical and enzymatic studies. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1983 Apr 14;744(1):36–45. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Viola RE, Morrison JF, Cleland WW. Interaction of metal(III)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate complexes with yeast hexokinase. Biochemistry. 1980 Jul 8;19(14):3131–3137. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Abstract
Aluminum is toxic to both plants and animals. Root growth and pollen-tube extension are inhibited after aluminum stress in acidic environments. Incubation of cultured neurons with aluminum results in the formation of neurofibrillar tangles reminiscent of the neural pathology observed in Alzheimer's disease. The present communication demonstrates that aluminum induces a rapid and dramatic increase in the rigidity of the actin network in soybean (Glycine max) root cells. This rigidity can be prevented by either co-incubation with sodium fluoride or magnesium, or pretreatment with cytochalasin D. It is proposed that the growth-inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity of aluminum in plants may be a consequence of a global rigor that is induced within the actin network. This rigor may result from the formation of nonhydrolyzable [Al3+-ADP] or [Al3+-ATP] complexes whose binding to actin/myosin can modify contraction. Additionally, Al3+-mediated interference with the normal kinetics of F-actin filament assembly/disassembly could precipitate subsequent disorganization of associated cytoskeletal structures and promote altered expression of cytoskeletal proteins.