Ca2+-dependent cessation of cytoplasmic streaming induced by hypertonic treatment in Vallisneria mesophyll cells: possible role of cell wall-plasma membrane adhesion.

In mesophyll cells of the aquatic angiosperm Vallisneria gigantea Graebner, a rapid and transient inhibition of cytoplasmic streaming was induced by hypertonic treatment with sorbitol. Higher concentrations of sorbitol induced the response more rapidly and in more cells. The response to hypertonic treatment was strictly dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and was sensitive to Ca2+-channel blockers, including the stretch-activated Ca2+-channel blocker Gd3+. Deplasmolyzed cells never responded to a second hypertonic treatment administered immediately after plasmolysis and subsequent deplasmolysis. Responsiveness was gradually recovered during 24 h of incubation; however, cycloheximide, cordycepin, and trypsin completely suppressed the recovery. Although an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) hexapeptide markedly disturbed the pattern of cytoplasmic streaming, it exhibited no specific effects on the response to hypertonic treatment or on the recovery of responsiveness. Taken together, our results demonstrate that leaf mesophyll cells in a multicellular plant can respond to mechanical stimuli and that a Ca2+ influx through stretch-activated Ca2+ channels plays an indispensable role in the response. Furthermore, the possible involvement of RGD-insensitive but trypsin-sensitive protein factor(s), whose function is impaired by detachment of the plasma membrane from the cell wall, is suggested.