Quantitative analysis of herbivore-induced cytosolic calcium by using a Cameleon (YC 3.6) calcium sensor in Arabidopsis thaliana

J Plant Physiol. 2014 Jan 15;171(2):136-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2013.09.020. Epub 2013 Nov 20.

Abstract

Ca(2+) is a key player in plant cell responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Owing to the central role of cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]cyt) during early signaling and the need for precise determination of [Ca(2+)]cyt variations, we used a Cameleon YC 3.6 reporter protein expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana to quantify [Ca(2+)]cyt variations upon leaf mechanical damage (MD), herbivory by 3rd and 5th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis and S. littoralis oral secretions (OS) applied to MD. YC 3.6 allowed a clear distinction between MD and herbivory and discriminated between the two larvae instars. To our knowledge this is the first report of quantitative [Ca(2+)]cyt determination upon herbivory using a Cameleon calcium sensor.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; Calcium signaling; Cameleon YC 3.6; Herbivory; Spodoptera littoralis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Calmodulin*
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Herbivory*
  • Luminescent Proteins*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins*

Substances

  • Calmodulin
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • YCaM3.6 protein
  • Calcium