Title
Mechanosensitive channel MSL8 regulates osmotic forces during pollen hydration and germination
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-23-2015
Originally Published In
Science. 2015 Oct; 50(6259):438-441. doi: 10.1126/science.aac6014.
Abstract
Pollen grains undergo dramatic changes in cellular water potential as they deliver the male germ line to female gametes, and it has been proposed that mechanosensitive ion channels may sense the resulting mechanical stress. Here, we identify and characterize MscS-like 8 (MSL8), a pollen-specific, membrane tension–gated ion channel required for pollen to survive the hypoosmotic shock of rehydration and for full male fertility. MSL8 negatively regulates pollen germination but is required for cellular integrity during germination and tube growth. MSL8 thus senses and responds to changes in membrane tension associated with pollen hydration and germination. These data further suggest that homologs of bacterial MscS have been repurposed in eukaryotes to function as mechanosensors in multiple developmental and environmental contexts.
Recommended Citation
Hamilton, Eric S.; Jensen, Gregory S.; Maksaev, Grigory; Katims, Andrew; Sherp, Ashley M.; and Haswell, Elizabeth S., "Mechanosensitive channel MSL8 regulates osmotic forces during pollen hydration and germination" (2015). Biology Faculty Publications & Presentations. 104.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/bio_facpubs/104
Comments
Final author manuscript version of article published in Science. 2015 Oct; 50(6259):438-441. doi: 10.1126/science.aac6014.