Title Electrophysiological investigation of the effect of glutamate on the propagation of action potentials in a single plant cell /
Translation of Title Elektrofiziologinis glutamato poveikio veikimo potencialų sklidimo greičiui augaline ląstele tyrimas.
Authors Blashchuk, Svetlana
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Pages 60
Keywords [eng] Action potentials (APs), Propagation velocity, Glutamate (Glu), Nitellopsis obtusa, Charasean macroalgae
Abstract [eng] Action potentials (APs) in plants are transient and propagating changes in the electrical potential across the cell membrane. Their propagation velocity depends on various electrophysiological parameters of the cell and the AP). In plants APs shape can be altered by various compounds and external factors. One of those compounds, amino acid glutamate, alter the electrophysiological parameters of AP (e.g. hyperpolarizes the AP excitation threshold, prolongs AP duration). The impact of these alterations upon glutamate on AP propagation velocity remain unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of glutamate (Glu) on AP propagation in a single plant cell. Objectives of the study are to determine AP propagation velocities along the cell of Nitellopsis obtusa in different directions under standard conditions and to investigate the effects of exogenous Glu on AP propagation velocity, also to assess whether Glu-induced alterations of AP parameters correspond to changes in AP propagation velocity. Electrophysiological experiments were conducted using two intracellular microelectrodes impaled in two opposite sights of cell. APs were elicited by current in one sight of cell and later recorded in another (and vise versa). The effects of Glu was assessed by replacing the control solution with an experimental solution in a whole cell surface for 30 min. This study demonstrates that AP propagation velocity in N. obtusa cells in control condition is dependent on the direction of propagation, with higher velocities observed in the apical direction (22± 6%). Exogenous glutamate enhances AP propagation velocity in both apical (32±10%) and basal (23±7%) directions. However, the specific alterations in AP parameters induced by Glu do not consistently correspond to changes in propagation velocity. Presented results indicate that glutamate signaling function encompass the electrical signaling propagation velocity alterations, also, although AP parameters and propagation velocity occur simultaneously they do not inherently correlate.
Dissertation Institution Vilniaus universitetas.
Type Master thesis
Language English
Publication date 2023