THE MOSS, PHYSCOMITRELLA PATENS, TRANSFORMED WITH APOAEQUORIN CDNA RESPONDS TO COLD SHOCK, MECHANICAL PERTURBATION AND PH WITH TRANSIENT INCREASES IN CYTOPLASMIC CALCIUM

The gene for apoaequorin has been used previously to indicate cytosoli c calcium changes in higher plants. Here we report the transformation of the moss Physcomitrella patens with the cDNA for apoaequorin. Stabl e transformants were obtained in the wild type which reconstitute the calcium-sensitive luminescent protein aequorin in vivo after incubatio n in coelenterazine, and continue to grow normally. The wild type resp onds to cold-shock (0-10 degrees C) with increases in cytosolic calciu m. Mechanical perturbation, in the form of touch, also induces transie nt increases in cytosolic calcium. A smaller response to pH, distinct from the touch response and exhibiting different kinetics, can also be detected.