As. Murphy et al., Early copper-induced leakage of K+ from Arabidopsis seedlings is mediated by ion channels and coupled to citrate efflux, PLANT PHYSL, 121(4), 1999, pp. 1375-1382
Copper tolerance among Arabidopsis ecotypes is inversely correlated with lo
ng-term K+ leakage and positively correlated with short-term K+ leakage (A.
Murphy, L. Taiz [1997] New Phytol 136:211-222). To probe the mechanism of
the early phase of K+ efflux, we tested various channel blockers on copper
and peroxide-induced K+ efflux from seedling roots. The K+ channel blockers
tetraethyl ammonium chloride and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) both inhibited sho
rt-term copper-induced K+ efflux. In contrast, peroxide-induced K+ efflux w
as insensitive to both tetraethyl ammonium chloride and 4-AP. Copper-induce
d lipid peroxidation exhibited a lag time of 4 h, while peroxide-induced li
pid peroxidation began immediately. These results suggest that short-term c
opper-induced K+ efflux is mediated by channels, while peroxide-induced Kefflux represents leakage through nonspecific lesions in the lipid bilayer.
Tracer studies with Rb-86(+) confirmed that copper promotes K+ efflux rath
er than inhibiting K+ uptake. Short-term K+ release is electroneutral, sinc
e electrophysiological measurements indicated that copper does not cause me
mbrane depolarization. Short-term K+ efflux was accompanied by citrate rele
ase, and copper increased total citrate levels. Since citrate efflux was bl
ocked by 4-AP, K+ appears to serve as a counterion during copper-induced ci
trate efflux. As copper but not aluminum selectively induces citrate produc
tion and release, it is proposed that copper may inhibit a cytosolic form o
f aconitase.