Effect of phosphate on aluminium-inhibited growth and signal transduction pathways in Coffea arabica suspension cells

摘要

In acid soils, aluminium (AI) toxicity and phosphate (Pi) deficiency are the most significant constraints on plant growth. AI inhibits cell growth and disrupts signal transduction processes, thus interfering with metabolism of phospholipase C (PLC), an enzyme involved in second messenger production in the cell. Using a Coffea arabica suspension cell model, we demonstrate that cell growth inhibition by AI toxicity is mitigated at a high Pi concentration. Aluminium-induced cell growth inhibition may be due to culture medium Pi deficiency, since Pi forms complexes with AI, reducing Pi availability to cells. Phosphate does not mitigate inhibition of PLC activity by Al toxicity. Other enzymes of the phosphoinositide signal transduction pathway were also evaluated. Aluminium disrupts production of second messengers such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and phosphatidic acid (PA) by blocking PLC activity; however, phospholipase D (PLD) and diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) activities are stimulated by AI, a response probably aimed at counteracting Al effects on PA formation. Phosphate deprivation also induces PLC and DGK activity. These results suggest that AI-induced cell growth inhibition is not linked to PLC activity inhibition.