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. 2007 Nov-Dec;2(6):475–476. doi: 10.4161/psb.2.6.4483

Self-Incompatibility Involved in the Level of Acetylcholine and cAMP

Takafumi Tezuka 1,4,✉, Isamu Akita 2, Natsuko Yoshino 3
PMCID: PMC2634339  PMID: 19704589

Abstract

Elongation of pollen tubes in pistils after self-pollination of Lilium longiflorum cv. Hinomoto exhibiting strong gametophytic self-incompatibility was promoted by cAMP and also promoted by some metabolic modulators, namely, activators (forskolin and cholera toxin) of adenylate cyclase and inhibitors (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and pertussis) of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Moreover, the elongation was promoted by acetylcholine (ACh) and other choline derivatives, such as acetylthiocholine, L-α-phosphatidylcholine and chlorocholinechloride [CCC; (2-chloroethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride]. A potent inhibitor (neostigmine) of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as well as acetylcholine also promoted the elongation. cAMP enhanced choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and suppressed AChE activity in the pistils, suggesting that the results are closely correlated with self-incompatibility in L. longiflorum. In short, it came to light that cAMP modulates ChAT (acetylcholine-forming enzyme) and AChE (acetylchoine-decomposing enzyme) activities to enhance the level of ACh in the pistils of L. logiflorum after self-incompatible pollination. These results indicate that the self-incompatibility on self-pollination is caused by low levels of ACh and/or cAMP.

Key Words: pollen tubes, self-incompatibility, Lilium longiflorum, cAMP, acetylcholie, AChE, ChAT

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an essential signaling molecule in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.1 The existence of cAMP in higher plants was questioned by some reviewers2–4 in the mid 1970's, so that many workers were discouraged from studying roles in plant biology. However, its presence was confirmed by mass spectrometry5 and infrared spectrometry6 in the early 1980's and increasing evidence7–12 now suggests that cAMP makes important contributions in plant cells, as in animals.

Lily (Lilium longiflorum) exhibits strong gametophytic self-incompatibility.13,14 Thus, elongation of pollen tubes in the pistil after self-incompatible pollination in L. longiflorum cv. Hinomoto stops halfway, in contrast to the case after cross-compatible pollination (cross with cv. Georgia).14 This self-incompatibility appears to be associated with the stress and self-incompatible pollination on stigmas of lilies results in activation and/or induction of enzymes such as NADH- and NADPH-dependent oxidases, xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and ascorbate peroxidase in the pistils.15 The activities of NADH- and NADPH-dependent oxidases (O2−-forming enzymes), however, are known to be suppressed by cAMP16 and increase in the level of cAMP in guinea pig neutrophils results in their decreased expression.17 The level of O2− reactions with SOD is also decreased by cAMP.18 In the case of the lily, inhibition of NADH- and NADPH-dependent oxidases by cAMP was found to be noncompetitive with NAD(P)H.16 We hypothesized that decrease in active oxygen species such as O2− and suppression of stress enzyme activities in self-pollinated pistils of lily by cAMP might cause elongation of pollen tubes after self-pollination and this proved to be the case. Namely, elongation of pollen tubes after self-incompatible pollination in lily was promoted by exogenous cAMP at a concentration as low as 10 nM, a conceivable physiological level.13 Moreover, similar elongation could be achieved with adenylate cyclase activators [forskolin(FK) and cholera toxin] and cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors [3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and pertussis toxin].14,19 These phenomena led us to examine the involvement of endogenous cAMP in pistils after self-incompatible or cross-compatible pollination. As expected, the level of endogenous cAMP in pistils after self-pollination was approximately one half of that after cross-pollination. Furthermore, this was associated with a concomitant decrease in adenylate cyclase and increase in cAMP phosphodiesterase.19

Many researchers in the field of plant biology have been unsuccessful in attempts to estimate the quantity of cAMP and to detect activities of adenylate cyclase and cAMP phosphodiesterase. On major difficulty is the presence of proteases and we have overcome this problem by using protease inhibitors, such as aprotinin and leupeptin.19

In 1947, acetylcholine (ACh) of higher plants was first reported in a nettle (Urtica urens) found in the Himalaya mountain range.20 In 1983, its existence in plants was confirmed by mass spectrometry of preparations from Vigna seedlings.21 In our preliminary studies, CCC (chlorocholinechloride), a plant growth retardant (specifically an anti-gibberellin), enhanced the elongation of the pollen tubes in pistils after self-incompatible pollination in lilies. This led us to investigate whether other choline derivatives cause similar effects and positive findings were obtained with ACh, acetylthiocholine and L-α-phosphatidlylcholine.22 Moreover, the elongation was also promoted by neostigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity. In line with these results, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) demonstrated low and AChE high activity in pistils after self-incompatible pollination.

The positive influence of cAMP14,19 and ACh22 in pistils of L. longiflorum after self-incompatible pollination encouraged us to examine the involvement of these two molecules in regulation of pollen tube elongation of lily after self-incompatible and cross-compatible pollination. As a result, it was revealed that cAMP promotes ChAT and suppresses AChE activity in pistils after both self- and cross-pollination. In other words, the self-incompatibilty in pistils of L. longiflorum appears to be due to levels of ACh and/or cAMP below certain threshold values.

Hitherto, these substances have not been recognized to play important roles in the metabolic systems of higher plants. However, given their conservation through evolution, it is natural that such central metabolic substances make essential contributions, regardless of the organism. We have succeeded in establishing physiological functions of cAMP and ACh in pistils of lily14,19,22 and this points to use of plant reproductive organs such as research materials. The exact responsibilities of the two molecules may depend on differences in tissues or organs of plants and further molecular biological studies in this area are clearly warranted. This issue is currently being investigated.

Addendum to: Tezuka T, Akita I, Yoshino N, Suzuki Y. Regulation of Self-Incompatibility by Acetylcholine and cAMP in Lilium Logiflorum. J Plant Physiol. 2007;164:878–885. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2006.05.013.

Footnotes

Previously published online as a Plant Signaling & Behavior E-publication: http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/psb/article/4483

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