The gravistimulation-induced very slow Ca increase in Arabidopsis seedlings requires MCA1, a Ca-permeable mechanosensitive channel.

Gravity is a critical environmental factor affecting the morphology and function of plants on Earth. Gravistimulation triggered by changes in the gravity vector induces an increase in the cytoplasmic free calcium ion concentration ([Ca]) as an early process of gravity sensing; however, its role and molecular mechanism are still unclear. When seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana expressing apoaequorin were rotated from the upright position to the upside-down position, a biphasic [Ca]-increase composed of a fast-transient [Ca]-increase followed by a slow [Ca]-increase was observed. We find here a novel type [Ca]-increase, designated a very slow [Ca]-increase that is observed when the seedlings were rotated back to the upright position from the upside-down position. The very slow [Ca]-increase was strongly attenuated in knockout seedlings defective in MCA1, a mechanosensitive Ca-permeable channel (MSCC), and was partially restored in MCA1-complemented seedlings. The mechanosensitive ion channel blocker, gadolinium, blocked the very slow [Ca]-increase. This is the first report suggesting the possible involvement of MCA1 in an early event related to gravity sensing in Arabidopsis seedlings.