%0 Journal Article %1 RN970 %A Xu, B. %A Long, Y. %A Feng, X. %A Zhu, X. %A Sai, N. %A Chirkova, L. %A Betts, A. %A Herrmann, J. %A Edwards, E. J. %A Okamoto, M. %A Hedrich, R. %A Gilliham, M. %D 2021 %J Nature Communications %K gamma-aminobutyric-acid myOwn %N 1 %R ARTN 1952 10.1038/s41467-021-21694-3 %T GABA signalling modulates stomatal opening to enhance plant water use efficiency and drought resilience %U /brokenurl#<Go to ISI>://WOS:000636293700005 %V 12 %X The non-protein amino acid gamma -aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proposed to be an ancient messenger for cellular communication conserved across biological kingdoms. GABA has well-defined signalling roles in animals; however, whilst GABA accumulates in plants under stress it has not been determined if, how, where and when GABA acts as an endogenous plant signalling molecule. Here, we establish endogenous GABA as a bona fide plant signal, acting via a mechanism not found in animals. Using Arabidopsis thaliana, we show guard cell GABA production is necessary and sufficient to reduce stomatal opening and transpirational water loss, which improves water use efficiency and drought tolerance, via negative regulation of a stomatal guard cell tonoplast-localised anion transporter. We find GABA modulation of stomata occurs in multiple plants, including dicot and monocot crops. This study highlights a role for GABA metabolism in fine tuning physiology and opens alternative avenues for improving plant stress resilience. GABA accumulates during stress in plants but how, where and when GABA acts is not clear. Here the authors show that GABA production in Arabidopsis guard cells reduces stomatal opening and transpirational water loss, thereby improving water use efficiency.

@article{RN970, abstract = {The non-protein amino acid gamma -aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proposed to be an ancient messenger for cellular communication conserved across biological kingdoms. GABA has well-defined signalling roles in animals; however, whilst GABA accumulates in plants under stress it has not been determined if, how, where and when GABA acts as an endogenous plant signalling molecule. Here, we establish endogenous GABA as a bona fide plant signal, acting via a mechanism not found in animals. Using Arabidopsis thaliana, we show guard cell GABA production is necessary and sufficient to reduce stomatal opening and transpirational water loss, which improves water use efficiency and drought tolerance, via negative regulation of a stomatal guard cell tonoplast-localised anion transporter. We find GABA modulation of stomata occurs in multiple plants, including dicot and monocot crops. This study highlights a role for GABA metabolism in fine tuning physiology and opens alternative avenues for improving plant stress resilience. GABA accumulates during stress in plants but how, where and when GABA acts is not clear. Here the authors show that GABA production in Arabidopsis guard cells reduces stomatal opening and transpirational water loss, thereby improving water use efficiency.}, added-at = {2024-02-14T14:38:32.000+0100}, author = {Xu, B. and Long, Y. and Feng, X. and Zhu, X. and Sai, N. and Chirkova, L. and Betts, A. and Herrmann, J. and Edwards, E. J. and Okamoto, M. and Hedrich, R. and Gilliham, M.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2ae4abf95a169b9db8c31c3e9f25bc89d/rainerhedrich_2}, doi = {ARTN 1952 10.1038/s41467-021-21694-3}, interhash = {196e219f2ad9151098683f0eb86f67f5}, intrahash = {ae4abf95a169b9db8c31c3e9f25bc89d}, journal = {Nature Communications}, keywords = {gamma-aminobutyric-acid myOwn}, note = {Rh5yl Times Cited:87 Cited References Count:69}, number = 1, timestamp = {2024-02-14T14:38:32.000+0100}, title = {GABA signalling modulates stomatal opening to enhance plant water use efficiency and drought resilience}, type = {Journal Article}, url = {/brokenurl#<Go to ISI>://WOS:000636293700005}, volume = 12, year = 2021 }