The Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase CPK33 Mediates Strigolactone-Induced Stomatal Closure in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

Strigolactones (SLs) are known to mediate plant acclimation to environmental stress. We recently reported that SLs acted as prominent regulators in promotion of stomatal closure. However, the detailed mechanism by which SLs induce stomatal closure requires further investigation. Here we studied the essential role of the calcium (Ca²⁺) signal mediating by the calcium-dependent protein kinase (CPK) in SL-induced stomatal closure. SL-induced stomatal closure was strongly inhibited by a Ca²⁺ chelator and Ca²⁺ channel blockers, indicating that Ca²⁺ functions in SL promotion of stomatal closure. Through examining a collection of <i>cpk</i> mutants, we identified CPK33, potentially acting as a Ca²⁺ transducer, which is implicated in guard cell SL signaling. SL- and Ca²⁺-induced stomatal closure were impaired in <i>cpk33</i> mutants. CPK33 kinase activity is essential for SL induction of stomatal closure as SL-induced stomatal closure is blocked in the dead kinase mutant of CPK33. The <i>cpk33</i> mutant is impaired in H₂O₂-induced stomatal closure, but not in SL-mediated H₂O₂ production. Our study thus uncovers an important player CPK33 which functions as an essential Ca²⁺ signals mediator in <i>Arabidopsis</i> guard cell SL signaling.