We found a new hydrophilic protein in Arabidopsis thaliana. Real-time PCR demonstrated that the protein was expressed in roots. Histochemical analysis of promoter-beta-glucuronidase fusions demonstrated its extensive expression in root hairs. The protein is rich in proline, glutamate, valine and lysine residues (PEVK-rich domain), and bound Ca(2+) even in the presence of Mg(2+) and K(+) when examined by the (45)Ca overlay assay. Treatment of seedlings with K(+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Na(+), ABA and gibberellic acid, and cold and drought stresses enhanced the transcription. Expression of the protein linked to green fluorescent protein in A. thaliana showed its plasma membrane localization and cell-specific expression in the epidermal cells including root hairs and the elongating pollen tubes. Therefore, we named the protein PCaP2 (plasma membrane-associated Ca(2+)-binding protein-2). The substitution of glycine at position 2 with alanine resulted in cytoplasmic localization of PCaP2. These results and the N-terminal characteristic motif suggest that PCaP2 is N-myristoylated at Gly2. We examined the capacity for binding to phosphatidylinositol phosphates (PtdInsPs), and found that PCaP2 interacts strongly with PtdIns(3,5)P(2), PtdIns(4,5)P(2) and PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3), and weakly with PtdIns(3,4)P(2). Furthermore, calmodulin was associated with PCaP2 in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, and its association weakened the interaction of PCaP2 with PtdInsPs. These results indicate that PCaP2 is involved in intracellular signaling through interaction with PtdInsPs and calmodulin in growing root hairs. PCaP2 was previously reported as microtubule-associated protein-18. We discuss the physiological roles of PCaP2 in relation to microtubules in cells.

A new type of protein was found in Arabidopsis thaliana, PCaP1, which is rich in glutamate and lysine residues. The protein bound (45)Ca(2+) even in the presence of a high concentration of Mg(2+). Real-time polymerase chain reaction and histochemical analysis of promoter-beta-glucuronidase fusions revealed that PCaP1 was expressed in most organs. The PCaP1 protein was detected immunochemically in these organs. Treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings with Cu(2+), sorbitol, or flagellin oligopeptide enhanced the transcription. On the other hand, other sugars, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, dehydration, and low temperature had little or no effect on PCaP1 transcript abundance. The transient expression of PCaP1 fused to green fluorescent protein in Arabidopsis cells and the subcellular fractionation of tissue homogenate showed that PCaP1 protein is localized to the plasma membrane, although PCaP1 has no predicted transmembrane domain. PCaP1 was associated with the plasma membrane under natural conditions and was released from the membrane at high concentrations of Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) in vitro. These results suggest that the hydrophilic protein PCaP1 binds Ca(2+) and other cations and is stably associated with the plasma membrane.

Addendum to: Kato M, Nagasaki-Takeuchi N, Ide Y, Maeshima M. An Arabidopsis hydrophilic Ca 2+ -binding protein with a PEVK-rich domain, PCaP2, is associated with the plasma membrane and interacts with calmodulin and phosphatidylinositol phosphates.

Ca2+-signaling in downstream effectors is supported by many kinds of Ca2+-binding proteins, which function as a signal mediator and a Ca2+-buffering protein. We found in Arabidopsis thaliana a new type of Ca2+-binding protein, CCaP1, which consists of 152 amino acid residues, and binds (45)Ca2+ even in the presence of a high concentration of Mg2+. We found two other proteins with similar motifs, CCaP2 and CCaP3. These three proteins had no organelle localization signal and their green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions were detected in the cytosol. Real-time PCR and histochemical analysis of promoter-beta-glucuronidase fusions revealed that CCaP1 was predominantly expressed in petioles while CCaP2 was expressed in roots. CCaP3 was hardly expressed. Expression of CCaP1 and CCaP2 was enhanced in darkness and became maximal after 24 h. Immunoblotting revealed petiole-specific accumulation of CCaP1. Expression of CCaP1 and CCaP2 was suppressed by a high concentration of Ca2+ and other metal ions. Deletion of sucrose from the medium markedly increased the mRNA levels of CCaP1 and CCaP2 within 2 h. Gibberellic acid enhanced the expression of CCaP1 and CCaP2 by 5- and 2.5-fold, respectively, after 6 h. CCaP1 and CCaP2 were suppressed in the petiole and the root, respectively, by light and the product of photosynthesis (sucrose) or both. These results suggest that CCaP1 functions as a mediator in response to continuous dark or gibberellic acid.