This article looks at the seismonastic response (the response of a plant to touch or vibration) and how it utilizes the transport of K+ in the pulvinar cells (the thickening at the base of a leaflet that causes the movement of the leaflet based on differing turgor pressure in these cells). They tested many hypotheses regarding the seismonastic reaction in the Mimosa pudica, one of which tested whether there was an increased efflux of K+ from pulvinar cells during stimulation. The experimenters used all home-grown Mimosa pudica (sensitive plants). They removed pulvini cells from the stem by cutting above and below the petiole. They then placed the pulvini and leaflet into a cup filled with KCl solution and allowed the plant cutting to sit
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In order to quantify the number of aquaporins, researchers use polyclonal antibodies that were raised in rabbits that were made to bind to the proteins that make up the aquaporins in the cells. Then an immunogold staining was done. The immunogold is a secondary antibody labeled with gold particles that bind to the primary antibody in order to stain them for researchers to see. The results were then based on number of gold particles (aquaporin proteins) per 10µm (length units). In adult motor cells of the pulvini, there were on average 10 gold particles per 10µm. In the tannin cells (non-motor cells in the pulvini), there were about 0.8 gold particles per 10µm. In immature pulvini motor cells, there were on average 3 gold particles per 10µm. Based on the results, the hypothesis was supported that the motor pulvini cells contain about 10 times more aquaporins than non-motor pulvini cells. This is so that they can facilitate more water transport through their cells when the plant is stimulated and cause movement. The tannin cells, which are cells located in the pulvini that are not motor cells, have been known to have high concentrations of calcium. Researchers believe that the tannin cells use the calcium to reorganize the motor cells after they lose water …show more content…
The pulvinus is a joint-like mass of cells at the bottom of the leaflets that start the thigmonastic (the response of a plant to touch or vibration) movement. There are primary, secondary and tertiary pulvini that are responsible for the movement of the petiole, pinna, and leaflets, respectively. The signal starts in the leaflets, then goes to the pinna. If the signal is big enough, it will continue to the primary pulvini (the petiole) and cause the whole plant to shrink away. The researchers used electrodes to start the signal and placed them on different parts of the plant to see how it affected the signal transduction. They used a digital high speed camera to record the results and timing of the closing of the plants. The researchers used anion channel blockers as well as anesthetics to test whether they would hinder the electrical signal from affecting other parts of the plant. The researchers set up the experiment by using electrodes and attaching them to the different parts of the plant. In order to test the normal speed of the signal transduction throughout the plant, scientists did flame tests and then recorded the results and speeds of the movement. Based on the results, the initial speed at the first set of pulvini cells is about 0.8 to 1.5 cm/s. The speed then slowly decreases at each additional
In order to quantify the number of aquaporins, researchers use polyclonal antibodies that were raised in rabbits that were made to bind to the proteins that make up the aquaporins in the cells. Then an immunogold staining was done. The immunogold is a secondary antibody labeled with gold particles that bind to the primary antibody in order to stain them for researchers to see. The results were then based on number of gold particles (aquaporin proteins) per 10µm (length units). In adult motor cells of the pulvini, there were on average 10 gold particles per 10µm. In the tannin cells (non-motor cells in the pulvini), there were about 0.8 gold particles per 10µm. In immature pulvini motor cells, there were on average 3 gold particles per 10µm. Based on the results, the hypothesis was supported that the motor pulvini cells contain about 10 times more aquaporins than non-motor pulvini cells. This is so that they can facilitate more water transport through their cells when the plant is stimulated and cause movement. The tannin cells, which are cells located in the pulvini that are not motor cells, have been known to have high concentrations of calcium. Researchers believe that the tannin cells use the calcium to reorganize the motor cells after they lose water …show more content…
The pulvinus is a joint-like mass of cells at the bottom of the leaflets that start the thigmonastic (the response of a plant to touch or vibration) movement. There are primary, secondary and tertiary pulvini that are responsible for the movement of the petiole, pinna, and leaflets, respectively. The signal starts in the leaflets, then goes to the pinna. If the signal is big enough, it will continue to the primary pulvini (the petiole) and cause the whole plant to shrink away. The researchers used electrodes to start the signal and placed them on different parts of the plant to see how it affected the signal transduction. They used a digital high speed camera to record the results and timing of the closing of the plants. The researchers used anion channel blockers as well as anesthetics to test whether they would hinder the electrical signal from affecting other parts of the plant. The researchers set up the experiment by using electrodes and attaching them to the different parts of the plant. In order to test the normal speed of the signal transduction throughout the plant, scientists did flame tests and then recorded the results and speeds of the movement. Based on the results, the initial speed at the first set of pulvini cells is about 0.8 to 1.5 cm/s. The speed then slowly decreases at each additional