Structure of the Arabidopsis guard cell anion channel SLAC1 suggests activation mechanism by phosphorylation

Yawen Li, Yinan Ding, Lili Qu, Xinru Li, Qinxuan Lai, Pingxia Zhao, Yongxiang Gao, Chengbin Xiang, Chunlei Cang (), Xin Liu () and Linfeng Sun ()
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Yawen Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Yinan Ding: University of Science and Technology of China
Lili Qu: University of Science and Technology of China
Xinru Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Qinxuan Lai: University of Science and Technology of China
Pingxia Zhao: University of Science and Technology of China, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yongxiang Gao: University of Science and Technology of China
Chengbin Xiang: University of Science and Technology of China, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chunlei Cang: University of Science and Technology of China
Xin Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Linfeng Sun: University of Science and Technology of China

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Stomata play a critical role in the regulation of gas exchange and photosynthesis in plants. Stomatal closure participates in multiple stress responses, and is regulated by a complex network including abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and ion-flux-induced turgor changes. The slow-type anion channel SLAC1 has been identified to be a central controller of stomatal closure and phosphoactivated by several kinases. Here, we report the structure of SLAC1 in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSLAC1) in an inactivated, closed state. The cytosolic amino (N)-terminus and carboxyl (C)-terminus of AtSLAC1 are partially resolved and form a plug-like structure which packs against the transmembrane domain (TMD). Breaking the interactions between the cytosolic plug and transmembrane domain triggers channel activation. An inhibition-release model is proposed for SLAC1 activation by phosphorylation that the cytosolic plug dissociates from the transmembrane domain upon phosphorylation, and induces conformational changes to open the pore. These findings facilitate our understanding of the regulation of SLAC1 activity and stomatal aperture in plants.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30253-3

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