This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (IOS-2217757) (X.Q.) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Bronson Foundation Award (H.Z.).

1. Preparation of the solutions
<ol>
	<li>Prepare seed sterilization solution by mixing 15 mL of bleach with 35 mL of distilled water and 50 &#181;L of Triton X-100.</li>
	<li>Prepare brefeldin A (BFA) solution by dissolving the BFA powder in ethanol to a final concentration of 10 mM (stock). Prepare wortmannin (Wm) solution by dissolving the Wm powder in DMSO to a final concentration of 10 mM (stock).</li>
</ol>
2. Sowing the seeds
<ol>
	<li>Aliquot 10-50 see...

Spatiotemporal Investigation of ERL1 Dynamics via Confocal Imaging

<ol>
	<li>Aniento, F., Sanchez de Medina Hernandez, V., Dagdas, Y., Rojas-Pierce, M., Russinova, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+mechanisms+of+endomembrane+trafficking+in+plants.">Molecular mechanisms of endomembrane trafficking in plants.</a> Plant Cell. 34 (1), 146-173 (2022).</li><li>Sigismund, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endocytosis+and+signaling:+Cell+logistics+shape+the+eukaryotic+cell+plan.">Endocytosis and signaling: Cell logistics shape the eukaryotic cell plan.</a> Physiological Reviews. 92 (1), 273-366 (2012).</li><li>Lyu, Z., Genereux, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methodologies+for+measuring+protein+trafficking+across+cellular+membranes.">Methodologies for measuring protein trafficking across cellular membranes.</a> ChemPlusChem. 86 (10), 1397-1415 (2021).</li><li>Rodriguez-Furlan, C., Raikhel, N. V., Hicks, G. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Merging+roads:+Chemical+tools+and+cell+biology+to+study+unconventional+protein+secretion.">Merging roads: Chemical tools and cell biology to study unconventional protein secretion.</a> Journal of Experimental Botany. 69 (1), 39-46 (2017).</li><li>Foissner, I., Sommer, A., Hoeftberger, M., Hoepflinger, M. C., Absolonova, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Is+wortmannin-induced+reorganization+of+the+trans-Golgi+network+the+key+to+explain+charasome+formation.">Is wortmannin-induced reorganization of the trans-Golgi network the key to explain charasome formation.</a> Frontiers in Plant Science. 7, 756 (2016).</li><li>Qi, X., Torii, K. U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hormonal+and+environmental+signals+guiding+stomatal+development.">Hormonal and environmental signals guiding stomatal development.</a> BMC Biology. 16 (1), 21 (2018).</li><li>Han, S. K., Kwak, J. M., Qi, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stomatal+lineage+control+by+developmental+program+and+environmental+cues.">Stomatal lineage control by developmental program and environmental cues.</a> Frontiers in Plant Science. 12, 751852 (2021).</li><li>Bharath, P., Gahir, S., Raghavendra, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Abscisic+acid-induced+stomatal+closure:+An+important+component+of+plant+defense+against+abiotic+and+biotic+stress.">Abscisic acid-induced stomatal closure: An important component of plant defense against abiotic and biotic stress.</a> Frontiers in Plant Science. 12, 615114 (2021).</li><li>Becklin, K. M., Ward, J. K., Way, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Climate Change., 1st edition. , (2021).</li><li>Yang, M., Sack, F. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+too+many+mouths+and+four+lips+mutations+affect+stomatal+production+in+Arabidopsis.">The too many mouths and four lips mutations affect stomatal production in Arabidopsis.</a> Plant Cell. 7 (12), 2227-2239 (1995).</li><li>Hara, K., Kajita, R., Torii, K. U., Bergmann, D. C., Kakimoto, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+secretory+peptide+gene+EPF1+enforces+the+stomatal+one-cell-spacing+rule.">The secretory peptide gene EPF1 enforces the stomatal one-cell-spacing rule.</a> Genes &amp; Development. 21 (14), 1720-1725 (2007).</li><li>Hara, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epidermal+cell+density+is+autoregulated+via+a+secretory+peptide,+EPIDERMAL+PATTERNING+FACTOR+2+in+Arabidopsis+leaves.">Epidermal cell density is autoregulated via a secretory peptide, EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR 2 in Arabidopsis leaves.</a> Plant &amp; Cell Physiology. 50 (6), 1019-1031 (2009).</li><li>Hunt, L., Gray, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+signaling+peptide+EPF2+controls+asymmetric+cell+divisions+during+stomatal+development.">The signaling peptide EPF2 controls asymmetric cell divisions during stomatal development.</a> Current Biology. 19 (10), 864-869 (2009).</li><li>Sugano, S. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stomagen+positively+regulates+stomatal+density+in+Arabidopsis.">Stomagen positively regulates stomatal density in Arabidopsis.</a> Nature. 463 (7278), 241-244 (2010).</li><li>Kondo, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stomatal+density+is+controlled+by+a+mesophyll-derived+signaling+molecule.">Stomatal density is controlled by a mesophyll-derived signaling molecule.</a> Plant &amp; Cell Physiology. 51 (1), 1-8 (2010).</li><li>Hunt, L., Bailey, K. J., Gray, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+signalling+peptide+EPFL9+is+a+positive+regulator+of+stomatal+development.">The signalling peptide EPFL9 is a positive regulator of stomatal development.</a> New Phytologist. 186 (3), 609-614 (2010).</li><li>Shpak, E. D., McAbee, J. M., Pillitteri, L. J., Torii, K. U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stomatal+patterning+and+differentiation+by+synergistic+interactions+of+receptor+kinases.">Stomatal patterning and differentiation by synergistic interactions of receptor kinases.</a> Science. 309 (5732), 290-293 (2005).</li><li>Lin, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+receptor-like+protein+acts+as+a+specificity+switch+for+the+regulation+of+stomatal+development.">A receptor-like protein acts as a specificity switch for the regulation of stomatal development.</a> Genes &amp; Development. 31 (9), 927-938 (2017).</li><li>Lee, J. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Direct+interaction+of+ligand-receptor+pairs+specifying+stomatal+patterning.">Direct interaction of ligand-receptor pairs specifying stomatal patterning.</a> Genes &amp; Development. 26 (2), 126-136 (2012).</li><li>Qi, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+manifold+actions+of+signaling+peptides+on+subcellular+dynamics+of+a+receptor+specify+stomatal+cell+fate.">The manifold actions of signaling peptides on subcellular dynamics of a receptor specify stomatal cell fate.</a> Elife. 9, e58097 (2020).</li><li>MacAlister, C. A., Ohashi-Ito, K., Bergmann, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcription+factor+control+of+asymmetric+cell+divisions+that+establish+the+stomatal+lineage.">Transcription factor control of asymmetric cell divisions that establish the stomatal lineage.</a> Nature. 445 (7127), 537-540 (2007).</li><li>Pillitteri, L. J., Sloan, D. B., Bogenschutz, N. L., Torii, K. U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Termination+of+asymmetric+cell+division+and+differentiation+of+stomata.">Termination of asymmetric cell division and differentiation of stomata.</a> Nature. 445 (7127), 501-505 (2007).</li><li>Ohashi-Ito, K., Bergmann, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arabidopsis+FAMA+controls+the+final+proliferation/differentiation+switch+during+stomatal+development.">Arabidopsis FAMA controls the final proliferation/differentiation switch during stomatal development.</a> Plant Cell. 18 (10), 2493-2505 (2006).</li><li>Kanaoka, M. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SCREAM/ICE1+and+SCREAM2+specify+three+cell-state+transitional+steps+leading+to+Arabidopsis+stomatal+differentiation.">SCREAM/ICE1 and SCREAM2 specify three cell-state transitional steps leading to Arabidopsis stomatal differentiation.</a> Plant Cell. 20 (7), 1775-1785 (2008).</li><li>Bergmann, D. C., Lukowitz, W., Somerville, C. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stomatal+development+and+pattern+controlled+by+a+MAPKK+kinase.">Stomatal development and pattern controlled by a MAPKK kinase.</a> Science. 304 (5676), 1494-1497 (2004).</li><li>Wang, H., Ngwenyama, N., Liu, Y., Walker, J. C., Zhang, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stomatal+development+and+patterning+are+regulated+by+environmentally+responsive+mitogen-activated+protein+kinases+in+Arabidopsis.">Stomatal development and patterning are regulated by environmentally responsive mitogen-activated protein kinases in Arabidopsis.</a> Plant Cell. 19 (1), 63-73 (2007).</li><li>Ho, C. M., Paciorek, T., Abrash, E., Bergmann, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modulators+of+stomatal+lineage+signal+transduction+alter+membrane+contact+sites+and+reveal+specialization+among+ERECTA+kinases.">Modulators of stomatal lineage signal transduction alter membrane contact sites and reveal specialization among ERECTA kinases.</a> Developmental Cell. 38 (4), 345-357 (2016).</li><li>Le, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Auxin+transport+and+activity+regulate+stomatal+patterning+and+development.">Auxin transport and activity regulate stomatal patterning and development.</a> Nature Communications. 5, 3090 (2014).</li><li>Geldner, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Arabidopsis+GNOM+ARF-GEF+mediates+endosomal+recycling,+auxin+transport,+and+auxin-dependent+plant+growth.">The Arabidopsis GNOM ARF-GEF mediates endosomal recycling, auxin transport, and auxin-dependent plant growth.</a> Cell. 112 (2), 219-230 (2003).</li><li>Qi, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autocrine+regulation+of+stomatal+differentiation+potential+by+EPF1+and+ERECTA-LIKE1+ligand-receptor+signaling.">Autocrine regulation of stomatal differentiation potential by EPF1 and ERECTA-LIKE1 ligand-receptor signaling.</a> Elife. 6, 24102 (2017).</li><li>Heilemann, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Subdiffraction-resolution+fluorescence+imaging+with+conventional+fluorescent+probes.">Subdiffraction-resolution fluorescence imaging with conventional fluorescent probes.</a> Angewandte Chemie. 47 (33), 6172-6176 (2008).</li><li>Leighton, R. E., Alperstein, A. M., Frontiera, R. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Label-free+super-resolution+imaging+techniques.">Label-free super-resolution imaging techniques.</a> Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry. 15 (1), 37-55 (2022).</li><li>Oreopoulos, J., Berman, R., Browne, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spinning-disk+confocal+microscopy:+Present+technology+and+future+trends.">Spinning-disk confocal microscopy: Present technology and future trends.</a> Methods in Cell Biology. 123, 153-175 (2014).</li><li>Gao, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cortical+column+and+whole-brain+imaging+with+molecular+contrast+and+nanoscale+resolution.">Cortical column and whole-brain imaging with molecular contrast and nanoscale resolution.</a> Science. 363 (6424), (2019).</li><li>Nwaneshiudu, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Introduction+to+confocal+microscopy.">Introduction to confocal microscopy.</a> Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 132 (12), (2012).</li><li>Sanderson, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multi-photon+microscopy.">Multi-photon microscopy.</a> Current Protocols. 3 (1), 634 (2023).</li></ol>

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The endomembrane system separates the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell into different compartments, which enables the specialized biological function of these organelles. To deliver cargo proteins and macromolecules to their final destination at the right time, numerous vesicles are guided to shuttle between these organelles. Highly regulated membrane trafficking events play fundamental roles in the viability, development, and growth of cells. The mechanism regulating this crucial and complicated process is still poorly un...

Membrane traffic is a conserved cellular process that distributes membrane components (also known as cargoes), including proteins, lipids, and other biological products, between different organelles within a eukaryotic cell or across the plasma membrane to and from the extracellular space1. This process is facilitated by a collection of membranes and organelles named the endomembrane system, which consists of the nuclear membrane, the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, the vacuole/lysosomes, the plasma membrane, and multiple endosomes1. The endomembrane system enables the modification, packaging, and transport of membrane components using dynamic vesicles that shuttle between these organelles. Membrane trafficking events are crucial to cell development, growth, and environmental adaptation and, thus, are under stringent and complex regulation2. Currently, multiple approaches in molecular biology, chemical biology, microscopy, and mass spectrometry have been developed and applied to the field of membrane trafficking and have greatly advanced the understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation of the endomembrane system3,4. Molecular biology is used for classical genetic manipulations of the putative players involved in membrane trafficking, such as altering the gene expression of the protein of interest or labeling the protein of interest with certain tags. Tools in chemical biology include the usage of molecules that specifically interfere with the traffic of certain routes4,5. Mass spectrometry is powerful for identifying the components in an organelle that has been mechanically isolated by biochemical approaches3,4. However, membrane traffic is a dynamic, diverse, and complex biological process1. To visualize the membrane trafficking process in live cells under various conditions, light microscopy is an essential tool. Continuous progress has been made in advanced microscope techniques to overcome the challenges in measuring the efficiency, kinetics, and diversity of the events4. Here, this study focuses on the widely adopted methodologies in chemical/pharmacological biology, molecular biology, and microscopy to study membrane trafficking events in a naturally simplified and experimentally accessible system, the stomatal developmental process.
Stomata are micropores on plant aerial surfaces that open and close to facilitate gas exchange between the inner cells and the environment6,7,8. Hence, stomata are essential for photosynthesis and transpiration, two events that are crucial for plant survival and growth. Stomatal development is dynamically adjusted by environmental cues to optimize the plant&#39;s adaptation to the surroundings9. Dating back to studies in 2002, the identification of the receptor protein Too Many Mouths (TMM) opened the door to a new era of investigating the molecular mechanisms of stomatal development in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana10. After just a few decades, a classical signaling pathway has been identified. From upstream to downstream, this pathway includes a group of secretory peptide ligands in the epidermal patterning factors (EFP) family, several cell-surface leucine-rich-repeat (LRR) receptor kinases in the EREECTA (ER) family, the LRR receptor protein TMM, a MAPK cascade, and several bHLH transcription factors including SPEECHLESS (SPCH), MUTE, FAMA, and SCREAM (SCRM)11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26. Previous work indicates that one of the receptor kinases, ER-LIKE 1 (ERL1), demonstrates active subcellular behaviors upon EPF perception20. ERL2 also dynamically traffics between the plasma membrane and some intracellular organelles27. Blocking the membrane trafficking steps causes abnormal stomatal patterning, resulting in stomatal clusters on the leaf surface28. These results suggest that membrane traffic plays an essential role in stomatal development. This study describes a protocol to spatiotemporally investigate the ERL1 dynamics using protein-protein subcellular co-localization analysis combined with pharmacological treatment using some membrane trafficking inhibitors.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL syringes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>BD309695</td>
			<td>Vacuum samples</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brefeldin A (BFA)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>B7651</td>
			<td>membrane trafficking drug</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Confocal Microscope</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>Lecia SP8 TCS with LAS-X software package</td>
			<td>Imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting Forceps</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>82027-402</td>
			<td>Genetic cross</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fiji</td>
			<td>NIH</td>
			<td>https://imagej.net/Fiji</td>
			<td>Image processing</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leica LAS AF software</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>http://www.leica-microsystems.com</td>
			<td>Image processing</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>transgenic seeds of ERL1-YFP</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Qi, X. et al. The manifold actions of signaling peptides on subcellular dynamics of a receptor specify stomatal cell fate. Elife. 9, doi:10.7554/eLife.58097, (2020).</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>transgenic seeds of RFP-Ara7</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Ebine, K. et al. A membrane trafficking pathway regulated by the plant-specific RAB GTPase ARA6. Nat Cell Biol. 13 (7), 853-859, doi:10.1038/ncb2270, (2011).</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wortmannin (Wm)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>W1628</td>
			<td>membrane trafficking drug</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

image-based methods to study membrane trafficking events in stomatal lineage cells

In eukaryotic cells, membrane components, including proteins and lipids, are spatiotemporally transported to their destination within the endomembrane system. This includes the secretory transport of newly synthesized proteins to the cell surface or the outside of the cell, the endocytic transport of extracellular cargoes or plasma membrane components into the cell, and the recycling or shuttling transport of cargoes between the subcellular organelles, etc. Membrane trafficking events are crucial to the development, growth, and environmental adaptation of all eukaryotic cells and, thus, are under stringent regulation. Cell-surface receptor kinases, which perceive ligand signals from the extracellular space, undergo both secretory and endocytic transport. Commonly used approaches to study the membrane trafficking events using a plasma membrane-localized leucine-rich-repeat receptor kinase, ERL1, are described here. The approaches include plant material preparation, pharmacological treatment, and confocal imaging setup. To monitor the spatiotemporal regulation of ERL1, this study describes the co-localization analysis between ERL1 and a multi-vesicular body marker protein, RFP-Ara7, the time series analysis of these two proteins, and the z-stack analysis of ERL1-YFP treated with the membrane trafficking inhibitors brefeldin A and wortmannin.

Author Spotlight: Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells  

Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells

This technique studies the membrane trafficking events in stomatal development, the micropores on plant aerial surface, to facilitate photosynthesis and the transpiration. Various techniques are used to study plant stomatal development. This includes molecular biology, cell biology or microscopy, chemical biology, mass spectrometry, biochemistry, and structural biology.Individual stomata form asynchronously. Each stoma is formed by three transcend cell fate transitions. So collecting enough stomata lineage cells at a particular cell fate is one of the big challenges.Membrane trafficking is essential for cell survival and growth. Stomata lineage cell is no exception. This protocol addresses the commonly used approach to study membrane trafficking events in stomata lineage cells.Plants face challenging environment in the face of climate change. Stomata are passages for plant gas exchange, and are highly flexible to environmental stress for adaptation. We are interested in studying how abiotic stress affects the stomata development by focusing on the membrane trafficking of certain proteins in stomata lineage cells.

A previous study indicated that ERL1 is an active receptor kinase that undergoes dynamic membrane trafficking events20. ERL1 is a transmembrane LRR-receptor kinase on the plasma membrane. Newly synthesized ERL1 in the endoplasmic reticulum is processed in the Golgi bodies and further transported to the plasma membrane. The ERL1 molecules on the plasma membrane can perceive EPF ligands using their extracellular LRR domain18. Upon activation by the inhibitory EPFs, including ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Image-Based Methods to Study Membrane Trafficking Events in Stomatal Lineage Cells at JoVE.com

Several commonly used methods are introduced here to study the membrane trafficking events of a plasma membrane receptor kinase. This manuscript describes detailed protocols including the plant material preparation, pharmacological treatment, and confocal imaging setup.

In eukaryotic cells, membrane components, including proteins and lipids, are spatiotemporally transported to their destination within the endomembrane ...

image-based-methods-to-study-membrane-trafficking-events-stomatal

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

﻿Preparation of Dual-Colored F1 Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Preparation of Dual-Colored F1 Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana  

To begin, grow homozygous transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants bearing ERL1-YFP and a red fluorescent protein, or RFP-labeled marker protein RFP ARA7 side-by-side in a growth room until flowering. On the young inflorescence of plant A, remove all the older flowers and calyx, except for one recently opened flower. Carefully remove the younger flowers and floral merostems.In the recently opened flower, remove the sepals, petals, and stamen using a pair of sharp tweezers, leaving only the pistil on the inflorescence. From plant B, take mature stamen from an opened flower and deposit the pollen grains into the stigma of the dissected pistil of plant A.Label this manually crossed flower, indicating its parents and the date of the genetic cross. When the calyx turns yellow or brown, harvest the F1 seeds to check for a successful F1 plant having yellow fluorescent protein, or YFP, and RFP signals.

Pharmacological Analysis of Dual-Colored F1 Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Pharmacological Analysis of Dual-Colored F1 Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana   

To begin the pharmacological analysis of dual-colored F1 Arabidopsis thaliana, dissect and remove the cotyledons of seven-day old transgenic seedlings. Add 500 microliters of a 30-micromolar Brefeldin A, or BFA solution, in a 1.5-milliliter micro-centrifuge tube. Immerse the dissected seedlings in it.Tightly attach a 10-milliliter syringe to the micro-centrifuge tube and apply a vacuum for one minute. Remove the syringe before incubating the sample in the solution for 30 minutes before imaging. Next, immerse the dissected seven-day old seedling into 25-millimolar wortmannin.Apply the vacuum for one minute before incubating the immersed sample for 30 minutes. Examining ERL-1 trafficking routes in transgenic plants showed that 30 minutes of exposure to Brefeldin A solution resulted in ERL-1-YFP detection in large compartments known as BFA bodies. It indicated that Brefeldin A could block ERL-1 trafficking suggesting recycling or endocytosis of ERL-1.When transgenics were treated with wortmannin for 30 minutes, ring-like structures called WM bodies were highlighted by ERL-1-YFP. It showed that ERL-1-YFP were transported to multivesicular bodies indicating that ERL-1 followed the route to vacuoles for degradation.

Sample Preparation and Confocal Imaging of Dual-Colored F1 Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Sample Preparation and Confocal Imaging of Dual-Colored F1 Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana   

To begin the sample preparation, dissect the true leaf from the pharmacologically treated Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic sample using a sharp razor blade. Place the true leaf on a glass slide in a drop of water with the abaxial side up. Slowly cover the true leaf with a cover slip without air bubbles.For imaging, set up the beam path by selecting a 514-nanometer laser for yellow fluorescent protein, or YFP excitation. Obtain high image quality by using high laser power. Turn on PMT or HYD and define the upper and lower emission band thresholds based on the spectrum for the YFP fluorophore.Set a detection window of 530 to 570 nanometers to collect the YFP signal. for the sequential image of the second color, click on the seek button and add a new channel. In seek two, select a 555-nanometer laser for the red fluorescent protein, or RFP excitation, and set a detection window of 570 to 630 nanometers to collect the RFP signal.Select a 63X, 1.2W core lens on the system for imaging the subcellular membrane traffic activity within stomatal precursor cells. Start the format with an image size of 1024 by 1024 pixels, then optimize it based on the zoom factor and the objective settings for a good resolution. Next, set up the speed of the scan head, starting with a speed of 400 hertz, and optimize this based on the specific situation of the samples.To zoom on a region of interest without changing the objective lens, enter a zoom factor of one and optimize this based on the specific needs of the experiment. The line average refers to the number of times each X line will be scanned to obtain an average result. Start with a 2X line average For imaging the membrane trafficking events and optimize as needed.select the XYT scan mode in the acquisition mode to enable the time series utility. Next, select the waiting period between the time points under time interval. Define the number of frames to be collected by selecting frames.Use the Z-stack scan mode with the maximum intensity projection to collect the three-dimensional information regarding the membrane trafficking event within The entire cell. Then select the XYZ scan mode in acquisition mode and then the Z-stack utility will become accessible. Select the Z wide option.Under the scan mode, define the Z stack's top and bottom images using the begin and end buttons. Next, define the thickness of the Z step by clicking on the Z step size. To process the image, click on the primary process tab in Confocal software.Under the open projects tab on the far left side, select the interested Z-stack file. Then, in the middle tab named process tools, select the projection function. Choose maximum in the dropdown panel of method and click on the apply button.A Z-stack projection image will be generated under the open projects tab. To generate the video from the time series images, click the file tab in Fiji software and open function to open all the time series images one by one in the correct order. Alternatively, drag the images onto image J to open the data in the correct order.Then find the stack function in the image tab and choose images to stack to generate a video. Once done, save the file in the avi format with the desired frame rate. In the true leaf of seven-day-old transgenic plants bearing ERL1 promoter ERL1 YFP, scattered cells were highlighted by the YFP signal where ERL1 YFP labeled the plasma membrane.Multiple punctate signals were also observed, suggesting that ERL1 was also localized to the endosomes. RFP Ara7 highlighted multiple punctate signals in almost all the cells, indicating the multivesicular bodies, or MVBs, in these cells. When RFP Ara7 merged with the ERL1 YFP signal, most punctates overlapped, suggesting that some ERL1 YFP molecules were transported to the MVBs.Time series of true leaves bearing ERL1 YFP and MVB marker protein RFP Ara7 showed that YFP-labeled endosomes moved together with RFP Ara7 within the stomatal lineage cells. It confirmed that ERL1 YFP was localized to the multivesicular bodies.

511 Views.  Rutgers University.  Several commonly used methods are introduced here to study the membrane trafficking events of a plasma membrane receptor kinase. This manuscript describes detailed protocols including the plant material preparation, pharmacological treatment, and confocal imaging setup. 

Spatiotemporal Investigation of ERL1 Dynamics via Confocal Imaging

Summary