Science Advances: Plants can also be "remote control"

There are tiny stomata on the surface of the leaves of plants

There are two guard cells around the stomata

Therefore, stomatal movement is regulated by guard cells

Light-sensitive protein extracted from algae 

The researchers succeeded in doing this by introducing a light-sensitive switch into the protective cells of the tobacco plant

The team led by Professor Rainer Hedrich, a JMU biophysicist and conservation cell expert, described their method in the well-known scientific journal "Science Progress"

The research team used a light-sensitive protein from the algae Guillardia theta as a light switch, the anion channel ACR1 from the channel rhodopsin group

Confirms the negative ion channel hypothesis 

"By exposing ACR1 to light, we have bridged the cell's own signal chain, thus proving the hypothesis that the opening of anion channels is necessary and sufficient for stoma closure," Hedrich summarized the results of this study

Armed with this knowledge, it is now possible to cultivate more anion channels in plant guard cells

"The anion channels of plants are activated under pressure; this process depends on calcium

Basic scientific research can also benefit from Würzburg's results: "Our new optogenetic tool has great research potential," said the JMU professor

###