Mutational analysis of mechanosensitive ion channels in the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant.

ABSTRACT: How the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) evolved the remarkable ability to sense, capture, and digest animal prey for nutrients has long puzzled the scientific community.¹ Recent genome and transcriptome sequencing studies have provided clues to the genes thought to play a role in these tasks.^2,3,4,5 However, proving a causal link between these and any aspect of the plant's hunting behavior has been challenging due to the genetic intractability of this non-model organism. Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9 methods to generate targeted modifications in the Venus flytrap genome. The plant detects prey using touch-sensitive trigger hairs located on its bilobed leaves.⁶ Upon bending, these hairs convert mechanical touch signals into changes in the membrane potential of sensory cells, leading to rapid closure of the leaf lobes to ensnare the animal.⁷ Here, we generate mutations in trigger-hair-expressed MscS-like (MSL)-family mechanosensitive ion channel genes FLYCATCHER1 (FLYC1) and FLYCATCHER2 (FLYC2)⁵ and find that double-mutant plants have a reduced leaf-closing response to mechanical ultrasound stimulation. While we cannot exclude off-target effects of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, our genetic analysis is consistent with these and other functionally redundant mechanosensitive ion channels acting together to generate the sensory system necessary for prey detection.

SUBMITTER: Procko C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10528943 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature