Quantification of Protein Uptake by Endocytosis in Carnivorous Nepenthales

Caroline Ivesic, Stefanie Krammer, Marianne Koller-Peroutka, Aicha Laarouchi, Daniela Gruber, Ingeborg Lang, Irene K Lichtscheidl, Wolfram Adlassnig

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Carnivorous plants adsorb prey-derived nutrients partly by endocytosis. This study quantifies endocytosis in Drosophyllum lusitanicum, Drosera capensis, Drosera roseana, Dionaea muscipula and Nepenthes × ventrata. Traps were exposed to 1% fluorescent-labeled albumin (FITC-BSA), and uptake was quantified repeatedly for 64 h. Formation of vesicles started after ≤1 h in adhesive traps, but only after 16 h in species with temporary stomach ( D. muscipula and N. × ventrata). In general, there are similarities in the observed species, especially in the beginning stages of endocytosis. Nonetheless, further intracellular processing of endocytotic vesicles seems to be widely different between species. Endocytotic vesicle size increased significantly over time in all species except in D. capensis. Fluorescence intensity of the endocytotic vesicles increased in all species except D. muscipula. After 64 h, estimates for FITC-BSA absorption per gland ranged from 5.9 ± 6.3 ng in D. roseana to 47.8 ± 44.3 ng in N. × ventrata, demonstrating that endocytosis substantially contributes to the adsorption of prey-derived nutrients.

Original languageEnglish
Article number341
JournalPlants
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Jan 2023

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 106031 Plant physiology
  • 106030 Plant ecology
  • 106052 Cell biology

Keywords

  • 3D modeling of glands
  • Dionaea
  • Drosera capensis
  • Drosera roseana
  • Drosophyllum
  • endosome
  • FITC-BSA
  • Nepenthes
  • protein uptake

Cite this