Capacity for aluminium uptake depends on brefeldin A-sensitive membrane traffic in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L-cv. BY-2) cells

The relationship between cellular growth and aluminium (Al) uptake was examined by applying brefeldin A, a vesicle transport inhibitor, to cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. BY-2) cells. Cultured cells almost completely lost the capacity for Al uptake when preincubated for 1-3 h in a minimal medium. Pre-incubation also diminished subsequent growth in a culture medium. However, competency for Al uptake (20 mu M, pH 4.5) was sustained in a dose-dependent and reversible manner when cells were treated with brefeldin A (10 mu M), an inhibitor of Golgi-mediated secretion, prior to and during the incubation in minimal medium.