Publications [#230049] of Zhen-Ming Pei

Papers Published

1. Pei, ZM; Ghassemian, M; Kwak, CM; McCourt, P; Schroeder, JI, Role of farnesyltransferase in ABA regulation of guard cell anion channels and plant water loss., Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 282 no. 5387 (October, 1998), pp. 287-290, ISSN 0036-8075 [pdf], [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/16)

   Abstract:
   Desiccation of plants during drought can be detrimental to agricultural production. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) reduces water loss by triggering stomatal pore closure in leaves, a process requiring ion-channel modulation by cytoplasmic proteins. Deletion of the Arabidopsis farnesyltransferase gene ERA1 or application of farnesyltransferase inhibitors resulted in ABA hypersensitivity of guard cell anion-channel activation and of stomatal closing. ERA1 was expressed in guard cells. Double-mutant analyses of era1 with the ABA-insensitive mutants abi1 and abi2 showed that era1 suppresses the ABA-insensitive phenotypes. Moreover, era1 plants exhibited a reduction in transpirational water loss during drought treatment.