Venus flytrap. © wikimedia
Scientists have uncovered exactly how the carnivorous plant Venus flytrap catches insects.
The plant has tiny sensory hairs that react to touch. When touched, they produce an electrical signal and a calcium signal. If two signals are detected in quick succession, the leaf snaps shut to catch prey.
Researchers found that a protein called DmMSL10/FLYC1 acts as a very sensitive mechanosensor in these hairs.By measuring calcium and electrical activity at the same time, they discovered a two-step system: The touched cell senses movement.
A comparison between a natural flytrap (top) and a modified flytrap with disabled calcium ion channels (bottom). © Suda et al.
If the stimulus is strong enough, it triggers a full electrical and calcium signal that spreads through the leaf, causing it to close.
In plants missing the DmMSL10 gene, these signals don’t travel properly, making the flytrap unable to detect and capture prey.
“Our findings demonstrate that DmMSL10 is crucial for mechanosensing, facilitating AP firing by generating a receptor potential (RP) amplitude.”
Read more in the release
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