Abstract
Plant survival requires cellular sensing systems that detect and respond to nutrient and ion fluctuations. The ability to monitor and adjust solute concentrations is essential for managing environmental stresses, particularly salt stress, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular ion sensing remain largely unknown. Here, we combine luminal pH measurements with mathematical modelling of ion transport to investigate the role of the Trans-Golgi Network/Early Endosome (TGN/EE) for cellular ion homeostasis. Our results demonstrate that cytosolic concentrations of Cl(-), Na(+) and K(+) directly impact ion transport activity at the TGN/EE, thereby influencing luminal pH dynamics. Specifically, we find that the TGN/EE lumen becomes more alkaline when plants are exposed to elevated NaCl concentrations, indicating a previously unrecognised role for endomembrane pH regulation in salt stress responses. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TGN/EE ion transport mutants that fail to exhibit NaCl-induced alkalisation display hypersensitivity to Na(+). These findings indicate that the translation of elevated cytosolic ion concentrations into TGN/EE luminal alkalisation, represents an important mechanism for conferring Na(+) tolerance in plant cells.