Plant calcium signaling and monitoring: pros and cons and recent experimental approaches

This review focusses on Ca(2+)-mediated plant cell signaling and optical methods for in vivo [Ca2+] monitoring and imaging in plants. The cytosolic free calcium concentration has long been considered the central cellular key in plants. However, more and more data are turning up that critically question this view. Conflicting arguments show that there are still many open questions. One conclusion is that the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration is just one of many cellular network parameters orchestrating complex cellular signaling. Novel experimental strategies which unveil interference of cellular parameters and communication of transduction pathways are required to understand this network. To date only optical methods are able to provide both kinetic and spatial information about cellular key parameters simultaneously. Focussing on calcium there are currently three classes of calcium indicators employed (i.e., chemical fluorescent dyes, luminescent indicators, and green-fluorescent-protein-based indicators). Properties and capabilities as well as advantages and disadvantages of these indicators when used in plant systems are discussed. Finally, general experimental strategies are mentioned which are able to answer open questions raised here.