Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
08:21
Real-time In Vivo Recording of Arabidopsis Calcium Signals During Insect Feeding Using a Fluorescent Biosensor
Published on: August 15, 2017
Calcium signaling network in plants: an overview
Narendra Tuteja1, Shilpi Mahajan
1Plant Molecular Biology Group; International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; New Delhi, India.
Plant Signaling & Behavior
|June 12, 2009
Summary
Calcium ions (Ca2+) act as crucial second messengers in plants, regulating stress responses and gene expression. Understanding calcium transporters and signaling pathways is key to enhancing plant stress tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Calcium ion (Ca2+) is a ubiquitous intracellular second messenger in plants.
- Cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) increases in response to various stimuli, including abiotic stresses.
- Ca2+ signaling regulates stress tolerance, cell cycle progression, and defense mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the essential role of calcium signaling in plants.
- To describe Ca2+ transporters, Ca2+-ATPases, and H+/Ca2+-antiporters.
- To discuss Ca2+-binding proteins and their functions in stress response.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of calcium signaling in plants.
- Analysis of Ca2+ transport mechanisms (influx and efflux).
- Examination of Ca2+-sensor proteins and downstream signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Ca2+ spikes result from influx and efflux, mediated by channels, pumps, Ca2+-ATPases, and H+/Ca2+ antiporters.
- Activated calcium-dependent protein kinases regulate stress-responsive genes.
- Calcium signaling influences gene expression crucial for plant defense and stress tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Calcium signaling is vital for plant adaptation to environmental stresses.
- Further research is needed to identify genes responding to specific calcium signals.
- Understanding Ca2+ dynamics and signaling components can improve plant stress resilience.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
01:16Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
01:19Contact-dependent Signaling
Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...