Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
06:50
Wide-Field, Real-Time Imaging of Local and Systemic Wound Signals in Arabidopsis
Published on: June 4, 2021
5.8K
Carbon Monoxide as a Signaling Molecule in Plants
1College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|May 21, 2016
Summary
Carbon monoxide (CO) acts as a plant signaling molecule, influencing growth, development, and stress tolerance. It enhances antioxidant defenses and interacts with other signaling pathways for improved plant resilience.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Signaling
Background:
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is recognized as a crucial signaling molecule in plants.
- Its gaseous nature facilitates rapid signal transduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an update on carbon monoxide's role in plants.
- To review CO synthesis, physiological functions, and stress tolerance mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on carbon monoxide in plants.
Main Results:
- CO positively influences seed germination, root development, and stomatal closure.
- CO enhances plant tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought, salt, UV radiation, and heavy metals.
- CO boosts plant stress resistance primarily by strengthening the antioxidant defense system.
- CO exhibits cross-talk with other signaling molecules, including nitric oxide (NO) and phytohormones (IAA, ABA, GA).
Conclusions:
- Carbon monoxide is a vital signaling molecule with diverse roles in plant physiology.
- CO is a key player in plant adaptation to environmental stresses.
- Understanding CO signaling pathways can lead to strategies for improving crop resilience.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
7.0K
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...
7.0K
01:27C4 Pathway and CAM
50.2K
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
50.2K
01:46The Calvin Benson Cycle
7.2K
Ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes carbon dioxide assimilation during photosynthesis. However, it is an inefficient enzyme, having an extremely slow catalytic rate. A typical enzyme can process about a thousand molecules per second; however, RuBisCo fixes only around three-carbon dioxides per second. Photosynthetic cells compensate for this slow rate by synthesizing very high amounts of RuBisCo, making it the most abundant single...
7.2K
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
18.0K
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.
18.0K
01:32Types of Signaling Molecules
14.2K
In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...
14.2K
01:32Types of Signaling Molecules
2.1K
2.1K