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Calcium Signalling in Plant Biotic Interactions
Didier Aldon1, Malick Mbengue2, Christian Mazars3
1Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Vegetales, Universite de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 24, Chemin de Borde-Rouge, Auzeville, BP 42617, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France. aldon@lrsv.ups-tlse.fr.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 3, 2018
Summary
Plants utilize calcium ions (Ca2+) as a crucial second messenger for development and stress responses. Specialized sensors like calmodulin (CaM) and calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) decode these Ca2+ signals to orchestrate appropriate cellular actions.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Calcium ions (Ca2+) act as universal second messengers in plants, regulating development and stress responses.
- Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration are early events upon environmental perception, varying in spatio-temporal patterns.
- Plants possess specific Ca2+ sensors, including calmodulin (CaM), calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs), Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), and calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs), to interpret these signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in monitoring Ca2+ signal generation and propagation in plants.
- To highlight the role of CaM/CMLs and CDPKs in plant immunity against various pathogens and pests.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring Ca2+ signal generation at cellular and whole-plant levels.
- Investigating long-distance propagation of Ca2+ signals during biotic interactions.
- Analyzing the contribution of specific Ca2+ sensors in plant immune responses.
Main Results:
- Ca2+ signal variations exhibit distinct spatio-temporal dynamics based on stimulus characteristics.
- Plants employ a diverse array of Ca2+ sensors to translate signals into biological outputs.
- CaM/CMLs and CDPKs play significant roles in plant defense mechanisms against pathogens and insects.
Conclusions:
- Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms for Ca2+ signal transduction, crucial for development and defense.
- Understanding Ca2+ signaling pathways provides insights into enhancing plant resilience to environmental challenges and biotic attacks.
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