Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Measuring Spatial and Temporal Ca2+ Signals in Arabidopsis Plants
Published on: September 2, 2014
Shaping up: Recent advances in the study of plant calcium channels
Thomas J Kleist1, Michael M Wudick1
1Institute for Molecular Physiology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätstr.1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Abstract:
Calcium has long been recognized as a preeminent signaling molecule in plants with staggeringly diverse functions. The central mystery has therefore been how a single ion species can fulfill distinct functions while maintaining specificity and fidelity. Part of the answer lies in calcium being the most heavily controlled element in the cytosol, with dedicated transporters for sequestration into the apoplasm and intracellular stores. Controlled release of calcium into the cytosol by ion channels is the initiating step in signal transduction. Calcium-permeable ion channels are therefore important research targets. Recent studies have identified previously unknown channels, revealed atomic structures, and pinpointed locations of channels to specific cells and membranes. Here, we highlight key findings, transformative technologies, and pathways for further discovery.
Related Concept Videos
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism....
Short-distance Transport of Resources
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Cell Signaling in Plants

