Cationic calcium channels activated by cyclic nucleotides in plants: A systematic review using the PRISMA method

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Cyclic nucleotide-gated calcium channels (CNGC) are vital ion channels in plant physiology.
• Understanding their structure and activation is key to deciphering plant signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize primary research on plant CNGC published between January 2018 and May 2025.
• To organize knowledge on CNGC tertiary/quaternary structures and activation mechanisms.
• To identify research gaps, particularly in crystallographic structural elucidation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of articles from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed.
• Inclusion criteria focused on plant CNGC research within a specific timeframe, excluding non-plant or non-calcium studies.
• Categorization of 111 selected articles into seven key research areas.

Main Results:

• CNGC activation can occur through single or multiple interacting pathways.
• Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding specific activation processes.
• A notable lack of experimental studies on the crystallographic structure of plant CNGC was identified.

Conclusions:

• CNGC play a pivotal role in plant physiology, influencing various processes.
• Further experimental research is essential to resolve uncertainties in activation mechanisms.
• Elucidating the crystallographic structure of CNGC is a critical next step for comprehensive understanding.