Ion channels in plant signaling

• Published in: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 183 - 203
• Main Authors: Zimmermann, S. (MPI-MOPP, Golm-Potsdam Germany.), Ehrhardt, T, Plesch, G, Muller-Rober, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer Nature B.V 01.02.1999; Birkhäuser-Verlag
• Subjects: BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR; BIOLOGIE MOLECULAIRE; calcium; CELL MEMBRANES; Cellular biology; Cyclic nucleotides; Cytoskeleton; ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY; Endogenous stimuli; Environmental effects; FISIOLOGIA VEGETAL; Guard cells; ION; Ion channels; Ion Channels - metabolism; ION TRANSPORT; ION UPTAKE; IONES; IONS; LITERATURE REVIEWS; MEMBRANAS CELULARES; MEMBRANE CELLULAIRE; MEMBRANE POTENTIAL; MOLECULAR BIOLOGY; Nucleotides; pathogens; Phosphorylation; PHYSIOLOGIE VEGETALE; Plant biology; Plant cells; Plant hormones; PLANT PHYSIOLOGY; Plant Proteins - metabolism; PLANTAS; PLANTE; PLANTS; plants (botany); Plants - metabolism; plasma membrane; PLASMA MEMBRANES; Proteins; SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION; solutes; Stomata
• ISSN: 1420-682X; 1420-9071
• DOI: 10.1007/s000180050284

Plant ion channel activities are rapidly modulated in response to several environmental and endogenous stimuli such as light, pathogen attack and phytohormones. Electrophysiological as well as pharmacological studies provide strong evidence that ion channels are essential for the induction of specific cellular responses, implicating their tight linkage to signal transduction cascades. Ion channels propagate signals by modulating the membrane potential or by directly affecting cellular ion composition. In addition, they may also be effectors at the end of signaling cascades, as examplified by ion channels which determine the solute content of stomatal guard cells. Plant channels are themselves subject to regulation by a variety of cellular factors, including calcium, pH and cyclic nucleotides. In addition, they appear to be regulated by (de)-phosphorylation events as well as by direct interactions with cytoskeletal and other cellular proteins. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of ion channels in plant signaling.