Analysis of calcium signaling pathways in plants.

Batistič O, Kudla J

Zusammenfassung

BACKGROUND: Calcium serves as a versatile messenger in many adaptation and developmental processes in plants. Ca(2+) signals are represented by stimulus-specific spatially and temporally defined Ca(2+) signatures. These Ca(2+) signatures are detected, decoded and transmitted to downstream responses by a complex toolkit of Ca(2+) binding proteins that function as Ca(2+) sensors. SCOPE OF REVIEW: This review will reflect on advancements in monitoring Ca(2+) dynamics in plants. Moreover, it will provide insights in the extensive and complex toolkit of plant Ca(2+) sensor proteins that relay the information presented in the Ca(2+) signatures into phosphorylation events, changes in protein-protein interaction or regulation of gene expression. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Plants' response to signals is encoded by different Ca(2+) signatures. The plant decoding Ca(2+) toolkit encompasses different families of Ca(2+) sensors like Calmodulins (CaM), Calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs), Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), Calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) and their interacting kinases (CIPKs). These Ca(2+) sensors are encoded by complex gene families and form intricate signaling networks in plants that enable specific, robust and flexible information processing. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: This review provides new insights about the biochemical regulation, physiological functions and of newly identified target proteins of the major plant Ca(2+) sensor families. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Biochemical, biophysical and genetic approaches to intracellular calcium signaling.