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Physiological Roles of Nonselective Cation Channels in the Plasma Membrane of Higher Plants

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Communication in Plants

Abstract

Nonselective cation channels (NSCC) in the plasma membrane of higher plants form a large and diverse group of plant cation channels which are permeable for K+, Na+ and Ca2+. They include four classes: (1) constitutive NSCC; (2) NSCC activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS); (3) ligand-activated NSCC; and (4) mechanosensitive NSCC. Our understanding of physiological functions of NSCC has significantly progressed in the last few years. NSCC were demonstrated to be involved in nutritional uptake of K+, NH +4 , Ca2+, Mg2+, micronutrients and trace elements, toxic Na+ influx, in ROS-, amino acid, purine- and cyclic nucleotide induced signalling, growth and development. Here, physiological roles of plant NSCC are reviewed and discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK

    Vadim Demidchik

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  1. Vadim Demidchik
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  1. Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany, University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    František Baluška  & Dieter Volkmann  & 

  2. Department of Horticulture Electrophysiology Laboratory, University of Florence, Viale delle Idee 30, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    Stefano Mancuso

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Demidchik, V. (2006). Physiological Roles of Nonselective Cation Channels in the Plasma Membrane of Higher Plants. In: Baluška, F., Mancuso, S., Volkmann, D. (eds) Communication in Plants. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-28516-8_16

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