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Ion Channels and Plant Stress Responses pp 191–206Cite as

Vacuolar Ion Channels: Roles as Signalling Mechanisms and in Plant Nutrition

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Part of the book series: Signaling and Communication in Plants ((SIGCOMM))

Abstract

Vacuoles play various roles in many physiologically relevant processes in plants. Some of the more prominent are turgor provision, the storage of minerals and nutrients and cellular signalling. To fulfil these functions a complement of membrane transporters is present at the tonoplast. Prolific patch clamp studies have shown that amongst these, both selective and non selective cation channels (NSCCs) control key vacuolar functions: The non-selective SV channel is Ca2+ permeable and has been proposed to have signalling roles during germination, stomatal opening and in response to pathogens. The K+ selective VK channel impacts on K+ nutrition and stomatal closure. Ligand-gated channels form possible pathways for vacuolar Ca2+ release whereas the FV channel may be important in overall K+ homeostasis. This chapter will summarise and review the main functions of vacuolar ion channels with particular emphasis on their roles in abiotic and biotic stress.

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Abbreviations

cADPR:

Cyclic ADP-ribose

FV:

Fast vacuolar channel

IP3 :

Myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate

LV:

Lytic vacuole

NSCC:

Non selective cation channel

PMF:

Proton motive force

PSV:

Protein storage vacuole

SV:

Slow vacuolar channel

VK:

Vacuolar K+ channel

TMD:

Transmembrane domain

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department/Area 9, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom

    Frans J. M. Maathuis

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  1. Frans J. M. Maathuis
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Correspondence to Frans J. M. Maathuis .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom

    Vadim Demidchik

  2. University of York, Biology Department/Area 9, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom

    Frans Maathuis

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Maathuis, F.J.M. (2010). Vacuolar Ion Channels: Roles as Signalling Mechanisms and in Plant Nutrition. In: Demidchik, V., Maathuis, F. (eds) Ion Channels and Plant Stress Responses. Signaling and Communication in Plants. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10494-7_10

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