Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is well-known for its role in cells as acting almost like currency for energy storage. Research by Elsa Matthus and colleagues shows that it can also play an important role outside the cell...
Tag - calcium
Fi Gennu
Methanol-induced cell signalling processes
Methanol is a frequently used solvent, and a volatile organic compound (VOC) released from plant cell walls through the action of pectin methylesterases. Tran et al. show that cell wall-produced methanol is a signal in...
Alex Assiry
In situ analyses of inorganic nutrient distribution in sweetcorn and maize kernels
Understanding the spatial distribution of inorganic nutrients within edible parts of plant products helps biofortification efforts to identify and focus on specific uptake pathways and storage mechanisms. Cheah et al...
Not one, but two second messengers?
Confusingly, a second second messenger is not a third messenger.
Nigel Chaffey
Molecular evolution of TPC1 in the karst-adapted genus Primulina
Limestone karsts across southern China to south-eastern Asia support high levels of species diversity and endemism. Tao et al. studied the molecular evolution of the Ca2+-permeable channel TPC1 in the genus Primulina, a...
botanyone
Humans are good for forests
You are all forgiven for doing a ‘double-take’ upon reading that headline. Usually it’s all bad news when humans and forests are concerned, so a statement to the contrary is noteworthy. The item concerns ancient humans...
Influence of low calcium availability on cadmium uptake and translocation in a fast-growing shrub and a metal-accumulating herb
Calcium (Ca) and the toxic heavy metal cadmium (Cd) are antagonistic ions competing for uptake in plants when they co-occur in soil solutions, and high Ca concentrations can reduce the uptake of Cd in plants. However...
AoBPLANTS
Root cortical aerenchyma inhibits radial nutrient transport
Root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) provides an adaptation to low nutrient availability by reducing the metabolic cost of soil exploration. Hu et al. use radiolabelling to investigate uptake of phosphate, sulphate and...
Spotlight on macronutrients: Touchy-feely calcium…
Calcium (Ca) acts – amongst other things! – as a so-called ‘second messenger’, and participates in many processes of plant growth and development.
Abscisic acid underlies genotypic variation in stomatal responses
Stomata formed at high relative humidity (RH) are less responsive to abscisic acid (ABA), an effect that varies widely between genotypes. Giday et al. study four rose cultivars (Rosa hybrida) grown at 60% and 90% RH and...
Spotlight on macronutrients: Phosphorus… and Potassium
It’s a little naughty to consider these two elements together, I know, because this may unintentionally add to the confusion that often ensues in class when you ask students to tell you the full chemical names for...
Tapetum and middle layer control of male fertility in kiwifruit
Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) male-sterile anthers abort at the microspore-stage, but the role sporophytic tissues in controlling male-sterility is unknown. Falasca et al. show that the tapetum and middle-layer...
Roles for calcium: numero uno
One important function of calcium is the part it plays in the water-splitting reaction of photosynthesis.
