Signaling in cells and organisms - calcium holds the line

Abstract

Previous research has established calcium (Ca(2+)) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as important cellular second messengers in eukaryotes. Recently, the occurrence of cell-to-cell moving Ca(2+) and ROS waves was reported in plants. This was paralleled by the discovery of long-distance wound-activated surface potential changes (WASPs) that require the function of putatively Ca(2+)-releasing glutamate receptor-like channels (GLRs) in Arabidopsis. Although the functional interconnection of Ca(2+)-dependent phosphorylation and ROS waves via NADPH oxidase activation has been clearly established, potential further interconnections between these long-distance signaling processes are less clear. In this review we cover emerging concepts and existing open questions that interconnect cellular and global signaling via Ca(2+), ROS and WASPs.