The Ca Sensor Calcineurin B-Like Protein 10 in Plants: Emerging New Crucial Roles for Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance.

Ca is a second messenger that mediates plant responses to abiotic stress; Ca signals need to be decoded by Ca sensors that translate the signal into physiological, metabolic, and molecular responses. Recent research regarding the Ca sensor CALCINEURIN B-LIKE PROTEIN 10 (CBL10) has resulted in important advances in understanding the function of this signaling component during abiotic stress tolerance. Under saline conditions, CBL10 function was initially understood to be linked to regulation of Na homeostasis, protecting plant shoots from salt stress.

The SlCBL10 Calcineurin B-Like Protein Ensures Plant Growth under Salt Stress by Regulating Na and Ca Homeostasis.

Characterization of a new tomato () T-DNA mutant allowed for the isolation of the () gene whose lack of function was responsible for the severe alterations observed in the shoot apex and reproductive organs under salinity conditions. Physiological studies proved that gene is required to maintain a proper low Na/Ca ratio in growing tissues allowing tomato growth under salt stress. Expression analysis of the main responsible genes for Na compartmentalization (i.