GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE genes mediate leaf-to-leaf wound signalling.

Wounded leaves communicate their damage status to one another through a poorly understood process of long-distance signalling. This stimulates the distal production of jasmonates, potent regulators of defence responses. Using non-invasive electrodes we mapped surface potential changes in Arabidopsis thaliana after wounding leaf eight and found that membrane depolarizations correlated with jasmonate signalling domains in undamaged leaves.

Potassium transport in developing fleshy fruits: the grapevine inward K(+) channel VvK1.2 is activated by CIPK-CBL complexes and induced in ripening berry flesh cells.

The grape berry provides a model for investigating the physiology of non-climacteric fruits. Increased K(+) accumulation in the berry has a strong negative impact on fruit acidity (and quality). In maturing berries, we identified a K(+) channel from the Shaker family, VvK1.

Calcium-dependent modulation and plasma membrane targeting of the AKT2 potassium channel by the CBL4/CIPK6 calcium sensor/protein kinase complex.

Potassium (K(+)) channel function is fundamental to many physiological processes. However, components and mechanisms regulating the activity of plant K(+) channels remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the calcium (Ca(2+)) sensor CBL4 together with the interacting protein kinase CIPK6 modulates the activity and plasma membrane (PM) targeting of the K(+) channel AKT2 from Arabidopsis thaliana by mediating translocation of AKT2 to the PM in plant cells and enhancing AKT2 activity in oocytes.

Preferential KAT1-KAT2 heteromerization determines inward K+ current properties in Arabidopsis guard cells.

Guard cells adjust their volume by changing their ion content due to intense fluxes that, for K(+), are believed to flow through inward or outward Shaker channels. Because Shaker channels can be homo- or heterotetramers and Arabidopsis guard cells express at least five genes encoding inward Shaker subunits, including the two major ones, KAT1 and KAT2, the molecular identity of inward Shaker channels operating therein is not yet completely elucidated. Here, we first addressed the properties of KAT1-KAT2 heteromers by expressing KAT1-KAT2 tandems in Xenopus oocytes.

A grapevine Shaker inward K(+) channel activated by the calcineurin B-like calcium sensor 1-protein kinase CIPK23 network is expressed in grape berries under drought stress conditions.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera), the genome sequence of which has recently been reported, is considered as a model species to study fleshy fruit development and acid fruit physiology. Grape berry acidity is quantitatively and qualitatively affected upon increased K(+) accumulation, resulting in deleterious effects on fruit (and wine) quality. Aiming at identifying molecular determinants of K(+) transport in grapevine, we have identified a K(+) channel, named VvK1.