Protein phosphorylation is a prerequisite for intracellular Ca2+ release and ion channel control by nitric oxide and abscisic acid in guard cells.

Recent work has indicated that nitric oxide (NO) and its synthesis are important elements of signal cascades in plant-pathogen defence, and are a prerequisite for drought and abscisic acid (ABA) responses in Arabidopsis thaliana and Vicia faba guard cells. NO regulates inward-rectifying K+ channels and Cl- channels of Vicia guard cells via intracellular Ca2+ release. However, its integration with related signals, including the actions of serine-threonine protein kinases, is less well defined.