Premium
Calcium and plant action potentials
Author(s) -
BEILBY M. J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.1984.tb01431.x
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , calcium , cytoplasmic streaming , depolarization , biophysics , vacuole , action (physics) , chemistry , transient (computer programming) , function (biology) , physics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , computer science , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , operating system
. Under normal conditions the action potential in Characeae is dependent on the presence of both Cl − and Ca 2+ . Cl − seems to play a straightforward part as a transient depolarizing flow. The role of Ca 2+ , however, is emerging as an increasingly complex one: there are Ca 2+ concentration changes in the cytoplasm, as well as transient Ca 2+ currents across the plasmalemma and possibly the tonoplast. In most Characeae Ca 2+ is necessary for the Cl − channel to function, and it is also involved in the cessation of the cytoplasmic streaming observed at the time of excitation. The function of Ca 2+ at the time of the action potential is being revealed by experimental techniques of increasing sophistication. The development of these methods and possible associated artefacts are considered.