Glutamatergic elements in an excitability and circumnutation mechanism

Plant Signal Behav. 2010 Sep;5(9):1108-11. doi: 10.4161/psb.5.9.12417. Epub 2010 Sep 1.

Abstract

In plants, an electrical potential and circumnutation disturbances are a part of a response to environmental and internal stimuli. Precise relations between electrical potential changes and circumnutation mechanisms are unclear. We have found recently that glutamate (Glu) injection into Helianthus annuus stem induced a series of action potentials (APs) and a transient decrease in circumnutation activity. A theoretical explanation for this finding is discussed here taking into considerations data about the ion mechanism of AP and circumnutation as well as about the metabolic and signaling pathways of glutamate and their possible interactions.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / pharmacology
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Glutamic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Helianthus / drug effects
  • Helianthus / physiology*
  • Ion Transport / drug effects
  • Phototropism / drug effects
  • Phototropism / physiology*
  • Plant Stems / drug effects
  • Plant Stems / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agents
  • Glutamic Acid