Electrical signals (ESs) appearing in plants under the action of various external factors play an important role in adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Generation of ES in higher plant cells is associated with activation of Ca2+, K+, and anion fluxes, as well as with changes in the activity of plasma membrane H+-ATPase. In the present review, molecular nature of the ion channels contributing to ESs transmission in higher plants is analyzed based on comparison of the data from molecular-genetic and electrophysiological studies. Based on such characteristics of ion channels as selectivity, activation mechanism, and intracellular and tissue localization, those ion channels that meet the requirements for potential participation in ES generation were selected from a wide variety of ion channels in higher plants. Analysis of the data of experimental studies performed on mutants with suppressed or enhanced expression of a certain channel gene revealed those channels whose activation contributes to ESs formation. The channels responsible for Ca2+ flux during generation of ESs include channels of the GLR family, for K+ flux - GORK, for anions - MSL. Consideration of the prospects of further studies suggests the need to combine electrophysiological and genetic approaches along with analysis of ion concentrations in intact plants within a single study.
Keywords: action potential; electrical signals in plants; ion channels; long-distance signals; variation potential.