Mechanisms of calcium homeostasis orchestrate plant growth and immunity. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38418878/)

These scientists wanted to understand how plants control the levels of a nutrient called calcium inside their cells. Calcium is important for plants to grow and respond to their environment, but too much of it can be harmful.

To figure this out, the scientists studied a plant called Arabidopsis thaliana. They discovered that there are two different ways that the plant can adjust its calcium levels.

The first way is like a security alarm that goes off when there is too much calcium outside the plant. This alarm system involves special proteins that sense the high calcium levels and activate other proteins that help move the extra calcium into a compartment inside the plant cell called the vacuole.

The second way is like a plant's defense system against harmful microorganisms. When the plant detects certain signals from these invaders, it activates a different set of proteins that also help regulate calcium levels by moving it into the vacuole.

By studying these two pathways, the scientists learned how plants balance their need for calcium to grow and their need to defend themselves against threats. This helps plants stay healthy and strong in different environments.

Wang C., Tang RJ., Kou S., Xu X., Lu Y., Rauscher K., Voelker A., Luan S. Mechanisms of calcium homeostasis orchestrate plant growth and immunity. Nature. 2024 Feb 28. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07100-0.