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The Emerging Roles of Phospholipase C in Plant Growth and Development

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Lipid Signaling in Plants

Part of the book series: Plant Cell Monographs ((CELLMONO,volume 16))

Abstract

In animals, the phospholipase Cs (PLCs) are recognized as key components of signaling, being involved in transducing messages delivered by hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors. Owing to their central role in animal biology, plant scientists have assumed an important role for these enzymes in plants. However, only recently we have begun to reveal the complexity with which PLCs can act to modulate plant behavior. This chapter focuses on describing the kinds of PLCs so far identified in plants at the molecular level and on discussing how these enzymes regulate cellular activity. The traditional idea from mammalian research is that PLCs cleave membrane phospholipids to generate signaling-related products that then go on to regulate cellular functions through specific targets, such as protein kinase C or Ca2+-dependent signaling networks. However, while the plant enzymes also clearly act to generate signaling products, their activity towards modulating the levels of their substrates is an important emerging theme of regulation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. S. Swanson for critical reading of the manuscript. Funding from the USDA is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, The University of Wisconsin, 132 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Peter E. Dowd

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  1. Peter E. Dowd
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  2. Simon Gilroy
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Correspondence to Peter E. Dowd .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Swammerdam Inst. Life Science, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, Amsterdam, 1098 SM, Netherlands

    Teun Munnik

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Dowd, P.E., Gilroy, S. (2010). The Emerging Roles of Phospholipase C in Plant Growth and Development. In: Munnik, T. (eds) Lipid Signaling in Plants. Plant Cell Monographs, vol 16. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03873-0_2

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