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Integration and channeling of calcium signaling through the CBL calcium sensor/CIPK protein kinase network

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Abstract

Plant development and reproduction depend on a precise recognition of environmental conditions and the integration of this information with endogenous metabolic and developmental cues. Calcium ions have been firmly established as ubiquitous second messengers functioning in these processes. Calcium signal deciphering and signal-response coupling often involve calcium-binding proteins as responders or relays in this information flow. Here we review the calcineurin B-like protein (CBL) calcium sensor/CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) network as a newly emerging signaling system mediating a complex array of environmental stimuli. We focus particularly on the mechanisms generating signaling specificity. Moreover, we emphasize the functional implications that are emerging from the analyses of CBL and CIPK loss-of-function mutants.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

CBL:

Calcineurin B-like protein

CDPK:

Calcium-dependent protein kinase

CIPK:

CBL-interacting protein kinase

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

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Acknowledgements

Research in the authors laboratory is supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to J.K. We thank Dr. Ralph Bock for stimulating discussions during the preparation of the manuscript.

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  1. Institut für Botanik und Botanischer Garten, Universität Münster, Schlossgarten 3, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Oliver Batistic & Jörg Kudla

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  1. Oliver Batistic
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  2. Jörg Kudla
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Correspondence to Jörg Kudla.

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Batistic, O., Kudla, J. Integration and channeling of calcium signaling through the CBL calcium sensor/CIPK protein kinase network. Planta 219, 915–924 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1333-3

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