Electrical Signaling, Photosynthesis and Systemic Acquired Acclimation

Abstract

Electrical signaling in higher plants is required for the appropriate intracellular and intercellular communication, stress responses, growth and development. In this review, we have focus on recent findings regarding the electrical signaling, as a major regulator of the systemic acquired acclimation (SAA) and the systemic acquired resistance (SAR). The electric signaling on its own cannot confer the required specificity of information to trigger SAA and SAR, therefore, we have also discussed a number of other mechanisms and signaling systems that can operate in combination with electric signaling. We have emphasized the interrelation between ionic mechanism of electrical activity and regulation of photosynthesis, which is intrinsic to a proper induction of SAA and SAR. In a special way, we have summarized the role of non-photochemical quenching and its regulator PsbS. Further, redox status of the cell, calcium and hydraulic waves, hormonal circuits and stomatal aperture regulation have been considered as components of the signaling. Finally, a model of light-dependent mechanisms of electrical signaling propagation has been presented together with the systemic regulation of light-responsive genes encoding both, ion channels and proteins involved in regulation of their activity. Due to space limitations, we have not addressed many other important aspects of hormonal and ROS signaling, which were presented in a number of recent excellent reviews.

Photosystem II 22kDa protein level ‐ a prerequisite for excess light‐inducible memory, cross‐tolerance to UV‐C and regulation of electrical signalling

“…Plant responses to excess light episodes are associated with and regulated by photoelectrophysiological signalling, which comprises electrical waves dependent on calcium channels (with amplitude ranging from 10 to 50 mV, and the characteristics of a signal corresponding to a variation or systemic signal), followed by NPQ, reactive oxygen species, induction of expression of ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE 1 and 2 (Karpiński et al, ; Szechyńska‐Hebda et al, ; Szechyńska‐Hebda, Lewandowska, & Karpiński, ) and the calcium wave (Białasek et al, ; Gilroy et al, ). Electrical signals induced by excess light spots applied to a particular leaf or leaf area then spread systemically and regulated the balance between NPQ and photosynthesis of other leaves in the shade (Białasek et al, ; Szechyńska‐Hebda et al, ; Szechyńska‐Hebda et al, ). On the other hand, lacking PsbS protein and deregulation of NPQ in npq4‐1 plants (which was also accompanied by changes in the efficiency of PSII) influenced the spatial and temporal pattern of the EP caused by excess light episodes.…”

Communication in Plants: Comparison of Multiple Action Potential and Mechanosensitive Signals With Experiments

“…In this section we will derive the mutual information expression for the complete system using the expressions in Eqs. (30) and (31). We will present a general derivation which holds for the cases when the input number of signalling molecules depend on either the magnitude of multiple AP or for multiple mechanosensitive activation signals.…”

Communication and Information Theory of Single Action Potential Signals in Plants

“…Combining the jump vectors and jump rate functions of all the diffusion and escape events we obtain a matrix H for the medium in Eq (9). For understanding the terms in H matrix we present following explanation.…”