Mechanosensing in Plants - Mechanosensitive Calcium Channels versus the Cell Wall-Plasma Membrane-Cytoskeleton Continuum

Using hydraulic conductivity as readout, a role of the cytoskeleton in protoplast swelling was demonstrated speculated through controlled release of intracellular membrane stores during expansion. Fluorescent microscopic study revealed the tonoplast and plasma membrane localizations of two putative Ca2+ channels NtTPC1A and NtMCA2 in tobacco cells. Overexpression leads to increased salt tolerance, inhibited elongation growth and decreased cellular Ca2+ content in both overexpression cell lines.