This book focuses on the significance and implications of Calcium (Ca2+) transport machinery in the plant cell in generating alternating Ca2+ levels and impacting the cell's physiological, biochemical and developmental processes. In the following sections, the concept of Ca2+ homeostasis, Ca2+ signature, various Ca2+ transport protein families and conductance systems would be discussed in detail- elucidation of their functional characterization, structure, mechanism, sub-cellular localization and specific physiological roles in ensuring Ca2+ homeostasis. Also, the aspect of Ca2+ as a "signaling hub" -transducing distinct plant responses to diverse environmental stimuli, Ca2+ binding proteins, and the tools used in studying these proteins are explained in brief to paint a holistic picture of Ca2+ transport in plant systems. This has resulted in an elaborative literature account to serve as a staple by providing recent insights and advance knowledge surrounding genetic and molecular dissection of Ca2+homeostasis maintenance mechanisms and extant Ca2+ transport systems in plants.

Autorentext
Girdhar K. Pandey is working as Professor in the Department of Plant Molecular Biology, Delhi University South Campus, New Delhi, India. He is the Fellow of National Academy Sciences, India (NASI) and National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India. His group's research interest is to understand the detail mechanistic interplay of calcium-mediated signal transduction networks in plants under mineral nutrient (potassium and calcium) deficiency and abiotic stresses. He has published more than 80 articles in international journal of repute. He has edited (5) authored (4) books. He is also serving as editorial board/associate editor in several international reputed journals. For further detail information visit his lab web-page: http://www.dpmb.ac.in/index.php?page=girdhar-pandey; https://sites.google.com/site/gkplab/home.

Dr. Sibaji K Sanyal is a former PhD student of Prof. Girdhar K. Pandey and currently working as Research Associate (Post-doctoral fellow) in DBT-India sponsored program

Inhalt
PrefaceIntroduction to cellular calcium•Utility of calcium in plant world•Structural and nutritional functions•Calcium ionic balance and its signaling functionsCellular calcium homeostasis•Cytosolic calcium•Sub-cellular calcium reserves•Generation of calcium waves or signaturesSignificance of calcium signatures•Physiological relevance of calcium signature•Calcium signature - mediator of upstream signal perception and downstream cascading•Implications of specific calcium signatures with respect to diverse environmental cues•Influence on nutrient sensing, growth and developmental processesCellular calcium transport machinery•Physiological attributes of calcium permeable ion channels•Characterization Influx & Efflux channelsCalcium conductance across plasma membrane•Plasma Membrane localized Non- selective Cation channels (NSCCs)•Mechanosensitive calcium channels (MCCs)•Depolarization activated calcium channels (DACCs)•Hyperpolarization- activated calcium channels (HACCs)Identification of other influx channels based on cellular localization- Endomembrane and vacuolar ion channel•Endomembrane calcium channels•Vascuolar calcium channels VVCas & SVsOther non- selective calcium conductances Ca2+ •Annexins•Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGCs)•Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGLRs)•Two pore channel 1 (TPC1)•Several other channels (MSLs, MCAs, OSCA1, piezo channels)Calcium extrusion systems and Efflux transporters•Ca2+ - ATPases•Ca2+/H+ exchangers (CAXs)Cellular Ca2+ Hubs •Overlap with reactive oxygen species (ROs) hubs•Interaction & crosstalk with other nutrient ionsRecent advances in biotechnological tools and approaches •Early tools & techniques employed current utility•Live cell imaging for real- time visualization of in-vivo Ca2+ signatures•Genomic and functional analytical strategiesConclusions & Future Perspectives•Scope in other plant model systems•Comparative and evolutionary analysis of Ca2+ transport systems plants vs animal lineagesReferencesAbbreviationsIndex