Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Slo1

Title: Anion channels: master switches of stress responses.

Authors: M Rob G Roelfsema, Rainer Hedrich, Dietmar Geiger

Journal, date & volume: Trends Plant Sci., 2012 Apr , 17, 221-9

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22381565

Abstract
During stress, plant cells activate anion channels and trigger the release of anions across the plasma membrane. Recently, two new gene families have been identified that encode major groups of anion channels. The SLAC/SLAH channels are characterized by slow voltage-dependent activation (S-type), whereas ALMT genes encode rapid-activating channels (R-type). Both S- and R-type channels are stimulated in guard cells by the stress hormone ABA, which leads to stomatal closure. Besides their role in ABA-dependent stomatal movement, anion channels are also activated by biotic stress factors such as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). Given that anion channels occur throughout the plant kingdom, they are likely to serve a general function as master switches of stress responses.