Glutamate channels signal distress

Plant Biology Wounded plants generate Ca2+ waves and electrical signals that propagate from the wound site to distal tissues. Shao et al . found that root wounding or glutamate application to wounded roots induced these systemic signals in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana . This required the glutamate receptor–like proteins GLR3.3 and GLR3.6 and inhibition of the proton pump AHA1 (see the Focus by Fichman et al .). GLR3.3 and GLR3.6 functioned as pH-sensitive, glutamate-gated Ca2+ channels. Glutamate leakage and increases in pH caused by wounding may lead to GLR activation and systemic wound signaling. Sci. Signal. 13 , eaba1453, eabb9505 (2020).