Dissecting calcium oscillators in plant cells.

To understand Ca2+ signaling, we need to identify all the Ca2+ transporters and their regulatory components. The first Ca2+ transporters to be cloned from plants and shown to have regulated activity were calmodulin-dependent Ca2+ -pumps. The regulation of these pumps suggests that being able to change the rate of Ca2+ efflux is important for Ca2+ signaling. The identification of pumps and antiporters in different subcellular locations is helping to dissect the complexities of Ca2+ signaling in plants.