Intercellular and intracellular signals and their transduction via the plasma membrane-cytoskeleton interface.

Electrical signals (action potentials) and hydraulic signals (evidenced as variation potentials, graded potentials or slow waves) are discussed as complements to hormones as major means of intercellular communication in plants. It is shown that all three types of signals can be transduced into similar intracellular signals via the appropriate Ca2+ channel (voltage-gated, mechano-sensitive, or hormone-dependent, respectively). A likely role for these signals in modulating gene expression through transcription and translation is presented with special reference given to (de)phosphorylation modulated via Ca(2+)-dependent cytoskeleton-associated proteins.