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Glutamate-receptor genes in plants

Nature volume 396, pages 125–126 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

In animal brains, ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) function as glutamate-activated ion channels in rapid synaptic transmission. We have now discovered that genes encoding putative ionotropic GluRs exist in plants, and we present preliminary evidence for their involvement in light-signal transduction. It may be that signalling between cells by excitatory amino acids in animal brains evolved from a primitive signalling mechanism that existed before the divergence of plants and animals. Our findings also help to explain why neuroactive compounds made by plants work on receptors in human brains.

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Figure 1: Arabidopsis GLR cDNAs encode proteins with sequence identity to animal ionotropic glutamate receptors.
Figure 2: Effects of ionotropic GluR antagonist DNQX on Arabidopsis seedlings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

    Hon-Ming Lam

  2. Department of Biology, New York University, 1009 Main Building, 100 Washington Square East, New York, 10003, New York, USA

    Joanna Chiu, Ming-Hsiun Hsieh, Lee Meisel, Igor C. Oliveira, Michael Shin & Gloria Coruzzi

Authors
  1. Hon-Ming Lam
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  2. Joanna Chiu
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  3. Ming-Hsiun Hsieh
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  4. Lee Meisel
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  5. Igor C. Oliveira
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  6. Michael Shin
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  7. Gloria Coruzzi
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Lam, HM., Chiu, J., Hsieh, MH. et al. Glutamate-receptor genes in plants. Nature 396, 125–126 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/24066

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