Potential contributions of Arabidopsis thaliana to glutamate receptor-related neurodegeneration research

Arabidopsis thaliana , a widely used model organism in plant biology, has recently gained attention as a reference system for exploring mechanisms relevant to human diseases. Partial genomic and functional parallels between Arabidopsis and mammals enhance its potential to elucidate conserved stress and signalling pathways involved in neurodegeneration. Nitric oxide (NO) accumulation mediated by glutamate receptors (GLRs) is a hallmark of neuronal dysfunction and has been linked to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, homologous GLR families have also been identified in plants. In Arabidopsis , 20 AtGLRs grouped into three evolutionary clades have been characterized, yet the degree to which GLR-mediated signalling pathways are conserved across kingdoms remains unclear. Recent studies suggest that plant GLRs participate in Ca 2+ and NO-dependent signalling, integrating redox regulation with stress perception and organelle communication. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the structural and functional parallels between mammalian and plant GLRs and discusses how insights from Arabidopsis may provide a complementary framework for understanding the cellular logic of redox imbalance and stress-induced degeneration.