Ca2+ acting as a second messenger plays a crucial role in stress signal transduction pathways. In plants, intracellular calcium levels altered in response to multiple abiotic stresses result in calcium signatures. The specific signatures of these calcium transients are achieved via the function of calcium-binding proteins. So far, three families of calcium-binding proteins have been identified in plants, including calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), calmodulin (CaM) and calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs). The proteins likely recognize specific calcium signatures and relay these signals into downstream responses to accommodate external stimuli. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of calcium signal transduction under abiotic stresses.
Zhang et al. (2007) studied this question.