Coding and Decoding Calcium Signals in Plants

Research in the Harper lab is focused on the role of Ca2+ signalling in various aspects of plant biology, including pollen tube growth and fertilization, and regulation of biotic and abiotic stress responses. Projects include understanding the structure and biological functions of proteins that both create and decode Ca2+ transients. For example, ion channels such as CNGCs (Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ca2+-permeable ion Channels) and Ca2+ pumps such as the ACAs (Autoinhibited Ca-ATPases). These pumps and channels form circuits that are regulated to control the influx and efflux of Ca2+ into the cytosol (i.e., Ca2+ transients). In addition, the lab is interested in how different Ca2+ transients are decoded through the activation of CPKs (Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases) and how these phospho-regulatory pathways are used to control processes important for growth, such as secretion and cell wall biosynthesis.