Role of abscisic acid in a Ca2+ second messenger system

Owen, J. H. 1988. Role of abscisic acid in a Ca 2+ second messenger system. ‐ Physiol. Plant. 72:637–641. Recent investigations have shown that Ca 2+ acts as a second messenger in plant cell coupling of response to stimulus. Data now suggests that abscisic acid (ABA) plays a role as Ca 2+ ‘agonist’ in this Ca 2+ messenger system, although the molecular basis of such an interaction has not yet been fully investigated. ABA appears to possess a universal Ca 2+ ‘agonist’ role because it elicits responses in systems as diverse as mammalian contractile tissue and cyanobacteria. ABA may therefore be of a wider biological significance than previously recognised.