Nuclear-localized cyclic nucleotide–gated channels mediate symbiotic calcium oscillations

Calcium signals the making of symbiosis Plant cell nuclei respond to signals from symbiotic nitrogenfixing rhizobial bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with oscillating Ca 2+ release. Charpentier et al. identified a trio of responsible Ca 2+ channels in a legume. These channels contain nuclear localization signals and are expressed in root cell nuclear envelopes. The channels function early in the establishment of symbiosis to produce oscillations in Ca 2+ release from nuclear stores. Science , this issue p. 1102