Calcium dependent regulation of K+ channels and their role in potassium homeostasis during stress

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Potassium essentiality in plants is related to its key role as a major inorganic osmoticum and its impact on growth, development and crop yield. On the cellular level K+ transport is accomplished by ion channels and transporters and their regulation by Ca2+ dependent signaling processes is with the focus of our project. The Arabidopsis K+ efflux channel GORK represents a paradigm for voltage dependent, K+ sensing ion channels. We will study the effect of stress induced phosphorylation by Ca2+ dependent kinases on its activity status to reveal its role in K+ homeostasis and sensing. Based on established cooperations with the FOR964 we aim on quantitatively describe and simulate K+-stress induced Ca2+ patterns in selected cell types by means of optogenetic tools thereby gaining new insight into the regulation of plant potassium balance.