G proteins go green: A plant G protein signaling FAQ sheet

Plants, like animals, use signal transduction pathways based on heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (C proteins) to regulate many aspects of development and cell signaling. Some components of G protein signaling are highly conserved between plants and animals and some are not This Viewpoint compares key aspects of G protein signal transduction in plants and animals and describes the current knowledge of this system in plants, the questions that still await exploration, and the value of research on plant C proteins to scientists who do not study plants. Pathways in Science's Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment Connections Maps database provide details about the emerging roles of C proteins in several cellular processes of plants.