Cyclic nucleotide‐gated ion channel 6 is involved in extracellular ATP signaling and plant immunity

SUMMARY Extracellular ATP (eATP) is known to act as a danger signal in both plants and animals. In plants, eATP is recognized by the plasma membrane (PM)‐localized receptor P2K1 (LecRK‐I.9). Among the first measurable responses to eATP addition is a rapid rise in cytoplasmic free calcium levels ([Ca2+]cyt), which requires P2K1. However, the specific transporter/channel proteins that mediate this rise in [Ca2+]cyt are unknown. Through a forward genetic screen, we identified an Arabidopsis ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) mutant impaired in the [Ca2+]cyt response to eATP. Positional cloning revealed that the mutation resided in the cngc6 gene, which encodes cyclic nucleotide‐gated ion channel 6 (CNGC6). Mutation of the CNGC6 gene led to a notable decrease in the PM inward Ca2+ current in response to eATP. eATP‐induced mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation and gene expression were also significantly lower in cngc6 mutant plants. In addition, cngc6 mutant plants were also more susceptible to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Taken together, our results indicate that CNGC6 plays a crucial role in mediating eATP‐induced [Ca2+]cyt signaling, as well as plant immunity. Significance Statement Little is known about the identity of calcium channels regulating [Ca2+]cyt influx in response to extracellular ATP in plants. Here, we show that CNGC6 is a key calcium channel protein involved in the early events of plant purinergic signaling.