Biochemical and Physical Basis of Movement in Plants

Plants are complex organisms that are essential to the biological processes that occur on a regular basis on Earth. The growth and differentiation of the various plant tissue and organ systems are controlled by various internal and external factors. Internal factors in a plant are essential and comprehending these processes will allow us to understand the workings of a plant. Of these internal factors, there are numerous biochemical and physical internal movements to comprehend, which continually occur in all plants. Studies of light-sensing mechanisms are revealing important roles for ion channels. Ion channels perform signal-transducing functions in the complex array of mechanisms. Permeation of water across biological membranes is facilitated by aquaporins, an ubiquitous membrane channel protein. This and similar proteins play a significant role in the movement of water and other materials around the interior of a plant. The combined actions of diffusion and specific...