CDPKs

CDPKs, or Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases, are specialized enzymes found mainly in plants and some other organisms. They act as sensors for calcium signals within cells, meaning they detect changes in calcium levels that happen when a plant responds to environmental cues like stress or pathogens. Once activated by calcium, CDPKs modify other proteins by adding phosphate groups, which helps regulate processes like growth, defense, and development. Essentially, CDPKs are crucial messengers that translate calcium signals into cellular actions, enabling plants to adapt and survive in changing environments.