Fig. 8

The possible pathway of melatonin increase salt secretion of salt gland (modified on the basis of Yuan et al. 2016). The melatonin up-regulates genes expression related to ions transporters and vesicle transport proteins. The ion transporters transport ions into the salt glands. Ions in the salt glands are transported to the collecting chamber adjacent to the secretory pore through vesicle transport and ions transporter and then are secreted from the secretory pore of salt glands. Blue round indicates melatonin; Green oval located on the plasma membrane indicates LBPMA; Red cylinder located on the plasma membrane indicates LBSOS1; Violet cylinder located on the plasma membrane indicates LBHKT1, LBCNGC (cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel), LBNSCC (non-selective cationic channel) respectively; Blue rectangle located on the plasma membrane indicates LBPIP (plasma membrane intrinsic protein, aquaporin); Blue cylinder located on the vesicles indicates LBNHX