Year: 2020 | Month: December | Volume 13 | Issue 4
Heterotrimeric G Proteins: Key Players in Plant Growth and Stress Responses
DOI:10.30954/0974-1712.04.2020.15
Abstract:
Heterotrimeric G proteins are large membrane-associated G proteins with subunits (Gα), (Gβ), and (Gγ) present in the plasma membrane in eukaryotes. They are signal transducers that play an important role in signaling pathways in various living organisms. In the inactive stage, Gα contains guanosine diphosphate and forms the heterotrimeric complex with Gβγ dimer which is activated by nucleotide exchange on Gα for guanosine triphosphate (GTP), GTP bound Gα dissociates from Gβγ dimer and modulates the effector for downstream signaling. Regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) protein is a regulatory point of G protein activation and stimulates rate-limiting GTPase activity of Gα subunit. G-protein research in plants is getting a lot of attention recently due to the emerging roles in modulating abiotic and biotic stress responses. An increase in the frequency of extreme weather and climate change has accelerated the adverse effect from plant stresses which are detrimental for plant growth. G-proteins plays important role in various functions that enhances plant growth and development, regulation of hormones, signals, stresses and plant defense responses. Furthermore, future research should be directed towards the discovery of novel components and their signaling mechanisms.
Highlights
- Guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G- proteins) are cytosolic proteins that are present in trimeric complex with α, β & γ subunits in plants.
- They act as signal transducers that regulate multiple signaling pathways in eukaryotes.
- Heterotrimeric G- proteins play vital role in plant growth and development in many plant species.
- Besides roles in plant growth, they are also important for mitigation of abiotic (salt, drought, ozone, temperature) stresses and plant defense responses by inducing different mechanisms.
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