Purification and characterization of a PMA-stimulated kinase and identification of PMA-induced phosphorylation of a polypeptide that is dephosphorylated by low temperature in Brassica juncea

The plant non-specific phospholipase C gene family. Novel competitors in lipid signalling

Non-specific phospholipases C (NPCs) were discovered as a novel type of plant phospholipid-cleaving enzyme homologous to bacterial phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipases C and responsible for lipid conversion during phosphate-limiting conditions. The six-gene family was established in Arabidopsis, and growing evidence suggests the involvement of two articles NPCs in biotic and abiotic stress responses as well as phytohormone actions. In addition, the diacylglycerol produced via NPCs is postulated to participate in membrane remodelling, general lipid metabolism and cross-talk with other phospholipid signalling systems in plants. This review summarises information concerning this new plant protein family and focusses on its sequence analysis, biochemical properties, cellular and tissue distribution and physiological functions. Possible modes of action are also discussed.

The role of TaCHP in salt stress responsive pathways

In our previous study, we found wheat TaCHP confers salt tolerance through regulating salt responsive signaling pathways. TaCHP possesses three divergent C1 domains that can specifically bind to phospholipid signaling molecule diacylglycerol (DAG) in animal cells, and most of proteins with this domain have kinase activity. Here, we found that TaCHP localizes both at cytoplasmatic membrane and in nuclei; it has no kinase activity but transcriptional activation activity, and the latter owes to C-terminal two C1 domains. TaCHP transcription was reduced by H2O2 application, but its ectopic expression in Arabidopsis improved both ROS production and scavenging capacity, and enhanced tolerance to H2O2 application. We suggest that TaCHP serve as both a transcription factor and a putative DAG binding protein to confer salt tolerance in part through improving ROS scavenging capacity; which is a component of the cross-talk machinery in the phospholipids-ROS-salt responsive signaling pathways.

Aluminium ions inhibit the formation of diacylglycerol generated by phosphatidylcholine-hydrolysing phospholipase C in tobacco cells

• Aluminium ions (Al) have been recognized as a major toxic factor for crop production in acidic soils. This study aimed to assess the impact of Al on the activity of phosphatidylcholine-hydrolysing phospholipase C (PC-PLC), a new member of the plant phospholipase family. • We labelled the tobacco cell line BY-2 and pollen tubes with a fluorescent derivative of phosphatidylcholine and assayed for patterns of fluorescently labelled products. Growth of pollen tubes was analysed. • We observed a significant decrease of labelled diacylglycerol (DAG) in cells treated with AlCl(3). Investigation of possible metabolic pathways that control DAG generation and consumption during the response to Al showed that DAG originated from the reaction catalysed by PC-PLC. The growth of pollen tubes was retarded in the presence of Al and this effect was accompanied by the decrease of labelled DAG similar to the case of the BY-2 cell line. The growth of pollen tubes arrested by Al was rescued by externally added DAG. • Our observation strongly supports the role of DAG generated by PC-PLC in the response of tobacco cells to Al.

Signal transduction during cold stress in plants

Cold stress signal transduction is a complex process. Many physiological changes like tissue break down and senescence occur due to cold stress. Low temperature is initially perceived by plasma membrane either due to change in membrane fluidity or with the help of sensors like Ca(2+) permeable channels, histidine kinases, receptor kinases and phospholipases. Subsequently, cytoskeleton reorganization and cytosolic Ca(2+) influx takes place. Increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) is sensed by CDPKs, phosphatase and MAPKs, which transduce the signals to switch on transcriptional cascades. Photosynthetic apparatus have also been thought to be responsible for low temperature perception and signal transduction. Many cold induced pathways are activated to protect plants from deleterious effects of cold stress, but till date, most studied pathway is ICE-CBF-COR signaling pathway. However, the importance of CBF independent pathways in cold acclimation is supported by few Arabidopsis mutants' studies. Cold stress signaling has certain pathways common with other abiotic and biotic stress signaling which suggest cross-talks among these. Most of the economically important crops are sensitive to low temperature, but very few studies are available on cold susceptible crop plants. Therefore, it is necessary to understand signal transducing components from model plants and utilize that knowledge to improve survival of cold sensitive crop plants at low temperature.

The molecular biology of the low-temperature response in plants

Plants growing in temperate regions are able to survive freezing temperatures from -5 degrees to -30 degrees C, depending on the species, through a process known as cold acclimation. In the last decade much work has been done on the molecular mechanisms of low temperature (LT) signal transduction and cold acclimation. Mutant studies and microarray analyses have revealed C-Repeat binding factor (CBF) -dependent and -independent signaling pathways in plants. Experimental evidence suggests the existence of 'potential LT sensors' but as yet there is no direct proof. A number of signal transducers such as various kinases/phosphatases have been demonstrated but the signal transduction pathways have not been elucidated. An understanding of the molecular basis of the signaling process, however, is of potential practical application. Designing new strategies to improve cold tolerance in crop varieties could increase the plant productivity and also expand the area under cultivation.