Plant adaptive responses to environmental stresses occur with the participation of plant hormones and a network of signaling mediators. Among these, a growing attention has been paid over the recent years to gasotransmitters (GT). This term is used to define small gaseous molecules synthesized by living organisms that perform signaling functions. The main GT in plants are nitrogen monoxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The mechanisms of GT participation in the processes of plant adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions have not yet been studied enough, which limits the use of GT in crop production. This review summarizes the latest data on GT synthesis in plants, the ability of GT to induce post-translational protein modifications in plants and to functionally interact with each other and with other signaling mediators. Particular attention is paid to the participation of GT in the regulation of antioxidant system, the state of cytoskeleton, and stomatal reactions of plants. These effects are important for stimulation by gasotransmitters the adaptation of plants to extreme temperatures, drought, and salinity. The possibilities of using GT donors in crop production were also considered.
Cytoskeleton is gaining the increasing recognition as one of nitric oxide (NO)-downstream targets because of its involvement in plenty of NO-controlled processes in plants throughout the entire life cycle starting from seed germination to pollination as well as (a)biotic stress tolerance. It has been revealed that low temperature (+0.5°C) has an inhibitory effect on A. thaliana primary root growth and causes an anisotropic increase of epidermal cells diameter in elongation zone. Furthermore, actin filaments' organization of epidermal cells in different zones of primary roots is modulated by NO content. Thus, the exogenous NO donor (SNP) favors to actin filaments network reorganization, while both cold and NO scavenger (c-PTIO) increase its randomization. According to the data obtained, it can be assumed that not only actin filaments act as NO sensors, but NO is also involved into plant cell response on low temperatures by the signaling via such important cytoskeleton machinery as actin network.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.