Gasotransmitters in Plants: Mechanisms of Participation in Adaptive Responses

Abstract

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.

The Essential Role of H2S-ABA Crosstalk in Maize Thermotolerance through the ROS-Scavenging System

“…Generally, the crosstalk among signaling molecules maybe achieve by chemical reaction among the signaling molecules, by modulating the metabolic enzymes, by competing common target proteins, and/or by regulating some nodes in the signaling pathways, and so on [26,27]. Therefore, some signaling pathways, through signaling crosstalk, can be strengthened, or weakened, and can even trigger a novel signal pathway [26,27].…”

The role of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide in regulation of redox homeostasis at extreme temperatures in plants

“…As already noted, fluidization of membranes under heat stress and the opposite process of increasing their rigidity under cold stress led to a rapid entry of calcium into the cytosol. These changes in calcium homeostasis may be primary to changes in cellular ROS, NO, and H 2 S ( Kolupaev et al., 2022 ) ( Figure 2 ).…”

“…Overall, there is considerable experimental evidence indirectly suggesting the existence of NO-mediated cGMP formation in plant cells and the regulation of calcium homeostasis with its participation. A number of relevant examples are provided in recent reviews ( Kolupaev et al., 2022 ; Praveen, 2022 ). It is via cGMP and calcium that many of the stress-protective effects of nitric oxide can be realized, in particular an increase in the heat resistance of plants ( Karpets et al., 2016 ).…”

“…Along with such universal signaling mediators as ROS and calcium ions, the main gasotransmitters, nitric oxide (NO) ( Fancy et al., 2017 ; Yemets et al., 2019 ) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) ( Fu et al., 2013 ; Kolupaev et al., 2022 ; Raza et al., 2022 ), are involved in signal transduction caused by extreme temperatures. To date, experiments with plants of different taxonomic affiliations have revealed increases in the content of NO and H 2 S in response to both low ( Liu et al, 2013b ; Du et al., 2017 ; Fancy et al., 2017 ; Liu et al., 2019 ) and high ( Christou et al., 2014 ; Karpets et al., 2015a ; Chen et al., 2016 ) temperatures.…”

Plant Adaptation to Changing Environment and its Enhancement

“…Dokuchaev Kharkiv National Agrarian University and the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The authors, in particular, emphasized the ability of the gasotransmitters to induce post-translational modifications of proteins in plants and functionally interact with each other and with other signaling mediators [14]. These effects are important for stimulating by gasotransmitters of plant adaptations to extreme temperatures, drought, salinity, UV-B and other factors.…”