How Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids Could Signal Stressful Conditions in Plants?

Abstract

Although encountered in minor amounts in plant cells, very-long-chain fatty acids exert crucial functions in developmental processes. When their levels are perturbed by means of genetic approaches, marked phenotypic consequences that range from severe growth retardation to embryo lethality was indeed reported. More recently, a growing body of findings has also accumulated that points to a potential role for these lipids as signals in governing both biotic and abiotic stress outcomes. In the present work, we discuss the latter theory and explore the ins and outs of very-long-chain fatty acid-based signaling in response to stress, with an attempt to reconcile two supposedly antagonistic parameters: the insoluble nature of fatty acids and their signaling function. To explain this apparent dilemma, we provide new interpretations of pre-existing data based on the fact that sphingolipids are the main reservoir of very-long-chain fatty acids in leaves. Thus, three non-exclusive, molecular scenarii that involve these lipids as membrane-embedded and free entities are proposed.

Machine learning approaches reveal genomic regions associated with sugarcane brown rust resistance

“…A considerable number of metabolic pathways related to both BACs and the selected scaffolds were also detected. However, specific pathways were found to be associated with these scaffolds, mainly due to the different roles of the proteins encoded by these identified CDSs and because these pathways were already reported as being associated with plant responses to different pathogens 123,[128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135] , further corroborating our findings. The indication of possible mutation events in these regions provides evidence of differences in protein expression and phenotypic characteristics.…”

Apple fruit superficial scald resistance mediated by ethylene inhibition is associated with diverse metabolic processes

“…The tolerance to chilling injuries may also be accompanied by the synthesis of epicuticular waxes, coordinated by the expression of a long fatty acid ligase gene (MDP0000465035). The 16–18 C fatty acid chains synthesized in the plastid by fatty acid synthase are exported from the stroma to the endoplasmic reticulum for chain elongation (De Bigault Du Granrut and Cacas, ). Tadiello et al .…”

Polyunsaturated and Very‐Long‐Chain Fatty Acids Are Involved in the Adaptation of Maloideae (Rosaceae) to Combined Stress in the Mountains

“…Although their amount is usually very low, they can have a dramatic effect on plant growth and development. Recently, they have been viewed as a marker of both biotic and abiotic stresses . All representatives of Maloideae studied by us contain practically equally insignificant amounts of VLCFAs in the parenchyma of the pericarp.…”

“…The high resistance of medlar to biotic stressors may result from the high contents of VLCFAs in its peel. It is known that sphingolipids are the main reservoir of VLCFAs in cells, and there is some evidence of involvement of these bioactive molecules in signal transduction and cell death regulation during plant‐pathogen interactions …”