Plant Dehydrins: Expression, Regulatory Networks, and Protective Roles in Plants Challenged by Abiotic Stress

Abstract

Dehydrins, also known as Group II late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, are classic intrinsically disordered proteins, which have high hydrophilicity. A wide range of hostile environmental conditions including low temperature, drought, and high salinity stimulate dehydrin expression. Numerous studies have furnished evidence for the protective role played by dehydrins in plants exposed to abiotic stress. Furthermore, dehydrins play important roles in seed maturation and plant stress tolerance. Hence, dehydrins might also protect plasma membranes and proteins and stabilize DNA conformations. In the present review, we discuss the regulatory networks of dehydrin gene expression including the abscisic acid (ABA), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade, and Ca2+ signaling pathways. Crosstalk among these molecules and pathways may form a complex, diverse regulatory network, which may be implicated in regulating the same dehydrin.

The Root Proteomes of Mimosa acutistipula Provide Insights into the Stress Response Mechanisms in Plants Grown in Native Ecosystems and Eastern Amazon's Rehabilitating Minelands

“…This protein was assigned to drought (Figure 3), agreeing with studies indicating that dehydrin genes are induced by dehydration stress in plants [32,52]. Other studies also point to the increased dehydrins in the salt stress response and osmotic change [32].…”

“…Canga plants also showed higher levels of dehydrin RAB16C (Dataset S1, Figure 3). Dehydrins are included in a group of late embryogenesis-abundant proteins involved in growth, development, and stress responses [32]. This protein was assigned to drought (Figure 3), agreeing with studies indicating that dehydrin genes are induced by dehydration stress in plants [32,52].…”

“…Dehydrins are included in a group of late embryogenesis-abundant proteins involved in growth, development, and stress responses [32]. This protein was assigned to drought (Figure 3), agreeing with studies indicating that dehydrin genes are induced by dehydration stress in plants [32,52]. Other studies also point to the increased dehydrins in the salt stress response and osmotic change [32].…”

“…Additionally, the dehydrin network involves the ABA signal transduction pathways, including PYLs, PP2Cs, SnRKs, and BZIPs, and the Ca 2+ signal transduction pathways, including the CaMs, CDPKs, CBLs, and CMLs [32]. This result suggests dehydrin as a critical protein in adapting M. acutistipula to drought events.…”

“…Such characteristics seem to be conserved between the species M. acutistipula and D. apurensis, both belonging to the Fabaceae family. Hence, molecular adaptations acquired in canga are transmitted to subsequent generations allowing a favorable gene regulation for tolerance to stressful environments [31][32][33]. Therefore, identifying these proteins in plants grown in RM can indicate the acquired adaptation of this species to stressful situations over the years.…”