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Proline: a key player in plant abiotic stress tolerance

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Dramatic accumulation of proline is a common physiological response in plants exposed to various abiotic stresses. Accumulation of proline could be due to de novo synthesis, decreased degradation, lower utilization, or hydrolysis of proteins. Extensive intercellular proline transport occurs between the cytosol, chloroplasts, and mitochondria due to its compartmentalized metabolism. Although all functions of proline in stress tolerance are still a matter of debate, it is suggested that proline contributes to stabilization of sub-cellular structures, scavenging free radicals, and buffering cellular redox potential. It also chelates heavy metals, modulates cellular functions, and even triggers gene expression. Apparently, proline acts as stress-related signal exhibiting cross tolerance to a range of different stresses. Besides these significant roles, its metabolism is found to be coupled to several key pathways such as pentose phosphate, tricarboxylic acid, or urea cycles and contributes to, i.e., purine synthesis and the phenylpropanoid pathway. Although the molecular basis of regulation of proline metabolism is still largely obscure, the genetic engineering of proline content could lead to new opportunities to achieve plant stress tolerance.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

abscisic acid

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

catalase

GR:

glutathione reductase

GSA:

glutamate semialdehyde

H2O2 :

hydrogen peroxide

O2 − :

superoxide

OH· :

hydroxyl radical

OAT:

ornithine aminotransferase

PPP:

pentose phosphate pathway

P5C:

pyrroline-5-carboxylate

P5CDH:

P5C dehydrogenase

P5CS:

pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase

P5CR:

P5C reductase

PDH:

proline dehydrogenase

POX:

proline oxidase

PP:

pentose pathway

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SA:

salicylic acid

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TCA:

tricarboxylic acid

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab, India

    G. Kaur & B. Asthir

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Kaur, G., Asthir, B. Proline: a key player in plant abiotic stress tolerance. Biol Plant 59, 609–619 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-015-0549-3

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