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Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences :... Sep 2017The concept of protein intrinsic disorder persistently penetrates into all areas of modern protein science. It cannot be ignored anymore, and cannot be shrugged off, as... (Review)
Review
The concept of protein intrinsic disorder persistently penetrates into all areas of modern protein science. It cannot be ignored anymore, and cannot be shrugged off, as it represents a vital feature (or, more correctly, a broad spectrum of important features), which, when added to and mixed with features arising from the well established protein structure-function paradigm, complete the picture of a functioning protein. The field of protein intrinsic disorder is very dynamic and fast developing. This Multi-Author Review represents a snapshot of this field by introducing some recent advances. Articles assembled in this Multi-Author Review introduce some of the new aspects of intrinsic disorder, outline some fascinating ideas related to the intrinsically disordered proteins, their structure, and functionality, and show challenges related to the analysis of proteins carrying intrinsic disorder.
Topics: Evolution, Molecular; Humans; Intrinsically Disordered Proteins; Membrane Proteins; Plant Proteins; Plants; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 28589440
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2554-5 -
Molecular Functionality of Plant Proteins from Low- to High-Solid Systems with Ligand and Co-Solute.International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2020In the food industry, proteins are regarded as multifunctional systems whose bioactive hetero-polymeric properties are affected by physicochemical interactions with the... (Review)
Review
In the food industry, proteins are regarded as multifunctional systems whose bioactive hetero-polymeric properties are affected by physicochemical interactions with the surrounding components in formulations. Due to their nutritional value, plant proteins are increasingly considered by the new product developer to provide three-dimensional assemblies of required structure, texture, solubility and interfacial/bulk stability with physical, chemical or enzymatic treatment. This molecular flexibility allows them to form systems for the preservation of fresh food, retention of good nutrition and interaction with a range of microconstituents. While, animal- and milk-based proteins have been widely discussed in the literature, the role of plant proteins in the development of functional foods with enhanced nutritional profile and targeted physiological effects can be further explored. This review aims to look into the molecular functionality of plant proteins in relation to the transport of bioactive ingredients and interaction with other ligands and proteins. In doing so, it will consider preparations from low- to high-solids and the effect of structural transformation via gelation, phase separation and vitrification on protein functionality as a delivery vehicle or heterologous complex. Applications for the design of novel functional foods and nutraceuticals will also be discussed.
Topics: Algorithms; Binding Sites; Chemical Phenomena; Food Technology; Functional Food; Kinetics; Ligands; Models, Molecular; Models, Theoretical; Molecular Conformation; Nutritive Value; Plant Proteins; Protein Binding; Structure-Activity Relationship; Temperature; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 32268602
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072550 -
Biochemical Society Transactions Apr 2021Asparaginyl endopeptidases (AEPs) are versatile enzymes that in biological systems are involved in producing three different catalytic outcomes for proteins, namely (i)... (Review)
Review
Asparaginyl endopeptidases (AEPs) are versatile enzymes that in biological systems are involved in producing three different catalytic outcomes for proteins, namely (i) routine cleavage by bond hydrolysis, (ii) peptide maturation, including macrocyclisation by a cleavage-coupled intramolecular transpeptidation and (iii) circular permutation involving separate cleavage and transpeptidation reactions resulting in a major reshuffling of protein sequence. AEPs differ in their preference for cleavage or transpeptidation reactions, catalytic efficiency, and preference for asparagine or aspartate target residues. We look at structural analyses of various AEPs that have laid the groundwork for identifying important determinants of AEP function in recent years, with much of the research impetus arising from the potential biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.
Topics: Catalytic Domain; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Hydrolysis; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Peptides; Plant Proteins; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Seed Storage Proteins; Substrate Specificity
PubMed: 33666219
DOI: 10.1042/BST20200908 -
Molecular Plant Pathology Jun 2023The pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins of plants have originally been identified as proteins that are strongly induced upon biotic and abiotic stress. These proteins... (Review)
Review
The pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins of plants have originally been identified as proteins that are strongly induced upon biotic and abiotic stress. These proteins fall into 17 distinct classes (PR1-PR17). The mode of action of most of these PR proteins has been well characterized, except for PR1, which belongs to a widespread superfamily of proteins that share a common CAP domain. Proteins of this family are not only expressed in plants but also in humans and in many different pathogens, including phytopathogenic nematodes and fungi. These proteins are associated with a diverse range of physiological functions. However, their precise mode of action has remained elusive. The importance of these proteins in immune defence is illustrated by the fact that PR1 overexpression in plants results in increased resistance against pathogens. However, PR1-like CAP proteins are also produced by pathogens and deletion of these genes results in reduced virulence, suggesting that CAP proteins can exert both defensive and offensive functions. Recent progress has revealed that plant PR1 is proteolytically cleaved to release a C-terminal CAPE1 peptide, which is sufficient to activate an immune response. The release of this signalling peptide is blocked by pathogenic effectors to evade immune defence. Moreover, plant PR1 forms complexes with other PR family members, including PR5, also known as thaumatin, and PR14, a lipid transfer protein, to enhance the host's immune response. Here, we discuss possible functions of PR1 proteins and their interactors, particularly in light of the fact that these proteins can bind lipids, which have important immune signalling functions.
Topics: Humans; Proteins; Plants; Plant Diseases; Plant Proteins
PubMed: 36932700
DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13320 -
TheScientificWorldJournal 2015WRKY proteins are emerging players in plant signaling and have been thoroughly reported to play important roles in plants under biotic stress like pathogen attack.... (Review)
Review
WRKY proteins are emerging players in plant signaling and have been thoroughly reported to play important roles in plants under biotic stress like pathogen attack. However, recent advances in this field do reveal the enormous significance of these proteins in eliciting responses induced by abiotic stresses. WRKY proteins act as major transcription factors, either as positive or negative regulators. Specific WRKY factors which help in the expression of a cluster of stress-responsive genes are being targeted and genetically modified to induce improved abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The knowledge regarding the signaling cascade leading to the activation of the WRKY proteins, their interaction with other proteins of the signaling pathway, and the downstream genes activated by them are altogether vital for justified targeting of the WRKY genes. WRKY proteins have also been considered to generate tolerance against multiple abiotic stresses with possible roles in mediating a cross talk between abiotic and biotic stress responses. In this review, we have reckoned the diverse signaling pattern and biological functions of WRKY proteins throughout the plant kingdom along with the growing prospects in this field of research.
Topics: Arabidopsis Proteins; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Plants; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 25879071
DOI: 10.1155/2015/807560 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2019Plants have evolved strategies to tightly regulate metabolism during acclimation to a changing environment. Low temperature significantly constrains distribution, growth... (Review)
Review
Plants have evolved strategies to tightly regulate metabolism during acclimation to a changing environment. Low temperature significantly constrains distribution, growth and yield of many temperate plant species. Exposing plants to low but non-freezing temperature induces a multigenic processes termed cold acclimation, which eventually results in an increased freezing tolerance. Cold acclimation comprises reprogramming of the transcriptome, proteome and metabolome and affects communication and signaling between subcellular organelles. Carbohydrates play a central role in this metabolic reprogramming. This review summarizes current knowledge about the role of carbohydrate metabolism in plant cold acclimation with a focus on subcellular metabolic reprogramming, its thermodynamic constraints under low temperature and mathematical modelling of metabolism.
Topics: Acclimatization; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Cold Temperature; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Metabolome; Models, Theoretical; Plant Proteins; Plants
PubMed: 31671650
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215411 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2018Ca ions play a key role in a wide variety of environmental responses and developmental processes in plants, and several protein families with Ca-binding domains have... (Review)
Review
Ca ions play a key role in a wide variety of environmental responses and developmental processes in plants, and several protein families with Ca-binding domains have evolved to meet these needs, including calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs). These proteins have no catalytic activity, but rather act as sensor relays that regulate downstream targets. While CaM is well-studied, CMLs remain poorly characterized at both the structural and functional levels, even if they are the largest class of Ca sensors in plants. The major structural theme in CMLs consists of EF-hands, and variations in these domains are predicted to significantly contribute to the functional versatility of CMLs. Herein, we focus on recent advances in understanding the features of CMLs from biochemical and structural points of view. The analysis of the metal binding and structural properties of CMLs can provide valuable insight into how such a vast array of CML proteins can coexist, with no apparent functional redundancy, and how these proteins contribute to cellular signaling while maintaining properties that are distinct from CaM and other Ca sensors. An overview of the principal techniques used to study the biochemical properties of these interesting Ca sensors is also presented.
Topics: Binding Sites; Calcium Signaling; Calmodulin; Plant Proteins; Plants; Protein Binding
PubMed: 29710867
DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051331 -
Plant Science : An International... Sep 2015Metalloids are a group of physiologically important elements ranging from the essential to the highly toxic. Arsenic, antimony, germanium, and tellurium are highly toxic... (Review)
Review
Metalloids are a group of physiologically important elements ranging from the essential to the highly toxic. Arsenic, antimony, germanium, and tellurium are highly toxic to plants themselves and to consumers of metalloid-contaminated plants. Boron, silicon, and selenium fulfill essential or beneficial functions in plants. However, when present at high concentrations, boron and selenium cause toxicity symptoms that are detrimental to plant fitness and yield. Consequently, all plants require efficient membrane transport systems to control the uptake and extrusion of metalloids into or out of the plant and their distribution within the plant body. Several Nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) that belong to the aquaporin plant water channel protein family facilitate the diffusion of uncharged metalloid species. Genetic, physiological, and molecular evidence is that NIPs from primitive to higher plants not only transport all environmentally important metalloids, but that these proteins have a major role in the uptake, translocation, and extrusion of metalloids in plants. As most of the metalloid-permeable NIP aquaporins are impermeable or are poorly permeable to water, these NIP channel proteins should be considered as physiologically essential metalloido-porins.
Topics: Biological Transport; Membrane Proteins; Metalloids; Models, Biological; Phylogeny; Plant Proteins; Porins
PubMed: 26259189
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.06.002 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark... Dec 2021Abiotic stresses are wide-ranging environmental factors that adversely affect the yield and quality of tea plants (Camellia sinensis). As perennial woody economic... (Review)
Review
Abiotic stresses are wide-ranging environmental factors that adversely affect the yield and quality of tea plants (Camellia sinensis). As perennial woody economic plants, various environmental factors affect its growth and development. To survive under stress conditions, plants adapt to or withstand these adverse external environments by regulating their growth and morphological structure. Recently, there have been knowledges regarding the significant progress in the mechanisms of abiotic stresses (including cold and heat, drought, salt and heavy metal stresses) tolerance in tea plants. Many evidences suggest that several phytohormones are in response to various environmental stresses, and regulate plant stress adaptation. However, the regulatory mechanisms of plant abiotic stress responses and resistance remain unclear. In this review, we mainly summarize the studies on the adaptive physiological and molecular mechanisms of tea plants under abiotic stress, and discuss the direction for tea plant resistance and breeding strategies.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Camellia sinensis; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 34994184
DOI: 10.52586/5063 -
Cells Feb 2022The NAC transcription factor (TF) family is one of the largest plant-specific TF families and its members are involved in the regulation of many vital biological... (Review)
Review
The NAC transcription factor (TF) family is one of the largest plant-specific TF families and its members are involved in the regulation of many vital biological processes during plant growth and development. Recent studies have found that NAC TFs play important roles during the ripening of fleshy fruits and the development of quality attributes. This review focuses on the advances in our understanding of the function of NAC TFs in different fruits and their involvement in the biosynthesis and signal transduction of plant hormones, fruit textural changes, color transformation, accumulation of flavor compounds, seed development and fruit senescence. We discuss the theoretical basis and potential regulatory models for NAC TFs action and provide a comprehensive view of their multiple roles in modulating different aspects of fruit ripening and quality.
Topics: Fruit; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Solanum lycopersicum; Plant Proteins; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 35159333
DOI: 10.3390/cells11030525