Phosphoinositides and Phospholipase C Signalling in Plant Stress Response: A Revisit

A N Lahiri Majumder

doi:10.16943/ptinsa/2017/49223

A N Lahiri Majumder Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, P-1/12, C I T Scheme VIIM, Kolkata 700 054

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16943/ptinsa/2017/49223

Keywords: Phosphoinositide, Phospholipase C, Salinity, Cold, Drought

Abstract

Eukaryotic membrane lipids create hydrophobic physical barriers which control information and substance exchange between the outside and inside of cells and also between different cellular compartments. Membrane lipids like Phosphoinositides (PIs) also exert regulatory effect on cells in addition to its membrane trafficking property. Apart from that, phosphoinositide specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), the enzyme acting upon phosphoinositides, also plays significant role in exerting such regulatory effect on cell functions. PI-PLCs belong to an important class of enzymes and involved in lipid signalling. The functional mechanism of PI-PLCs is well studied in animal system. Certainly, it is
evident that phosphoinositides and phospholipase C both play key roles in plant growth, development and stress tolerance. However, the exact mechanism of action of role of PI-PLC is still under elucidation. In this communication, an attempt has been made to highlight the mechanism of regulation of plant PI-PLCs and to revisit the area of functioning of PIs and PIPLCs in response to biotic and in particular abiotic stresses in plants.