Functional insights of plant bcl-2–associated ahanogene (BAG) proteins: Multi-taskers in diverse cellular signal transduction pathways

Abstract

Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) gene family is a highly conserved molecular chaperone cofactor in evolution from yeast to humans and plants playing important roles in a variety of signal pathways. Plant BAG proteins have special structures, especially those containing CaM-binding IQ motifs which are unique to plants. While early studies focused more on the structure and physiological function of plant BAGs, recent studies have revealed many novel functional mechanisms involved in multiple cellular processes. How to achieve signal specificity has become an interesting topic of plant BAG research. In this review, we have provided a historic view of plant BAG research and summarized recent advances in the establishment of BAG as essential components in normal plant growth, environmental stress response, and plant immunity. Based on the relationship between BAG proteins and their newly interacting proteins, this review highlights the functional mechanisms of various cellular signals mediated by plant BAGs. Future work needs to focus on the post-translational modification of BAG proteins, and on understanding how specificity is achieved among BAG signaling pathways.

A Mitochondrial Localized Chaperone Regulator OsBAG6 Functions in Saline-Alkaline Stress Tolerance in Rice

“…The classic functions of BAGs involve association with BCL-2 enhancing the anti-apoptotic effect, and interaction with 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) to function as co-chaperone to control protein homeostasis (Mariotto et al 2020 ). As in humans, BAG proteins in plants also participate in multiple biological processes, including plant development pathways and stress responses (Kang et al 2006 ; Kabbage et al 2017 ; Locascio et al 2019 ; Jiang et al 2023 ). However, the roles of BAG proteins and their binding partners in the saline-alkaline stress response have not been examined to date.…”

Drought impact on phellem development: identification of novel gene regulators and evidence of photosynthetic activity

“…Additionally, three QsBAG6 paralogs were strongly expressed in cork oak stems and also upregulated under WD in the phellem and inner bark. The BAG gene family encode highly conserved molecular chaperone cofactors that have been implicated in plant growth, autophagy, and response to (a)biotic stresses (Jiang et al ., 2023). BAG6 proteins include a Calmodulin-binding motif and have been implicated in autophagy in response to fungi, but also flowering and response to heat stress (Jiang et al ., 2023).…”

“…The BAG gene family encode highly conserved molecular chaperone cofactors that have been implicated in plant growth, autophagy, and response to (a)biotic stresses (Jiang et al ., 2023). BAG6 proteins include a Calmodulin-binding motif and have been implicated in autophagy in response to fungi, but also flowering and response to heat stress (Jiang et al ., 2023). These genes are likely involved in an adaptation mechanism to WD conditions that may also negatively control growth.…”