The role of glycine betaine in the protection of plants from stress: clues from transgenic plants

Abstract

The acclimation of a plant to a constantly changing environment involves the accumulation of certain organic compounds of low molecular mass, known collectively as compatible solutes, in the cytoplasm. The evidence from numerous investigations of the physiology, genetics, biophysics and biochemistry of plants strongly suggests that glycine betaine (GB), an amphoteric quaternary amine, plays an important role as a compatible solute in plants under various types of environmental stress, such as high levels of salts and low temperature. Plant species vary in their capacity to synthesize GB and some plants, such as spinach and barley, accumulate relatively high levels of GB in their chloroplasts while others, such as Arabidopsis and tobacco, do not synthesize this compound. Genetic engineering has allowed the introduction into GB-deficient species of biosynthetic pathways to GB from both microorganisms and higher plants; this approach has facilitated investigations of the importance of GB in stress protection. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the genetic manipulation of the synthesis of GB, with special emphasis on the relationship between the protective effects of GB in vivo and those documented in vitro .

Glycine betaine mediated disease resistance against Sclerospora graminicola in Pearl Millet

“…GB is an amphoteric, electrically neutral, having three methyl groups at non-polar hydrocarbon moiety, with a wide range of physiological pH and solubility in water [23]. GB also involved in alleviating the structures, enzymes activity and protein complexes by maintaining the membranes integrity against the destructive effects of excessive salt, cold, heat and freezing [24].…”

RESPOSTAS FISIOLÓGICAS E BIOQUÍMICAS DE PLANTAS DE AROEIRA (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão) AO DÉFICIT HÍDRICO E POSTERIOR RECUPERAÇÃO

“…Esse Irriga, Botucatu, v. 20, n. 4, p. 705-717, outubro -dezembro, 2015 processo, também denominado de ajustamento osmótico, proporciona decréscimo no potencial osmótico celular, garantindo a absorção de água e pressão de turgescência celular, que podem contribuir para a manutenção de processos fisiológicos essenciais, como abertura dos estômatos, fotossíntese e expansão celular (SAKAMOTO;MURATA, 2002).…”

Influence of water stress and exogenous glycinebetaine on sunflower achene weight and oil percentage

“…Plants being immobile cannot evade water stress in the same way as mobile organisms. So, they show many morphological and physiological alterations to acclimatize to unfavorable environment (Sakamoto and Murata, 2002). One such mechanism that is ubiquitous in plants is the accumulation of certain organic metabolites of low molecular weight that are collectively known as compatible solutes (Bohnert, et al, 1995).…”