Emerging insights into heterotrimeric G protein signaling in plants

• Published in: Journal of genetics and genomics Vol. 43; no. 8; pp. 495 - 502
• Main Authors: Xu, Quan, Zhao, Mingzhu, Wu, Kun, Fu, Xiangdong, Liu, Qian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Elsevier Ltd 20.08.2016
• Subjects: Animals; DEP1; G protein signaling; GS3; G蛋白偶联受体; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Non-canonical Gγ subunits; Plant Cells - metabolism; Plant Development; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Yield potential; 信号转导途径; 信号通路; 异三聚体G蛋白; 数量性状位点; 植物体内; 氮肥利用效率; 鸟嘌呤核苷酸; Yield potential; Non-canonical Gγ subunits; G protein signaling; DEP1; GS3
• ISSN: 1673-8527
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2016.06.004

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein （G protein） signaling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in diverse eukaryotic organisms. In plants, the repertoire of the heterotrimeric G protein complex, which is composed of the Ga, Gβ, and Gy subunits, is much simpler than that in metazoans, and the identity of typical G protein-coupled receptors （GPCRs） together with their ligands still remains unclear. Comparative phenotypic analysis in Arabidopsis and rice plants using gain- and loss-of-function mutants of G protein components revealed that heterotrimeric G protein signaling plays important roles in a wide variety of plant growth and developmental processes. Grain yield is a complex trait determined by quantitative trait loci （QTL） and is influenced by soil nitrogen availability and environmental changes. Recent studies have shown that the manipulation of two non-canonical Gy subunits, GS3 （GRAIN SIZE 3） and DEP1 （DENSE AND ERECT PANICLE 1）, represents new strategies to simultaneously increase grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in rice. This review discusses the latest advances in our understanding of the heterotrimeric G protein signal transduction pathway and its application in improving yield and stress tolerance in crops.