Polyamine metabolism responses to biotic and abiotic stress

FM ROMERO; SANTIAGO J. MAIALE; FR ROSSI; MARÍA MARINA; OA RUIZ; GÁRRIZ ANDRES

Methods in Molecular Biology

Springer International Publishing

Año: 2018; p. 37 - 49

Plantshave developed different strategies to cope with the environmental stressesthey face during their life cycle. The responses triggered under theseconditions are usually characterized by significant modifications in themetabolism of polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine and spermine. Severalworks have demonstrated that a fine-tuned regulation of the enzymes involved inthe biosynthesis and catabolism of polyamines leads to the increment in theconcentration of these compounds. Polyamines exert different effects that couldhelp plants to deal with stressful conditions. For instance, they interact withnegatively charged macromolecules and regulate their functions, they may act ascompatible osmolytes, or present antimicrobial activity against plantpathogens. In addition, they have also been proven to act as regulators of geneexpression during the elicitation of stress responses. In this chapter, wereviewed the information available till date in relation to the roles played bypolyamines in the responses of plants during biotic and abiotic stress.