BURP Domain Proteins and Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants

BURP domain proteins constitute a plant‐specific family characterised by a conserved C-terminal module of approximately 230 amino acids, first emerging when ancestral plants colonised terrestrial environments. These proteins segregate into distinct subfamilies—such as RD22-like, BNM2-like, USP-like and PG1β-like—each defined by unique N-terminal motifs that confer specialised functions. Across diverse angiosperms, BURP proteins regulate cell wall modification, metal ion sequestration and hormone‐mediated signalling, playing central roles in responses to drought, salinity, heavy metal exposure and oxidative stress. Their transcription is typically up-regulated by abscisic acid and environmental stimuli, leading to modulation of reactive oxygen species, reinforcement of cell wall integrity and coordinated expression of defence‐related genes. Molecular interactions with mitogen-activated protein kinases and partners in secondary metabolism underpin their capacity to integrate external cues into adaptive programmes. Genome‐wide and phylogenetic analyses have revealed lineage-specific expansions and positive selection in BURP gene repertoires, underlining their evolutionary importance in plant resilience. The strategic manipulation of BURP expression offers promising avenues for the development of crops with enhanced tolerance to multiple abiotic challenges, thereby addressing food security under changing climatic conditions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

BURP Domain Proteins and Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in burp domain proteins and abiotic stress responses in plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

BURP domain: A conserved C-terminal protein motif unique to plants, implicated in stress responses and cell wall interactions.

Abiotic stress: Non-living environmental factors (e.g., drought, salinity, heavy metals) that negatively impact plant growth.

Ectopic expression: Artificial induction of a gene in a non-native tissue or organism to assess its function.

Phylogenetic analysis: Comparative study of gene sequences to infer evolutionary relationships and subfamily classification.

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR): A method to measure gene transcript levels, often used to assess expression under stress conditions.

References

1. Overexpressing PpBURP2 in Rice Increases Plant Defense to Abiotic Stress and Bacterial Leaf Blight. Frontiers in Plant Science (2022).
2. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the BURP domain-containing genes in Gossypium hirsutum. BMC Genomics (2019).
3. Identification and expression analysis of BURP domain-containing genes in jujube and their involvement in low temperature and drought response. BMC Genomics (2022).
4. The divergence and positive selection of the plant‐specific BURP‐containing protein family. Ecology and Evolution (2015).