Cyclophilin Function in Plant Stress Responses
Summary
Cyclophilins (CYPs) are a widespread family of immunophilins that catalyse peptidyl-prolyl cis–trans isomerisation, a critical step in protein folding and conformational regulation. In plants, gene family expansion has generated diverse isoforms localised to the cytosol, chloroplast, mitochondrion, Golgi and nucleus. Under abiotic stresses—salinity, drought, cold and oxidative challenges—specific CYPs are transcriptionally induced and engage in chaperoning of nascent polypeptides, stabilisation of membrane proteins and redox modulation. They intersect with abscisic acid-dependent signalling, regulate reactive oxygen species homeostasis by influencing antioxidant enzyme activities and contribute to defence and symbiosis through fine-tuning of defence signalling networks. Structural diversity, including additional domains such as TPR, WD40, RRM or U-box motifs, underpins functional versatility. Advances in functional genomics and proteomic profiling have elucidated molecular mechanisms of CYP-mediated stress tolerance, highlighting their potential as targets for engineering crops with enhanced resilience.
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Technical terms
Cyclophilin: A member of the immunophilin family that binds cyclosporin A and catalyses peptidyl-prolyl cis–trans isomerisation, facilitating protein folding and conformational changes.
Peptidyl-prolyl cis–trans isomerase (PPIase): An enzyme activity that accelerates the interconversion between cis and trans isomers of peptide bonds preceding proline residues.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive oxygen-containing molecules (e.g. hydrogen peroxide) that accumulate under stress and can damage cellular components unless detoxified.
Abscisic acid (ABA): A key phytohormone that regulates stomatal closure, gene expression and adaptive responses during water-deficit and other abiotic stresses.
References
- Plant Cyclophilins: Multifaceted Proteins With Versatile Roles. Frontiers in Plant Science (2020).
- Cyclophilins and Their Functions in Abiotic Stress and Plant–Microbe Interactions. Biomolecules (2021).
- Versatility of Cyclophilins in Plant Growth and Survival: A Case Study in Arabidopsis. Biomolecules (2019).
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