Cytokinin Signaling Pathways in Plant Stress Responses
Summary
Cytokinins are a class of phytohormones that orchestrate plant growth, development and adaptive responses to environmental challenges through a multistep phosphorelay system. Perceived by membrane-associated histidine kinases (HKs), the signal is relayed via histidine phosphotransfer proteins (HPs) to nuclear-localised response regulators (RRs). Type-B RRs function as transcription factors that activate gene networks involved in cell division, shoot–root balance and stress resilience, while type-A and type-C RRs provide feedback regulation. Under drought, cold or salinity, cytokinin signalling modulates stomatal aperture, root architecture and antioxidative defences by intersecting with abscisic acid, auxin and reactive oxygen species pathways. This crosstalk enables fine-tuning of water retention, osmolyte synthesis and membrane stability. Recent advances have elucidated antagonistic interactions within cytokinin modules, uncovered cold-responsive phosphorelay components and demonstrated that manipulation of specific RRs can enhance stress tolerance. Such insights pave the way for breeding or biotechnological strategies to bolster crop resilience in the face of climate variability.
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Cytokinin Signaling Pathways in Plant Stress Responses publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in cytokinin signaling pathways in plant stress responses across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cytokinin: A plant hormone that regulates cell division, organ development and stress adaptation via a phosphorelay cascade.
Histidine kinase (HK): A membrane-bound receptor protein that autophosphorylates on a histidine residue upon cytokinin binding.
Histidine phosphotransfer protein (HP): An intermediary that transfers phosphoryl groups from HKs to response regulators.
Response regulator (RR): A nuclear protein receiving the phosphoryl signal; type-B RRs activate transcription, while type-A and type-C RRs modulate feedback.
Phosphorelay: A sequential transfer of phosphoryl groups among HKs, HPs and RRs that transduces hormonal signals.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules that serve as both signalling entities and damaging agents under stress.
Transgenic: An organism genetically modified to express or suppress a specific gene, used to assess functional roles in stress responses.
References
- Cytokinin and MAX2 signaling pathways act antagonistically in drought adaptation of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Stress (2024).
- Arabidopsis Response Regulator1 and Arabidopsis Histidine Phosphotransfer Protein2 (AHP2), AHP3, and AHP5 Function in Cold Signaling. Plant Physiology (2012).
- Inducible Expression of Arabidopsis Response Regulator 22 (ARR22), a Type-C ARR, in Transgenic Arabidopsis Enhances Drought and Freezing Tolerance. PLOS ONE (2013).
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