RNA Helicases and Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants

RNA helicases are ubiquitous molecular motors that modulate RNA structure and ribonucleoprotein assembly by hydrolysing nucleoside triphosphates. In plants, these enzymes orchestrate key steps of RNA metabolism—including pre-rRNA processing, mRNA splicing, editing and turnover—thus ensuring the fidelity of gene expression under optimal and adverse conditions. Many members of the DExD/H-box family are targeted to the nucleus, chloroplasts or mitochondria, where they facilitate organellar ribosome biogenesis and regulate transcript maturation in response to fluctuations in temperature, water availability and salinity. By fine-tuning stress-responsive networks, RNA helicases contribute to osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defences and maintenance of photosynthetic performance. Elucidation of their roles has revealed potential avenues for engineering stress-resilient crops through overexpression, genome editing or promoter manipulation. Integration of physiological, genetic and structural studies is now driving the translation of basic insights into strategies for safeguarding productivity under climate-induced challenges.

Research from Nature Portfolio

One foundational study demonstrated that overexpressing a pea DNA helicase in chilli plants markedly enhanced tolerance to drought, salinity and oxidative stress. Transgenic lines showed improved germination, higher biomass and seed yield under water-limiting conditions. Enhanced expression of stress-responsive genes and elevated water-use efficiency were accompanied by reduced membrane damage and reactive oxygen species accumulation. This work established DNA helicases as powerful molecular tools for engineering broad-spectrum abiotic stress tolerance in horticultural crops.

RNA Helicases and Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants publication trend

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

Technical terms

RNA helicase: Enzyme that uses energy from nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis to unwind RNA structures and remodel ribonucleoprotein complexes.

DExD/H-box helicase: Subgroup of RNA helicases defined by a conserved Asp-Glu-X-Asp/His motif, involved in ATP binding, hydrolysis and RNA duplex unwinding.

Abiotic stress: Non-living environmental factors such as drought, salinity, heat and cold that negatively affect plant growth and development.

Cis-acting element: DNA sequence in a gene promoter that regulates transcription by recruiting specific transcription factors.

References

1. Helicase: A genetic tool for providing stress tolerance in plants. Plant Stress (2023).
2. Pyramiding of transcription factor, PgHSF4, and stress-responsive genes of p68, Pg47, and PsAKR1 impart multiple abiotic stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
3. Genome-wide systematic survey and analysis of the RNA helicase gene family and their response to abiotic stress in sweetpotato. BMC Plant Biology (2024).
4. Chloroplast- or Mitochondria-Targeted DEAD-Box RNA Helicases Play Essential Roles in Organellar RNA Metabolism and Abiotic Stress Responses. Frontiers in Plant Science (2017).
5. Function of Plant DExD/H-Box RNA Helicases Associated with Ribosomal RNA Biogenesis. Frontiers in Plant Science (2018).
6. Overexpression of Pea DNA Helicase 45 (PDH45) imparts tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses in chili (Capsicum annuum L.). Scientific Reports (2017).