Role and Regulation of Reactive Oxygen–Nitrogen–Sulfur Species (RONSS) in Resilience of Plants under Stressful Environments

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "ROS, RNS and RSS".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2024) | Viewed by 2225

Special Issue Editors

Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
Interests: phytohormones; nutrients; source-sink; signaling molecules; crosstalk phytohormones signaling molecule nutrient
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
Interests: abiotic stress; salt stress; heat stress; phytohormones; glucose

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reactive species is the term generally used for both free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and refers to chemically active species capable of altering plant metabolism via affecting the structure of various macromolecules. Stressful environments accelerate ROS production and many studies discuss these reactive species and their role both as a signaling molecule and a stress aggravator. However, the reactive species category are also included the reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive sulfur species (RSS) are not thoroughly investigated. Recently, focused research is being carried out on RNS and RSS but still, we have insufficient literature that highlights specifically these three reactive species in abiotic stress tolerance. Reactive nitrogen species include peroxynitrite (ONOO), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), S-nitrosothiols (RS-N=O), NO+, ·NO (nitric oxide), NO. RNS act as signaling molecules and influence metabolic and plant development processes. It causes S-nitrosation, nitration, and metal nitrosylation that changes cellular behaviour. Similar to ROS, RNS (·NO, ONOO−, ·NO2) react with fatty acids or lipid peroxy radicals and forms reactive lipid species (NO2-FAs) which again act as a signaling molecule under stress to activate gene expression and developmental processes. Various studies on the role of nitric oxide as a signaling molecule under abiotic stress have been explored either as single or in coordination with other signaling molecules and/or phytohormones. Nitric oxide enhances plants' defense machinery for stress tolerance. RSS include the Disulfide-S-dioxide (thiosulfonate), Sulfinic acid (RSO2H), Disulfide-S-monoxide (thiosulfinate), RS(O)SR, sulfenic acid (RSOH), Disulfide (RSSR), cysteine residues (R-SH), Disulfide-S-monoxide (thiosulfinate) RS(O)SR, Thiyl-radical HS· or RS, sulfide, S2− and organic polysulfides, S22−, S32−, S52−, Disulfides (R-S-S-R) Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), disulfane or hydrogen persulfide (H2S2), H2S3, Thiols (R-SH), etc., such as superoxide anion (O2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radical (OH). They consist of radical and non-radical oxygen species formed by the partial reduction of oxygen. The ROS, RSS, and RNS work as a signaling molecule and increase the activity and gene expression of antioxidative enzymes and stress regulatory molecules that reduce the oxidative damage induced by various abiotic stresses. They may influence other signaling molecules for their defense response. These reactive species together referred to as RONSS, may coordinate for stress tolerance and there is a need to address their individual and interactive role to understand the concept of abiotic and biotic stress tolerance and growth under these conditions. Research in this field of reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species (ROS, RNS and RSS, respectively) increases rapidly every year and a periodic update of their interrelationships in any biological process of these reactive species, in this case of plants against environmental stress, is necessary.

The adversities in climate due to global climate change are exposing plants to various irregularities in their growing environment that emanate reduced crop yield. Systematic knowledge of stress-causing agents and the adaptation strategies involved is essential for the development of stress-resistant varieties. ROS, RNS, and RSS could act as an imperative signaling molecule that can attenuate plants' stress. Thus, plants' growth and development for higher yield is the fundamental concerns of plant breeders, biotechnologist and to root-level farmers. This Special Issue will focus on the functions and the role of these signaling molecules in tolerance to stressful environments. The role of the RONSS is imperative as a signaling molecule, but its interaction with various plant elicitors and signaling molecules under different stress needs further clarification. It is essential to emphasize its dual role under stress and its interaction under both conditions (i.e., low- and high-stress conditions and low and high amount of RONSS production and the responses thereof). The knowledge of the role of RONSS and its interaction with different growth hormones/signaling molecules via its effect on plant metabolism and development, can focus on modulating the genetic expression of the enzymes or molecules involved in combating such stress-inducing situations. Supplementation of the source that provides the RONSS signaling can help in coping with stress responses. There is a need to thoroughly understand the mechanism involved in reactive species responses under different abiotic stress to develop stress-resistant crops through modulation of the genes involved in such responses.

This Special Issue focuses on the role of reactive species that needs to be elaborated to clear our understanding of them as signaling molecules for plant defense under adverse conditions. The authors may submit original research/review articles for consideration of publication. The topics that will be included in the Special Issue are:

  1. Basic aspects of RNS, RSS and ROS metabolism, subcellular compartmentalization, and post-translational modifications of proteins;
  2. RONSS responses under abiotic and biotic stress conditions;
  3. Regulatory interaction between RNS, ROS. and RSS under abiotic stress conditions;
  4. RNS signaling in plants under optimal and stressful environments;
  5. RSS and its interaction with ROS and other signaling molecules/phytohormones for stress adaptation;
  6. Interaction between RNS and RSS under stress and regulation of plant growth and development;
  7. Role of RNS/RNS as a modulator of redox system in plants under stress;
  8. Omic approaches in manipulating RNS/RSS responses;
  9. Transcriptomic analysis of stress-responsive genes and metabolic pathways regulating stress tolerance;
  10. Reactive nitrogen species: good or bad player in defence against stressful environments;
  11. Compartmentalization of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production in plant cells.

Prof. Dr. Nafees Khan
Dr. Noushina Iqbal
Dr. Zebus Sehar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • antioxidants
  • ROS/RNS
  • abiotic stress
  • ascorbate-glutathione
  • signaling
  • oxidative stress
  • detoxification

Published Papers (2 papers)

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23 pages, 6599 KiB  
Article
Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals the Global Molecular Responses and NAC Transcription Factors Involved in Drought Stress in Dendrobium catenatum
by Siqi Zhang, Yuliang Han, Qinzong Zeng, Chenchang Wang, Huizhong Wang, Juncheng Zhang, Maohong Cai, Jiangjie Lu and Tao Chen
Antioxidants 2024, 13(1), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13010094 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 666
Abstract
Dendrobium catenatum is a highly drought-tolerant herb, which usually grows on cliffs or in the branches of trees, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms for its tolerance remain poorly understood. We conducted a comprehensive study utilizing whole-transcriptome sequencing approaches to investigate the molecular response [...] Read more.
Dendrobium catenatum is a highly drought-tolerant herb, which usually grows on cliffs or in the branches of trees, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms for its tolerance remain poorly understood. We conducted a comprehensive study utilizing whole-transcriptome sequencing approaches to investigate the molecular response to extreme drought stress in D. catenatum. A large number of differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs have been identified, and the NAC transcription factor family was highly enriched. Meanwhile, 46 genes were significantly up-regulated in the ABA-activated signaling pathway. In addition to the 89 NAC family members accurately identified in this study, 32 members were found to have different expressions between the CK and extreme drought treatment. They may regulate drought stress through both ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways. Moreover, the 32 analyzed differentially expressed DcNACs were found to be predominantly expressed in the floral organs and roots. The ceRNA regulatory network showed that DcNAC87 is at the core of the ceRNA network and is regulated by miR169, miR393, and four lncRNAs. These investigations provided valuable information on the role of NAC transcription factors in D. catenatum’s response to drought stress. Full article
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27 pages, 3717 KiB  
Article
Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses of Low-Nitrogen-Stress Tolerance and Function Analysis of ZmGST42 Gene in Maize
by Jiao Li, Tinashe Zenda, Songtao Liu, Anyi Dong, Yafei Wang, Xinyue Liu, Nan Wang and Huijun Duan
Antioxidants 2023, 12(10), 1831; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12101831 - 05 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1188
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the major staple crops providing human food, animal feed, and raw material support for biofuel production. For its growth and development, maize requires essential macronutrients. In particular, nitrogen (N) plays an important role in determining [...] Read more.
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the major staple crops providing human food, animal feed, and raw material support for biofuel production. For its growth and development, maize requires essential macronutrients. In particular, nitrogen (N) plays an important role in determining the final yield and quality of a maize crop. However, the excessive application of N fertilizer is causing serious pollution of land area and water bodies. Therefore, cultivating high-yield and low-N-tolerant maize varieties is crucial for minimizing the nitrate pollution of land and water bodies. Here, based on the analysis of the maize leaf transcriptome and proteome at the grain filling stage, we identified 3957 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 329 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) from the two maize hybrids contrasting in N stress tolerance (low-N-tolerant XY335 and low-N-sensitive HN138) and screened four sets of low-N-responsive genes and proteins through Venn diagram analysis. We identified 761 DEGs (253 up- and 508 down-regulated) specific to XY335, whereas 259 DEGs (198 up- and 61 down-regulated) were specific to HN138, and 59 DEGs (41 up- and 18 down-regulated) were shared between the two cultivars under low-N-stress conditions. Meanwhile, among the low-N-responsive DAPs, thirty were unique to XY335, thirty were specific to HN138, and three DAPs were shared between the two cultivars under low-N treatment. Key among those genes/proteins were leucine-rich repeat protein, DEAD-box ATP-dependent RNA helicase family proteins, copper transport protein, and photosynthesis-related proteins. These genes/proteins were involved in the MAPK signaling pathway, regulating membrane lipid peroxidation, and photosynthesis. Our results may suggest that XY335 better tolerates low-N stress than HN138, possibly through robust low-N-stress sensing and signaling, amplified protein phosphorylation and stress response, and increased photosynthesis efficiency, as well as the down-regulation of ‘lavish’ or redundant proteins to minimize N demand. Additionally, we screened glutathione transferase 42 (ZmGST42) and performed physiological and biochemical characterizations of the wild-type (B73) and gst42 mutant at the seedling stage. Resultantly, the wild-type exhibited stronger tolerance to low N than the mutant line. Our findings provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying low-N tolerance during the maize grain filling stage and reveal key candidate genes for low-N-tolerance breeding in maize. Full article
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