Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
342
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-8-25
pubmed:abstractText
Metabolic acclimation via the accumulation of compatible solutes is regarded as a basic strategy for the protection and survival of plants in extreme environments. Certain plants accumulate significant amounts of glycinebetaine (betaine), a compatible quaternary amine, in response to high salinity, cold and drought. It is likely that betaine is involved in the protection of macrocomponents of plant cells, such as protein complexes and membranes, under stress conditions. Genetic engineering of the biosynthesis of betaine from choline has been the focus of considerable attention as a potential strategy for increasing stress tolerance in stress-sensitive plants that are incapable of synthesizing this compatible/protective solute. Three distinct pathways for the synthesis of betaine have been identified in spinach, Escherichia coli and Arthrobacter globiformis, and various genes and cDNAs for the proteins involved are available. Moreover, each of the pathways has been exploited to a greater or lesser extent in efforts to convert betaine-deficient plants to betaine accumulators. In this review, the potential of several recent examples of transgenic approaches to the enhancement of stress tolerance in plants is summarized and discussed.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0022-0957
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
51
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
81-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Genetic engineering of glycinebetaine synthesis in plants: current status and implications for enhancement of stress tolerance.
pubmed:affiliation
National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't