Nucleoredoxin Vis-à-Vis a Novel Thioredoxin in Regulating Oxidative Stress in Plants: A Review

Abstract

Unavoidable biotic and abiotic stresses-led reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation has a profound negative impact on cellular intergradations. To impede the harmful effects of ROS, plant cells follow a multileveled complex network system of antioxidants, thus maintaining the cellular redox homeostasis. Report suggests plants having better antioxidative system show better performance under oxidative stress. Low molecular weight nucleoredoxin (NRX) is a nuclear thioredoxin (TRX) system with oxidoreductase capacity which can protect the cellular components like DNA, RNA or protein by protecting antioxidative enzymes like catalases. In response to the adverse environmental conditions, plant cells generate more ROS as a result of signal-led cellular defense mechanism. NRX plays a significant role in regulating the redox balance of the cell. Furthermore, for stress breeding during the process of developing stress-resistant varieties favorable alleles of NRX can be introgressed into elite breeding lines of different crops. This review describes the causes of oxidative stress, ROS production, major classes of ROS, role of ROS on plant growth and development, functional details of plant NRX and recent updates on plant NRX in different crops, especially in alleviating stress-incurred damages. NRX will be helpful in the progress toward developing varieties suitable for climate-resilient agriculture.