Decoding the signaling triad: Molecular interactions of G-proteins, MAP kinases, and helicases in environmental stress responses

Abstract

Plant signaling and stress response systems depend heavily on the essential functions of heterotrimeric G-proteins, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and helicases. Researchers have thoroughly investigated each molecular component separately but still lack comprehensive knowledge about how they work together functionally. This review investigates the interactions between G-proteins, MAPKs, and helicases as fundamental components of plant stress signaling networks. G-proteins function as molecular switches that perceive stress signals to initiate downstream cascades which activate MAPK pathways. MAPKs trigger phosphorylation of vital target proteins such as transcription factors and helicases which in turn regulate gene expression and RNA metabolism. Helicases, crucial for plant stress response mechanisms, unwind nucleic acid structures. Recent research shows that MAPKs and helicases together manage ribosome loading along with mRNA stability and protein production when plants face environmental stress. The review examines molecular interactions that provide new insights into plant stress physiology, while highlighting the need for further investigation into plant adaptive mechanisms involving G-proteins, MAPKs, and helicases.