roles of polyamines during the lifespan of plants: from development to stress

• Published in: Planta 2014-07, Vol.240 (1), p.1-18
• Main Authors: Tiburcio, Antonio F, Altabella, Teresa, Bitrián, Marta, Alcázar, Rubén
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Amines; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosynthesis; biotic stress; Catabolism; cell division; Cell Survival; cell viability; coumaric acids; Ecology; Epigenesis, Genetic; Forestry; gamma-aminobutyric acid; Gene expression regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes; Homeostasis; Hydrogen peroxide; Life Sciences; Life span; longevity; Molecular biology; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Oxidases; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Plant Development; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Sciences; Plants; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; Pollen; Polyamines; Polyamines - metabolism; post-translational modification; REVIEW; Signal Transduction; spermidine; spermine; Spermine - analogs & derivatives; Spermine - metabolism; stress tolerance; Stress, Physiological
• ISSN: 0032-0935; 1432-2048
• DOI: 10.1007/s00425-014-2055-9

Compelling evidence indicates that free polyamines (PAs) (mainly putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and its isomer thermospermine), some PA conjugates to hydroxycinnamic acids, and the products of PA oxidation (hydrogen peroxide and γ-aminobutyric acid) are required for different processes in plant development and participate in abiotic and biotic stress responses. A tight regulation of PA homeostasis is required, since depletion or over-accumulation of PAs can be detrimental for cell viability in many organisms. In plants, homeostasis is achieved by modulation of PA biosynthesis, conjugation, catabolism, and transport. However, recent data indicate that such mechanisms are not mere modulators of PA pools but actively participate in PA functions. Examples are found in the spermidine-dependent eiF5A hypusination required for cell division, PA hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates required for pollen development, and the involvement of thermospermine in cell specification. Recent advances also point to implications of PA transport in stress tolerance, PA-dependent transcriptional and translational modulation of genes and transcripts, and posttranslational modifications of proteins. Overall, the molecular mechanisms identified suggest that PAs are intricately coordinated and/or mediate different stress and developmental pathways during the lifespan of plants.