title: Beyond transcription: RNA-binding proteins as emerging regulators of plant response to environmental constraints.
abstract: RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) govern many aspects of RNA metabolism, including pre-mRNA processing, transport, stability/decay and translation. Although relatively few plant RNA-binding proteins have been characterized genetically and biochemically, more than 200 RBP genes have been predicted in Arabidopsis and rice genomes, suggesting that they might serve specific plant functions. Besides their role in normal cellular functions, RBPs are emerging also as an interesting class of proteins involved in a wide range of post-transcriptional regulatory events that are important in providing plants with the ability to respond rapidly to changes in environmental conditions. Here, we review the most recent results and evidence on the functional role of RBPs in plant adaptation to various unfavourable environmental conditions and their contribution to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, with special emphasis on osmotic and temperature stress.
authors: National Research Council of Italy-Institute of Plant Genetics (CNR-IGV), Via Università 133, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy.
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Ambrosone
authors: Antonello
authors: A
authors: Costa
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Leone
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Grillo
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D009997:Osmotic Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D000040:Abscisic Acid