title: Balancing metabolites in drought: the sulfur assimilation conundrum.
abstract: A key plant response to drought is the accumulation of specific sets of metabolites that act as osmoprotectants, osmolytes, antioxidants, and/or stress signals. An emerging question is: how do plants regulate metabolism to balance the 'competing interests' between metabolites during stress? Recent research connects primary sulfur metabolism (e.g., sulfate transport in the vasculature, its assimilation in leaves, and the recycling of sulfur-containing compounds) with the drought stress response. In this review, we highlight key steps in sulfur metabolism that play significant roles in drought stress signaling and responses. We propose that a complex balancing act is required to coordinate primary and secondary sulfur metabolism during the drought stress response in plants.
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: Kai Xun
authors.initials: KX
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Su Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Phua
authors.forename: Gonzalo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Estavillo
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Pogson
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013455:Sulfur