title: ATP-sulfurylase, sulfur-compounds, and plant stress tolerance.
abstract: Sulfur (S) stands fourth in the list of major plant nutrients after N, P, and K. Sulfate (SO4 (2-)), a form of soil-S taken up by plant roots is metabolically inert. As the first committed step of S-assimilation, ATP-sulfurylase (ATP-S) catalyzes SO4 (2-)-activation and yields activated high-energy compound adenosine-5(')-phosphosulfate that is reduced to sulfide (S(2-)) and incorporated into cysteine (Cys). In turn, Cys acts as a precursor or donor of reduced S for a range of S-compounds such as methionine (Met), glutathione (GSH), homo-GSH (h-GSH), and phytochelatins (PCs). Among S-compounds, GSH, h-GSH, and PCs are known for their involvement in plant tolerance to varied abiotic stresses, Cys is a major component of GSH, h-GSH, and PCs; whereas, several key stress-metabolites such as ethylene, are controlled by Met through its first metabolite S-adenosylmethionine. With the major aim of briefly highlighting S-compound-mediated role of ATP-S in plant stress tolerance, this paper: (a) overviews ATP-S structure/chemistry and occurrence, (b) appraises recent literature available on ATP-S roles and regulations, and underlying mechanisms in plant abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, (c) summarizes ATP-S-intrinsic regulation by major S-compounds, and (d) highlights major open-questions in the present context. Future research in the current direction can be devised based on the discussion outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro Portugal.
authors.forename: Naser A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology Lab, Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak India.
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology Lab, Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak India.
authors.forename: Manjeri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mirza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasanuzzaman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro Portugal.
authors.forename: Eduarda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro Portugal ; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro Portugal.
authors.forename: Iqbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Plant Molecular Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi India.
authors.forename: Narendra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tuteja
authors.affiliation: Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology Lab, Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak India.
authors.forename: Sarvajeet S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gill
keywords: ATP-sulfurylase; organic S-compounds; stress tolerance; sulfur assimilation