The versatile GABA in plants. (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Li; Dou, Na; Zhang, Hui; Wu, Chunxia
• Is Part Of: Plant signaling & behavior. Volume 16:Number 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: GABA -- TCA cycle -- plant growth and development -- biotic and abiotic stress -- carbon-nitrogen balance -- signaling -- transporters; Plant ecophysiology -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction; Plant ecophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 581
• DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2020.1862565
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1559-2316

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a ubiquitous four-carbon, non-protein amino acid. GABA has been widely studied in animal central nervous systems, where it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. In plants, it is metabolized through the GABA shunt pathway, a bypass of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Additionally, it can be synthesized through the polyamine metabolic pathway. GABA acts as a signal in Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated plant gene transformation and in plant development, especially in pollen tube elongation (to enter the ovule), root growth, fruit ripening, and seed germination. It is accumulated during plant responses to environmental stresses and pathogen and insect attacks. A high concentration of GABA elevates plant stress tolerance by improving photosynthesis, inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activating antioxidant enzymes, and regulating stomatal opening in drought stress. The transporters of GABA in plants are reviewed in this work. We summarize the recent research on GABA function and transporters with the goal of providing a review of GABA in plants.