Main description:

Glutathione ( -glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine) is a ubiquitously distributed sulfurcontaining antioxidant molecule that plays key roles in the regulation of plant growth, development, and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. It is one of the most powerful low-molecular-weight thiols, which rapidly accumulates in plant cells under stress. Recent in-depth studies on glutathione homeostasis (biosynthesis, degradation, compartmentalization, transport, and redox turnover) and the roles of glutathione in cell proliferation and environmental stress tolerance have provided new insights for plant biologists to conduct research aimed at deciphering the mechanisms associated with glutathione-mediated plant growth and stress responses, as well as to develop stress-tolerant crop plants. Glutathione has also been suggested to be a potential regulator of epigenetic modifications, playing important roles in the regulation of genes involved in the responses of plants to changing environments. The dynamic relationship between reduced glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been well documented, and glutathione has been shown to participate in several cell signaling and metabolic processes, involving the synthesis of protein, the transport of amino acids, DNA repair, the control of cell division, and programmed cell death. Two genes, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH1) and glutathione synthetase (GSH2), are involved in GSH synthesis, and genetic manipulation of these genes can modulate cellular glutathione levels. Any fluctuations in cellular GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels have profound effects on plant growth and development, as glutathione is associated with the regulation of the cell cycle, redox signaling, enzymatic activities, defense gene expression, systemic acquired resistance, xenobiotic detoxification, and biological nitrogen fixation. Being a major constituent of the glyoxalase system and ascorbate-glutathione cycle, GSH helps to control multiple abiotic and biotic stress signaling pathways through the regulation of ROS and methylglyoxal (MG) levels. In addition, glutathione metabolism has the potential to be genetically or biochemically manipulated to develop stress-tolerant and nutritionally improved crop plants. Although significant progress has been made in investigating the multiple roles of glutathione in abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, many aspects of glutathione-mediated stress responses require additional research.

The main objective of this volume is to explore the diverse roles of glutathione in plants by providing basic, comprehensive, and in-depth molecular information for advanced students, scholars, teachers, and scientists interested in or already engaged in research that involves glutathione. Finally, this book will be a valuable resource for future glutathione-related research and can be considered as a textbook for graduate students and as a reference book for frontline researchers working on glutathione metabolism in relation to plant growth, development, stress responses, and stress tolerance.

Contents:

Chemistry, biosynthesis and antioxidative function of glutathione in plants.- The roles of glutathione in the control of plant growth, development and abiotic stress tolerance.- Involvement of thiol-based mechanisms in plant growth and development.- Plant glutathione peroxidases: Emerging role of the antioxidant enzymes in plant development and stress responses.- Triad of low molecular weight antioxidants (glutathione-ascorbate- -tocopherol) in plant abiotic stress response and tolerance.- Glutathione as a key player in plant abiotic stress response and tolerance.- Measurement and meaning of cellular thiol:disufhide redox status in plants under stressful Conditions.- Regulatory and signaling role of GSH in modulating abiotic stress response and tolerance.- Transgenic plants over-expressing GSH biosynthetic genes and abiotic stress tolerance.- Exogenous glutathione mediated abiotic stress tolerance in plants.- Glutathione S-transferase and abiotic stress tolerance.- Glutathione dependent glyoxalase system and abiotic stress tolerance.- Hormonal regulation and GSH metabolism in plants in modulating abiotic stress tolerance.- Glutathione reductase and abiotic stress tolerance.- In vivo measurement of glutathione and their application in stress tolerance research.- Relationship between glutathione biosynthesis and stress defense gene expression in plants.- Involvement of GSH in photosynthesis and redox regulation of stress-responsive gene expression.- Glutathione transporter in plants.