Global Comparative Analysis of CBL-CIPK Gene Families in Plants

Calcium plays pivotal role in regulating the physiological as well as developmental processes in plants. Till now, several calcium sensors have been discovered, which regulate the diverse signaling pathways involved in plant growth and development. One of the major calcium sensors CBL (calcineurin B-like) is decoding the calcium signal during various environmental stresses in plants. Calcium mediated signal is transduced downstream by CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs), which generally phosphorylate the target proteins such as transcription factors or transporters/channel leading to a response. Mutant based approach has provided valuable information in the functional analysis of individual members of CBL and CIPK gene family in Arabidopsis. Both CBL and CIPK gene families have previously been identified and characterized in Arabidopsis and rice. Identification and characterization of CBLs and CIPKs in other plant species such as Oryza sativa, Pisum sativum, Cicer arietinum, Zea mays, Populus euphratica, Vitis vinifera, Malus domestica, Gossypium hirsutum, Sorghum bicolor, Brassica napus, Vicia faba, Phaseolus vulgaris, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and Triticum aestivum are still in juvenile stage.

Overall, Global Comparative Analysis of CBL-CIPK Gene Families in Plants is a comprehensive study focused on the diverse role of CBL-CIPK module in different stress signaling and also to identify a newly emerging role of this calcium-signaling module in plant growth and development across different plant species. In addition, beside Arabidopsis, it will provide backbone of knowledge to perform a detail molecular investigation in crop plant species and could possibly enable in designing strategies to tame abiotic stress tolerance and development in important agronomical crop plants. This book will act as handy and informative source in this field for students as well as advanced researchers.

1.      Basic Terms and Overview of Contents

1.1.   Introduction

1.2.   Calcium on the Way of Signaling

1.3.   CBLs - The Calcium Sensor

1.4.   History and Concepts

1.4.1.       Discovery

1.4.2.       New Paradigm

2.      Genomic Organization

2.1.   Introduction

2.2.   CBL and CIPK Complements

2.2.1.       CBL and CIPK-Type Proteins in Protozoan

2.2.2.       CBL and CIPK in Algae

2.2.3.       CBL and CIPK in Higher Plants

2.3.   Genomic Architecture

2.4.   Gene Structure

2.5.    Phylogenetic Relatedness and Evolution

3.      Distribution and Expression in Plants

3.1.   Introduction

3.2.   Distribution of CBL and CIPKs in Plants

3.3.   Expressions Under Various Environmental and Developmental Conditions

3.4.   Expression of Stress Markers Genes of CBL and CIPKs

4.      Protein Structure and Localization

4.1.   Introduction

4.2.   Motifs and Domains

4.2.1.       Motifs in the CBLs

4.2.2.       Motifs in the CIPKs

4.3.   Protein Structure

4.3.1.       Three-Dimensional Structure of CBLs

4.3.2.       CBL-CIPK Complexes

4.4.   Subcellular Localization

4.4.1.       Subcellular Localization of CBL Gene Family

4.4.2.       Subcellular Localization of CIPK Gene Family

4.4.3.       Subcellular targeting of CBL-CIPK complexes

5.      Biochemical Properties of CBLs and CIPKs

5.1.   Introduction

5.2.   Mutagenesis of CIPKs to Generate Hyperactive Kinase or Dead Kinase

5.3.   Function of Autophosphorylation in CIPKs

5.5.   Phosphorylation of CBL by their Interacting CIPK

6.      Protein interactions

6.1.   Introduction

6.2.   Various interactors of CBLs

6.2.1.       CIPKs

6.2.2.       Others

6.3.   Various Targets of CIPKs

6.3.1.       Phosphotases

6.3.2.       Transporters/Channels

6.3.3.       Transcription Factors

6.3.4.       Enzymes

6.4.   CBL-CIPK Complexes Regulate a Broad Range of Functions

7.      Functional Role of CBL-CIPK in Nutrient Deficiency

7.1.   Introduction

7.2.   Nitrate Deficiency

7.3.   Potassium Deficiency

7.3.1.       CBL-CIPK23-AKT1

7.3.2.       CBL-CIPK9-Unknown Target

7.3.3.       Other CBL-CIPKs Regulating AKT1

7.3.4.       CBL4-CIPK6-AKT2

7.3.5.       CBL-CIPK Regulating K⁺ Nutrition in other Plants Species

8.      Functional role of CBL-CIPK in Abiotic Stresses

8.1.   Introduction

8.2.   Salt Stress

8.4.   Cold Stress

8.5.   ABA Signalling

8.6.   pH stress

8.7.   Flooding Stress

9.      Functional role of CBL-CIPK in Biotic Stress and ROS Signaling

9.1.   Introduction

9.2.   Biotic stress and ROS signaling

10.  Functional role of CBL-CIPK in plant development

10.1Introduction

10.2Pollen Germination and Tube Growth

10.3Flower Development

10.4Root Development

10.5Seedling Development

11. Application and Future Perspectives of CBL-CIPK Signaling

11.1Basic study done so far

11.2Applications of the CBL–CIPK Signaling System

11.3Future of CBL-CIPK Signaling

11.4Questions for the Future

Girdhar K. Pandey

Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi

South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan,

New Delhi-110021, India

Poonam Kanwar

Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi

South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan,

New Delhi-110021, India

Amita Pandey

Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi

South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan,

New Delhi-110021, India.