The BAM1-PBS1 complex: A hot spot for heat sensing at the plasma membrane in Arabidopsis

Abstract

The increasing occurrence of heat waves as a consequence of climate change poses a major threat to agricultural productivity. To ensure food security for a growing global population, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying plant thermotolerance is essential. It is well known that heat stress triggers signal transduction pathways involving second messengers such as Ca2+ ions, lipid signals, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These activate heat shock factors (HSFs), which in turn induce the expression of heat stress-responsive (HSR) genes, including those encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs), that confer thermotolerance. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which plant cells sense increased temperatures and trigger early signaling pathways are still poorly understood.