Glutathione reductase and abiotic stress tolerance in plants

Abstract

Abiotic stress is a major factor impeding crop productivity globally. Almost all abiotic stresses induce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and consequently cause oxidative stress. Glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase (GR) are important components of the antioxidant machinery that plants use to respond to abiotic stress. GR catalyzes the reduction of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) to GSH with the accompanying oxidation of NADPH, which plays a pivotal role in maintaining the cellular redox balance of GSH/GSSG. Recently, GR was found to play a positive role in tolerance to abiotic stress. In this chapter, we review this recent information on the subcellular localization of GR between monocots and eudicots, detection of the redox state of GSH, and the expression, signaling and physiological role of GR genes in response to abiotic stress in plants.