Molecular aspects of heat stress sensing in land plants

Abstract

Heat stress impacts all aspects of life, from evolution to global food security. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand how plants respond to heat stress, especially in the context of climate change. The heat stress response (HSR) involves three main components: sensing, signal transduction, and cellular reprogramming. Here, I focus on the heat stress sensing component. How can cells detect heat stress if it is not a signalling particle? To answer this question, I have looked at the molecular definition of heat stress. It can be defined as any particular rise in the optimum growth temperature that leads to higher-than-normal levels of reactive molecular species and macromolecular damage to biological membranes, proteins, and nucleic acid polymers (DNA and RNA). It is precisely these stress-specific alterations that are detected by heat stress sensors, upon which they would immediately trigger the appropriate level of the HSR. In addition, the work towards thermotolerance is complemented by a second type of response, here called the cellular homeostasis response (CHR). Upon mild and extreme temperature changes, the CHR is triggered by plant thermosensors, which are responsible for monitoring temperature information. Heat stress sensors and thermosensors are distinct types of molecules, each with unique modes of activation and functions. While many recent reviews provide a comprehensive overview of plant thermosensors, there remains a notable gap in the review literature regarding an in-depth analysis of plant heat stress sensors. Here, I attempt to summarise our current knowledge of the cellular sensors involved in triggering the plant HSR.