Abstract
Rare cold inducible 2 (RCI2) proteins are small hydrophobic membrane proteins in plants, and it has been widely reported that RCI2 expressions are dramatically induced by salt, cold, and drought stresses in many species. The RCI2 proteins have been shown to regulate plasma membrane (PM) potential and enhance abiotic stress tolerance when over-expressed in plants. RCI2 protein structures contain two transmembrane domains that are thought to be PM intrinsic proteins and have been observed at the PM and endomembranes. However, cellular trafficking of RCI2s are not fully understood. In this review, we discussed (i) general properties of RCI2s characterized in many species, (ii) the uses of RCI2s as a tracer in live cell imaging analyses and when they are fused to fluorescence proteins during investigations into vesicle trafficking, and (iii) RCI2 functionalities such as their involvement in rapid diffusion, endocytosis, and protein interactions. Consequently, the connection between physiological characteristics of RCI2s and traffic of RCI2s interacting membrane proteins might be helpful to understand role of RCI2s contributing abiotic stresses tolerance.
Highlights
It is impossible for plants to avoid abiotic stresses because they are sessile organisms
The growth of pmp3 yeast was affected because it could not metabolize sphingolipid. These results suggest that plasma membrane proteolipid 3 (PMP3) plays an important role in the endocytic trafficking pathway and that it interacts with inositides and sphingolipid
In Arabidopsis atrci2a mutant complemented by MpRCI2 over-expression, the plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase activity was increased under NaCl stress than wild type (WT) but the function for Rare cold inducible 2 (RCI2)-induced H+ATPase activation was not concluded (Liu et al, 2012)
Summary
It is impossible for plants to avoid abiotic stresses because they are sessile organisms. Several studies have reported that the over-expression of RCI2 proteins which do not contain the C-terminal hydrophilic tail contributed physiological changes and enhance abiotic stress tolerance (Feng et al, 2009; Kim et al, 2016, 2019). Previous study suggested that the functions of RCI2s were not provided by its single expression but through their interaction with functional proteins related to the abiotic stresses defense mechanism (Kim et al, 2019).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
