Type 2C Protein Phosphatases in Plant Signaling Pathways under Abiotic Stress

Abstract

Protein phosphatases (PPs), along with protein kinases (PKs), regulate reversible protein phosphorylation, which is a major posttranslational modification during numerous signal transduction pathways. Type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs), a structurally unique class of Mg2+-/Mn2+-dependent enzymes, represent the largest group of PPs in plants. Recent findings, especially the discovery of novel abscisic acid (ABA) receptors (ABARs), have revealed the important role of PP2Cs in regulating plant response to environmental stress factors. Global analyses of PP2C members have provided deeper understanding of their mode of action in triggering adaptive reactions in plants under adverse condition. In this chapter, we focus on the activities of PP2Cs in different major signaling pathways in plants under abiotic stress conditions, providing the latest information of PP2Cs to be exploited for development of stress-tolerant crops.