Browsing by Author "Naaz, Sheeba"

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The confluence of TOR signaling and plant growth regulators in development and stress responses
(Oxford University Press, 2026) Saksena, Harshita B; Kumar, Mukesh; Samtani, Harsha; Sharma, Aishwarye; Rawat, Sanjay Singh; Awasthi, Prakhar; Botta, Halidev Krishna; Sandhya, Shital; Pande, Anjali; Naaz, Sheeba; Kushwah, Sunita; Shukla, Brihaspati N; Laxmi, Ashverya
The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that serves as a crucial signaling hub, seamlessly integrating a wide range of internal and external signals to meticulously regulate cellular and organismal physiology. TOR is crucial in regulating the different phases of lifecycle in plants including embryogenesis, seed germination, meristem activation, root and leaf development, flowering and senescence. Beyond its central role in growth and development, emerging research has revealed its significant involvement in the response to environmental stresses. Even though plant growth regulators such as auxin, cytokinin (CK), brassinosteroid (BR), gibberellin (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and nitric oxide (NO) function as pivotal signaling molecules in modulating plant development and stress responses, how they coordinate with the energy status still remains obscure. Here we summarize the current findings on the dynamic interconnection between TOR and these discrete phytoregulators and their potential role in executing diverse biological processes in plants.
Navigating heavy metal stress: emerging roles of TOR and SnRK signaling in plant tolerance
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2026) Naaz, Sheeba; Laxmi, Ashverya
This review explores emerging insights about how plants regulate their responses to heavy metal stress through the coordinated actions of the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) and Sucrose Non-Fermenting-1-Related Kinase (SnRK) signaling pathways. Toxic heavy metals such as As, Pb, Cd and Hg cause severe metabolic and oxidative stress in plants, which reduces their growth and development and ultimately disrupts cellular homeostasis. In this review, we highlight the unique direction of research that focuses on TOR-SnRK interaction under heavy metal exposure, emphasizing their opposite yet interconnected roles in metabolic reprogramming, stress tolerance, and in growth regulation. Under heavy metal stress, SnRK kinases are activated, which triggers the expression of stress-responsive genes and activates autophagy, while downregulating TOR activity to conserve energy and divert resources toward defense, which maintains redox homeostasis, allows plants able to survive. TOR-SnRK pathways interacts with calcium, hormonal, and redox signaling networks, which further strengthen plant stress responses and regulate tolerance mechanisms. Understanding the TOR-SnRK pathway provides a deepened understanding of how plants regulate energy under toxic environmental conditions. In addition to these, targeting these pathways assists in designing crops and agricultural products that are more resilient to heavy metal toxicity, promoting sustainable agriculture in contaminated areas.
Nitric oxide-mediated thermomemory: a new perspective on plant heat stress resilience
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2025) Naaz, Sheeba; Pande, Anjali; Laxmi, Ashverya
In the intricate world of plant responses to environmental stress, the concept of thermomemory has emerged as a fascinating and complex phenomenon. Plants, as sessile organisms, continually face the challenge of adapting to fluctuating climates, and the ability to "remember" prior heat stress encounters, a phenomenon known as thermomemory is a testament to their remarkable adaptability. Nitric oxide (NO), a versatile signaling molecule in plant physiology, has been implicated in a myriad of cellular processes crucial for stress adaptation. From its involvement in stomatal regulation to its influence on gene expression and antioxidant defense mechanisms, NO emerges as a central orchestrator in the plant's response to elevated temperatures. Exploration of NO-mediated pathways provides insights into how plants not only cope with immediate heat stress but also retain a memory of these encounters. Unraveling the molecular intricacies of NO's involvement in thermomemory enhances our understanding of the sophisticated strategies employed by plants to navigate a changing climate, offering potential avenues for innovative approaches to enhancing crop resilience and sustainable agriculture.