The Emerging Roles of Diacylglycerol Kinase (DGK) in Plant Stress Tolerance, Growth, and Development

Abstract

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is recognized as the key enzyme of the lipid signaling pathway, which involves the transduction of messages from hormones, neurotransmitters, and immunologic and growth factors. Regarding their essential role in animal physiology, many plant biologists have predicted a similar enzymatic influence in plants. However, a small number of recent studies have revealed the complexity of the involvement of DGK genes in the modulation of plant growth, development, and adaptation in both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Here, we describe recent discoveries on the role of DGK genes in the plants’ responses to biotic or abiotic stressors. Moreover, we discuss how DGK enzymes regulate plant cellular activities during the adaptation of plants to a readily changing environment. DGK is an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in plant lipid signaling, by catalyzing the phosphorylation of the diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid (PA), which is a crucial molecule in a plant’s metabolic network, leading to its response to various external stresses. DGK enzymes are the principal moderators of PA generation in plant cells; this consequently affects its derived products—hence, enabling their activities in lipid signaling networks and cell homeostasis. Thus, understanding the DGK operational mode and interactions between the production and accumulation of PA would constitute a significant advancement in investigating the mechanism of stress adaptation in plants.