Emerging roles of phosphoinositide-associated membrane trafficking in plant stress responses

Eukaryotic cells are confined by membranes that create hydrophobic barriers for substance and information exchange between the inside and outside of the cell. These barriers are formed by assembly of lipids and protein in aqueous environments. Lipids not only serve as building blocks for membrane construction, but also possess regulatory functions in cellular activities. These regulatory lipids are non-uniformly distributed in membrane systems; their temporal and spatial accumulation in specific membranes decodes environmental cues and changes cellular activity accordingly. Phosphoinositides (PIs) are phospholipids that exert regulatory effects. In recent years, research on PIs roles in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress is increasing. Several reviews have been published on the composition of PIs, intermolecular transferring of PIs by lipid kinases (phosphatases) or PI-PLCs, subcellular localization, and specially their functions in plant developments. Herein, we review the crucial regulatory functions of PIs in plant stress responses, with a particular focus on PIs involved in membrane trafficking.