LAUSR

The plasma membrane (PM) is possibly the most diverse biological membrane of the plant cell, it separates and guards the cell against its external environment. It has an extremely complex structure comprising a mosaic of lipids and proteins. The PM lipids are responsible for maintaining fluidity, permeability, and integrity of the membrane and also influence the functioning of membrane proteins. However, the PM is a primary target of environmental stress, which affects its conformation and properties, thereby disturbing the cellular homeostasis. Maintenance of integrity and fluidity of the PM is a prerequisite for ensuring the survival of plants during adverse environmental conditions. The ability of plants to remodel membrane lipid and protein composition plays a crucial role in the adaptation to varying abiotic environmental cues, including heat, cold, drought, salt, heavy metals stress. The dynamic changes in lipid composition affect the functioning of membrane transporters and ultimately regulate the physical properties of the membrane. Plant membrane transport systems play a significant role in stress adaptation by cooperating with the membrane lipidome to maintain the membrane integrity under stressful conditions. The present review provides a holistic view of stress responses and adaptation of plants by highlighting the changes in the lipidome of PM under individual and combined abiotic stresses, which cause alterations in the activity of membrane transporters and modifies the fluidity of the PM. The tools to study the varying lipidome and proteome of the PM are also discussed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.