RNA chaperones: Potential candidates for engineering salt tolerance in rice

RNA chaperone activity is crucial for proper folding and expression of messenger RNAs under abiotic stresses. There is functional conservation of plant and bacterial RNA chaperones, and they have been characterized mainly with respect to cold stress. The aim of this article was to compile all published rice (Oryza sativa L.) RNA chaperone genes, and to logically associate their RNA chaperone activity with salt tolerance. Based on the effects on transgenic plants under other abiotic stresses and the related published literature about the role of RNA chaperones in other plant species, I speculate that rice RNA chaperones are promising candidates for engineering salt tolerance in rice. Existing microarray data, showing that RNA chaperones of rice are highly responsive to salinity, are reviewed. Future functional studies will be required to characterize the range of functions of RNA chaperones in rice and other plants. Research avenues proposed in this review article provide a potential path to exciting research on rice salt tolerance.