Pathogenesis related protein 10 (PR-10): A component of multiple defense systems against biotic and abiotic stresses

During biotic stresses, plants deploy cognate elicitors to set off signal transduction networks that subsequently initiate differential expression of genes, designated as defense-related genes. The defense-related genes express themselves as a class of distinct proteins termed Pathogenesis-related (PR) and antimicrobial peptides (AMP) that are largely involved in plant protection. They constitute crucial components of the plant’s inherent system of immunity, notably systemic acquired resistance (SAR), and they operate as common molecular indicators for the defense signaling network. The PR-10s, a class of PR proteins found across diverse plant species, perform a wide range of functions, from developmental processes to plant protection. PR-10s are operative as an RNase and regulated by phytohormones and participates in hormone-mediated regulation of plant defense. They provide protection against multiple kinds of biotic stresses viz viruses, bacteria, fungi and insects as well as abiotic stresses. This positions them an excellent option for generating stress resilient plants. This review covers an extensive summary of the PR-10s, covering how they operate in multiple defense systems against numerous biotic / abiotic stresses and explores how this knowledge may be employed to genetically boost plant resilience to stresses using genetic engineering.