Glycine betaine counteracts the antagonistic effects of salt stress on protein metabolism

Glycine betaine is a compatible organic metabolite which is synthesized and accumulated in pulses, cereals, grasses and many microbes in response to different types of stress. It has been shown to exhibit enhanced tolerance of plants to salt stress. In this investigation we examined the effects of salt stress and synthesis of glycine betaine on leaf protease activity in lucerne plants. Sodium chloride stress was observed to antagonise the stability of proteins by reducing protease activity and glycine betaine to reverse this antagonistic effect. This may be ascribed to the protection of machinery required for synthesis of proteins under salt stress. These findings suggest that glycine betaine counteracts the negative effects of salt stress probably with its accelerated.