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Luo M, Chu J, Wang Y, Chang J, Zhou Y, Jiang X. A high-affinity potassium transporter (MeHKT1) from cassava (Manihot esculenta) negatively regulates the response of transgenic Arabidopsis to salt stress. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:372. [PMID: 38714917 PMCID: PMC11075273 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05084-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-affinity potassium transporters (HKTs) are crucial in facilitating potassium uptake by plants. Many types of HKTs confer salt tolerance to plants through regulating K+ and Na+ homeostasis under salinity stress. However, their specific functions in cassava (Manihot esculenta) remain unclear. RESULTS Herein, an HKT gene (MeHKT1) was cloned from cassava, and its expression is triggered by exposure to salt stress. The expression of a plasma membrane-bound protein functions as transporter to rescue a low potassium (K+) sensitivity of yeast mutant strain, but the complementation of MeHKT1 is inhibited by NaCl treatment. Under low K+ stress, transgenic Arabidopsis with MeHKT1 exhibits improved growth due to increasing shoot K+ content. In contrast, transgenic Arabidopsis accumulates more Na+ under salt stress than wild-type (WT) plants. Nevertheless, the differences in K+ content between transgenic and WT plants are not significant. Additionally, Arabidopsis expressing MeHKT1 displayed a stronger salt-sensitive phenotype. CONCLUSION These results suggest that under low K+ condition, MeHKT1 functions as a potassium transporter. In contrast, MeHKT1 mainly transports Na+ into cells under salt stress condition and negatively regulates the response of transgenic Arabidopsis to salt stress. Our results provide a reference for further research on the function of MeHKT1, and provide a basis for further application of MeHKT1 in cassava by molecular biological means.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Luo
- National Center for Technology Innovation of Saline-Alkali tolerant Rice, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Jing Chu
- National Center for Technology Innovation of Saline-Alkali tolerant Rice, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Yu Wang
- National Center for Technology Innovation of Saline-Alkali tolerant Rice, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Jingyan Chang
- National Center for Technology Innovation of Saline-Alkali tolerant Rice, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- National Center for Technology Innovation of Saline-Alkali tolerant Rice, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China.
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
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Wang X, Shen X, Qu Y, Zhang H, Wang C, Yang F, Shen H. Structural insights into ion selectivity and transport mechanisms of Oryza sativa HKT2;1 and HKT2;2/1 transporters. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:633-644. [PMID: 38570642 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01665-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Plant high-affinity K+ transporters (HKTs) play a pivotal role in maintaining the balance of Na+ and K+ ions in plants, thereby influencing plant growth under K+-depleted conditions and enhancing tolerance to salinity stress. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of Oryza sativa HKT2;1 and HKT2;2/1 at overall resolutions of 2.5 Å and 2.3 Å, respectively. Both transporters adopt a dimeric assembly, with each protomer enclosing an ion permeation pathway. Comparison between the selectivity filters of the two transporters reveals the critical roles of Ser88/Gly88 and Val243/Gly243 in determining ion selectivity. A constriction site along the ion permeation pathway is identified, consisting of Glu114, Asn273, Pro392, Pro393, Arg525, Lys517 and the carboxy-terminal Trp530 from the neighbouring protomer. The linker between domains II and III adopts a stable loop structure oriented towards the constriction site, potentially participating in the gating process. Electrophysiological recordings, yeast complementation assays and molecular dynamics simulations corroborate the functional importance of these structural features. Our findings provide crucial insights into the ion selectivity and transport mechanisms of plant HKTs, offering valuable structural templates for developing new salinity-tolerant cultivars and strategies to increase crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoshuai Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yannan Qu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chu Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Biophysics and Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Huaizong Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China.
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Liu G, Rui L, Yang Y, Liu R, Li H, Ye F, You C, Zhang S. Identification and Functional Characterization of MdNRT1.1 in Nitrogen Utilization and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Malus domestica. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119291. [PMID: 37298242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitrate is one of the main sources of nitrogen for plant growth. Nitrate transporters (NRTs) participate in nitrate uptake and transport, and they are involved in abiotic stress tolerance. Previous studies have shown that NRT1.1 has a dual role in nitrate uptake and utilization; however, little is known about the function of MdNRT1.1 in regulating apple growth and nitrate uptake. In this study, apple MdNRT1.1, a homolog of Arabidopsis NRT1.1, was cloned and functionally identified. Nitrate treatment induced an increased transcript level of MdNRT1.1, and overexpression of MdNRT1.1 promoted root development and nitrogen utilization. Ectopic expression of MdNRT1.1 in Arabidopsis repressed tolerance to drought, salt, and ABA stresses. Overall, this study identified a nitrate transporter, MdNRT1.1, in apples and revealed how MdNRT1.1 regulates nitrate utilization and abiotic stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodong Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Lin Rui
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Yuying Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Ranxin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Hongliang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Fan Ye
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Chunxiang You
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Film Application of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
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Quamruzzaman M, Manik SMN, Shabala S, Cao F, Zhou M. Genome-wide association study reveals a genomic region on 5AL for salinity tolerance in wheat. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2022; 135:709-721. [PMID: 34797396 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-021-03996-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Soil salinity is a major threat to crop productivity and quality worldwide. In order to reduce the negative effects of salinity stress, it is important to understand the genetic basis of salinity tolerance. Identifying new salinity tolerance QTL or genes is crucial for breeders to pyramid different tolerance mechanisms to improve crop adaptability to salinity. Being one of the major cereal crops, wheat is known as a salt-sensitive glycophyte and subject to substantial yield losses when grown in the presence of salt. In this study, both pot and tank experiments were conducted to investigate the genotypic variation present in 328 wheat varieties in their salinity tolerance at the vegetative stage. A Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) were carried out to identify QTL conferring salinity tolerance through a mixed linear model. Six, five and eight significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) were identified from pot experiments, tank experiments and average damage scores, respectively. These markers are located on the wheat chromosomes 1B, 2B, 2D, 3A, 4B, and 5A. These tolerance alleles were additive in their effects and, when combined, increased tolerance to salinity. Candidate genes identified in these QTL regions encoded a diverse class of proteins involved in salinity tolerance in plants. A Na+/H+ exchanger and a potassium transporter on chromosome 5A (IWB30519) will be of a potential value for improvement of salt tolerance of wheat cultivars using marker assisted selection programs. Some useful genotypes, which showed consistent tolerance in different trials, can also be effectively used in breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Quamruzzaman
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Sergey Shabala
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- International Research Centre for Environmental Membrane Biology, Foshan University, Chancheng, China
| | - Fangbin Cao
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Meixue Zhou
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, China.
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Jeyasri R, Muthuramalingam P, Satish L, Pandian SK, Chen JT, Ahmar S, Wang X, Mora-Poblete F, Ramesh M. An Overview of Abiotic Stress in Cereal Crops: Negative Impacts, Regulation, Biotechnology and Integrated Omics. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10071472. [PMID: 34371676 PMCID: PMC8309266 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Abiotic stresses (AbS), such as drought, salinity, and thermal stresses, could highly affect the growth and development of plants. For decades, researchers have attempted to unravel the mechanisms of AbS for enhancing the corresponding tolerance of plants, especially for crop production in agriculture. In the present communication, we summarized the significant factors (atmosphere, soil and water) of AbS, their regulations, and integrated omics in the most important cereal crops in the world, especially rice, wheat, sorghum, and maize. It has been suggested that using systems biology and advanced sequencing approaches in genomics could help solve the AbS response in cereals. An emphasis was given to holistic approaches such as, bioinformatics and functional omics, gene mining and agronomic traits, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and transcription factors (TFs) family with respect to AbS. In addition, the development of omics studies has improved to address the identification of AbS responsive genes and it enables the interaction between signaling pathways, molecular insights, novel traits and their significance in cereal crops. This review compares AbS mechanisms to omics and bioinformatics resources to provide a comprehensive view of the mechanisms. Moreover, further studies are needed to obtain the information from the integrated omics databases to understand the AbS mechanisms for the development of large spectrum AbS-tolerant crop production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendran Jeyasri
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, India; (R.J.); (P.M.); (L.S.); (S.K.P.)
| | - Pandiyan Muthuramalingam
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, India; (R.J.); (P.M.); (L.S.); (S.K.P.)
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore 641062, India
| | - Lakkakula Satish
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, India; (R.J.); (P.M.); (L.S.); (S.K.P.)
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, India; (R.J.); (P.M.); (L.S.); (S.K.P.)
| | - Jen-Tsung Chen
- Department of Life Sciences, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung 81148, Taiwan;
| | - Sunny Ahmar
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Xiukang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China;
| | - Freddy Mora-Poblete
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca 3460000, Chile;
- Correspondence: (F.M.-P.); (M.R.)
| | - Manikandan Ramesh
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, India; (R.J.); (P.M.); (L.S.); (S.K.P.)
- Correspondence: (F.M.-P.); (M.R.)
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A single residue deletion in the barley HKT1;5 P189 variant restores plasma membrane localisation but not Na + conductance. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183669. [PMID: 34139196 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Leaf Na+ exclusion, mediated by plasma membrane-localised Class 1 High-affinity potassium (K+) Transporters (HKTs), is a key mechanism contributing to salinity tolerance of several major crop plants. We determined previously that the leucine to proline residue substitution at position 189 (L189P) in barley HvHKT1;5 disrupts its characteristic plasma membrane localisation and Na+ conductance. Here, we focus on a surprising observation that a single residue deletion of methionine at position 372 (M372del) within the conserved VMMYL motif in plant HKTs, restores plasma membrane localisation but not Na+ conductance in HvHKT1;5 P189. To clarify why the singular M372 deletion regains plasma membrane localisation, we built 3D models and defined α-helical assembly pathways of the P189 M372del mutant, and compared these findings to the wild-type protein, and the HvHKT1;5 L189 variant and its M372del mutant. We find that α-helical association and assembly pathways in HvHKT1;5 proteins fall in two contrasting categories. Inspections of structural flexibility through molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the conformational states of HvHKT1;5 P189 diverge from those of the L189 variant and M372del mutants. We propose that M372del in HvHKT1;5 P189 instigates structural rearrangements allowing routing to the plasma membrane, while the restoration of conductance would require further interventions. We integrate the microscopy, electrophysiology, and biocomputational data and discuss how a profound structural change in HvHKT1;5 P189 M372del impacts its α-helical protein association pathway and flexibility, and how these features underlie a delicate balance leading to restoring plasma membrane localisation but not Na+ conductance.
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