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Zhang F, Wang W, Yuan A, Li Q, Chu M, Jiang S, An Y. Investigating the involvement of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) StPHR1 gene in the combined stress response to phosphorus deficiency and aluminum toxicity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1413755. [PMID: 38974976 PMCID: PMC11225713 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1413755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Phosphorus deficiency and aluminum toxicity in acidic soils are important factors that limit crop yield. To further explore this issue, we identified 18 members of the StPHR gene family in the potato genome in this study. Through bioinformatics analysis, we found that the StPHR1 gene, an important member of this family, exhibited high expression levels in potato roots, particularly under conditions of phosphorus deficiency and aluminum toxicity stress. This suggested that the StPHR1 gene may play a crucial regulatory role in potato's resistance to phosphorus deficiency and aluminum toxicity. To validate this hypothesis, we conducted a series of experiments on the StPHR1 gene, including subcellular localization, GUS staining for tissue expression, heterologous overexpression, yeast two-hybrid hybridization, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). The results demonstrated that the StPHR1 gene is highly conserved in plants and is localized in the nucleus of potato cells. The heterologous overexpression of the gene in Arabidopsis plants resulted in a growth phenotype that exhibited resistance to both aluminum toxicity and phosphorus deficiency. Moreover, the heterologous overexpressing plants showed reduced aluminum content in the root system compared to the control group. Furthermore, we also identified an interaction between StPHR1 and StALMT6. These results highlight the potential application of regulating the expression of the StPHR1 gene in potato production to enhance its adaptation to the dual stress of phosphorus deficiency and high aluminum toxicity in acidic soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Luban Street, Renhuai, Guizhou, China
| | - Wenlun Wang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Luban Street, Renhuai, Guizhou, China
| | - Anping Yuan
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Luban Street, Renhuai, Guizhou, China
| | - Qiong Li
- Department of Brewing Engineering, Moutai Institute, Luban Street, Renhuai, Guizhou, China
| | - Moli Chu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources/College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Sixia Jiang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Luban Street, Renhuai, Guizhou, China
| | - Yanlin An
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Luban Street, Renhuai, Guizhou, China
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Zhou F, Singh S, Zhang J, Fang Q, Li C, Wang J, Zhao C, Wang P, Huang CF. The MEKK1-MKK1/2-MPK4 cascade phosphorylates and stabilizes STOP1 to confer aluminum resistance in Arabidopsis. MOLECULAR PLANT 2023; 16:337-353. [PMID: 36419357 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) toxicity can seriously restrict crop production on acidic soils, which comprise 40% of the world's potentially arable land. The zinc finger transcription factor STOP1 has a conserved and essential function in mediating plant Al resistance. Al stress induces STOP1 accumulation via post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. However, the upstream signaling pathway involved in Al-triggered STOP1 accumulation remains unclear. Here, we report that the MEKK1-MKK1/2-MPK4 cascade positively regulates STOP1 phosphorylation and stability. Mutations of MEKK1, MKK1/2, or MPK4 lead to decreased STOP1 stability and Al resistance. Al stress induces the kinase activity of MPK4, which interacts with and phosphorylates STOP1. The phosphorylation of STOP1 reduces its interaction with the F-box protein RAE1 that mediates STOP1 degradation, thereby leading to enhanced STOP1 stability and Al resistance. Taken together, our results suggest that the MEKK1-MKK1/2-MPK4 cascade is important for Al signaling and confers Al resistance through phosphorylation-mediated enhancement of STOP1 accumulation in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanglin Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Somesh Singh
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiu Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chongyang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chunzhao Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Pengcheng Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chao-Feng Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Wang Z, Liu Y, Cui W, Gong L, He Y, Zhang Q, Meng X, Yang Z, You J. Characterization of GmMATE13 in its contribution of citrate efflux and aluminum resistance in soybeans. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1027560. [PMID: 36340364 PMCID: PMC9634752 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1027560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Citrate exudation mediated by a citrate transporter of the MATE protein family is critical for resisting aluminum (Al) toxicity in soybeans. However, the expression patterns of citrate transporter genes differ under Al stress. Thus, exploring the responsive pattern of GmMATEs in response to Al stress is of great importance to understand the Al resistance mechanism in soybeans. In the present study, the phylogenetic analysis, transcriptionally expressed pattern, and function of GmMATE13 were investigated. The results show that soybean GmMATE13 is highly homologous to known citrate transporter proteins from other plants. Under Al exposure, the transcript abundance of GmMATE13 was increased during a 24 h Al treatment period. The expression of GmMATE13 is specifically induced by Al exposure, but not by the status of Fe, Cu, Cd, or La. Moreover, it was also highly increased when soybean seedlings were grown on acidic soil with a high Al content. Subcellular localization showed that GmMATE13 was localized on the plasma membrane when it was transiently expressed in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Investigation of tissue localization of GmMATE13 expression by investigating GUS activity staining under control of the GmMATE13 promoter showed that it was mainly expressed in the central cylinder in the root tips of the soybean under Al-free conditions, yet extended to cortical and epidermis cells under Al stress. Finally, overexpressing GmMATE13 in soybean hairy roots enhanced Al resistance by increasing citrate efflux. Collectively, we conclude that GmMATE13 is a promising candidate to improve the resistance of soybean to Al toxicity in acidic soil.
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Zhang L, Dong D, Wang J, Wang Z, Zhang J, Bai RY, Wang X, Rubio Wilhelmi MDM, Blumwald E, Zhang N, Guo YD. A zinc finger protein SlSZP1 protects SlSTOP1 from SlRAE1-mediated degradation to modulate aluminum resistance. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:165-181. [PMID: 35739643 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In acidic soils, aluminum (Al) toxicity is the main factor inhibiting plant root development and reducing crops yield. STOP1 (SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY 1) was a critical factor in detoxifying Al stress. Under Al stress, STOP1 expression was not induced, although STOP1 protein accumulated, even in the presence of RAE1 (STOP1 DEGRADATION E3-LIGASE). How the Al stress triggers and stabilises the accumulation of STOP1 is still unknown. Here, we characterised SlSTOP1-interacting zinc finger protein (SlSZP1) using a yeast-two-hybrid screening, and generated slstop1, slszp1 and slstop1/slszp1 knockout mutants using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in tomato. SlSZP1 is induced by Al stress but it is not regulated by SlSTOP1. The slstop1, slszp1 and slstop1/slszp1 knockout mutants exhibited hypersensitivity to Al stress. The expression of SlSTOP1-targeted genes, such as SlRAE1 and SlASR2 (ALUMINUM SENSITIVE), was inhibited in both slstop1 and slszp1 mutants, but not directly regulated by SlSZP1. Furthermore, the degradation of SlSTOP1 by SlRAE1 was prevented by SlSZP1. Al stress increased the accumulation of SlSTOP1 in wild-type (WT) but not in slszp1 mutants. The overexpression of either SlSTOP1 or SlSZP1 did not enhance plant Al resistance. Altogether, our results show that SlSZP1 is an important factor for protecting SlSTOP1 from SlRAE1-mediated degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Danhui Dong
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jinfang Wang
- National Watermelon and Melon Improvement Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China
| | - Zhirong Wang
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiaojiao Zhang
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ru-Yue Bai
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xuewei Wang
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | | | - Eduardo Blumwald
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Na Zhang
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Yang-Dong Guo
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
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Liu J, Shi B, Zhang M, Liu G, Ding Z, Tian H. Transition Zone1 Negatively Regulates Arabidopsis Aluminum Resistance Through Interaction With Aconitases. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:827797. [PMID: 35154218 PMCID: PMC8829429 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.827797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The soluble form of aluminum (Al) is a major constraint to crop production in acidic soils. The Al exclusion correlated with the Al-induced organic acid is considered as an important mechanism of Al resistance. The regulation of organic acid exudation in response to Al stress mediated by the root organic acid transporters has been extensively studied. However, how plants respond to Al stress through the regulation of organic acid homeostasis is not well understood. In this study, we identified the functionally unknown Transition zone1 (TZ1) as an Al-inducible gene in the root transition zone, the most sensitive region to Al stress, in Arabidopsis. tz1 mutants showed enhanced Al resistance and displayed greatly reduced root growth inhibition. Furthermore, TZ1 was found to interact with the aconitases (ACOs) which can catalyze the conversion from citrate, one of the most important organic acids, into isocitrate. Consistently, in tz1 mutants, the citric acid content was highly increased. Collectively, this study provides evidence to show that TZ1 negatively regulates root growth response to Al stress through interacting with ACOs and regulating citric acid homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Benhui Shi
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Mengxin Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Guangchao Liu
- Key Lab of Plant Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong Province, College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhaojun Ding
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huiyu Tian
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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Lin Y, Liu G, Xue Y, Guo X, Luo J, Pan Y, Chen K, Tian J, Liang C. Functional Characterization of Aluminum (Al)-Responsive Membrane-Bound NAC Transcription Factors in Soybean Roots. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12854. [PMID: 34884659 PMCID: PMC8657865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The membrane-bound NAC transcription (NTL) factors have been demonstrated to participate in the regulation of plant development and the responses to multiple environmental stresses. This study is aimed to functionally characterize soybean NTL transcription factors in response to Al-toxicity, which is largely uncharacterized. The qRT-PCR assays in the present study found that thirteen out of fifteen GmNTL genes in the soybean genome were up-regulated by Al toxicity. However, among the Al-up-regulated GmNTLs selected from six duplicate gene pairs, only overexpressing GmNTL1, GmNTL4, and GmNTL10 could confer Arabidopsis Al resistance. Further comprehensive functional characterization of GmNTL4 showed that the expression of this gene in response to Al stress depended on root tissues, as well as the Al concentration and period of Al treatment. Overexpression of GmNTL4 conferred Al tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis in long-term (48 and 72 h) Al treatments. Moreover, RNA-seq assay identified 517 DEGs regulated by GmNTL4 in Arabidopsis responsive to Al stress, which included MATEs, ALMTs, PMEs, and XTHs. These results suggest that the function of GmNTLs in Al responses is divergent, and GmNTL4 might confer Al resistance partially by regulating the expression of genes involved in organic acid efflux and cell wall modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
| | - Guoxuan Liu
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
| | - Yingbing Xue
- Department of Resources and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China;
| | - Xueqiong Guo
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
| | - Jikai Luo
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
| | - Yaoliang Pan
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
| | - Kang Chen
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
| | - Jiang Tian
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
| | - Cuiyue Liang
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.G.); (J.L.); (Y.P.); (K.C.); (J.T.)
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