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Jin D, Chen J, Kang Y, Yang F, Yu D, Liu X, Yan C, Guo Z, Zhang Y. Genome-wide characterization, transcriptome profiling, and functional analysis of the ALMT gene family in Medicago for aluminum resistance. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 297:154262. [PMID: 38703548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2024.154262] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) is the major limiting factor affecting plant productivity in acidic soils. Al3+ ions exhibit increased solubility at a pH below 5, leading to plant root tip toxicity. Alternatively, plants can perceive very low concentrations of Al3+, and Al triggers downstream signaling even at pH 5.7 without causing Al toxicity. The ALUMINUM-ACTIVATED-MALATE-TRANSPORTER (ALMT) family members act as anion channels, with some regulating the secretion of malate from root apices to chelate Al, which is a crucial mechanism for plant Al resistance. To date, the role of the ALMT gene family within the legume Medicago species has not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigated the ALMT gene family in M. sativa and M. truncatula and identified 68 MsALMTs and 18 MtALMTs, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into five clades, and synteny analysis uncovered genuine paralogs and orthologs. The real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that MtALMT8, MtALMT9, and MtALMT15 in clade 2-2b are expressed in both roots and root nodules, and MtALMT8 and MtALMT9 are significantly upregulated by Al in root tips. We also observed that MtALMT8 and MtALMT9 can partially restore the Al sensitivity of Atalmt1 in Arabidopsis. Moreover, transcriptome analysis examined the expression patterns of these genes in M. sativa in response to Al at both pH 5.7 and pH 4.6, as well as to protons, and found that Al and protons can independently induce some Al-resistance genes. Overall, our findings indicate that MtALMT8 and MtALMT9 may play a role in Al resistance, and highlight the resemblance between the ALMT genes in Medicago species and those in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehui Jin
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinlong Chen
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yumeng Kang
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fang Yang
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongwen Yu
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chengcheng Yan
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhenfei Guo
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yang Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Wang W, Liu Y, Kang Y, Liu W, Li S, Wang Z, Xia X, Chen X, Qian L, Xiong X, Liu Z, Guan C, He X. Genome-wide characterization of LEA gene family reveals a positive role of BnaA.LEA6.a in freezing tolerance in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:433. [PMID: 38773359 PMCID: PMC11106994 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05111-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Freezing stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that causes extensive damage to plants. LEA (Late embryogenesis abundant) proteins play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress. However, there is limited research on the function of LEA genes in low-temperature stress in Brassica napus (rapeseed). RESULTS Total 306 potential LEA genes were identified in B. rapa (79), B. oleracea (79) and B. napus (148) and divided into eight subgroups. LEA genes of the same subgroup had similar gene structures and predicted subcellular locations. Cis-regulatory elements analysis showed that the promoters of BnaLEA genes rich in cis-regulatory elements related to various abiotic stresses. Additionally, RNA-seq and real-time PCR results indicated that the majority of BnaLEA family members were highly expressed in senescent tissues of rapeseed, especially during late stages of seed maturation, and most BnaLEA genes can be induced by salt and osmotic stress. Interestingly, the BnaA.LEA6.a and BnaC.LEA6.a genes were highly expressed across different vegetative and reproductive organs during different development stages, and showed strong responses to salt, osmotic, and cold stress, particularly freezing stress. Further analysis showed that overexpression of BnaA.LEA6.a increased the freezing tolerance in rapeseed, as evidenced by lower relative electrical leakage and higher survival rates compared to the wild-type (WT) under freezing treatment. CONCLUSION This study is of great significance for understanding the functions of BnaLEA genes in freezing tolerance in rapeseed and offers an ideal candidate gene (BnaA.LEA6.a) for molecular breeding of freezing-tolerant rapeseed cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Wang
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Yan Liu
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Yu Kang
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Shun Li
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Zhonghua Wang
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xia
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Lunwen Qian
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Xinghua Xiong
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Zhongsong Liu
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Chunyun Guan
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Xin He
- College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China.
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Wang C, Xiao J, Huang M, Zhuo L, Zhang D. Enhancement of salt tolerance of alfalfa: Physiological and molecular responses of transgenic alfalfa plants expressing Syntrichia caninervis-derived ScABI3. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 207:108335. [PMID: 38190765 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108335] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a perennial forage plant, is a rich source of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Salt stress, however, impedes its growth. The plant-specific transcription factor abscisic acid insensitive 3 (ABI3) has a critical contribution to the control of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and abiotic stress response. The gene ScABI3 from Syntrichia caninervis, a moss species tolerant to desiccation, could be considered a potential candidate gene to modify alfalfa's nutritional and growth aspects. However, it remains unclear how ScABI3 affects the salt stress response of transgenic alfalfa. Therefore, we elucidated the role and molecular mechanism of ScABI3 from S. caninervis as an ABA signaling factor in transgenic alfalfa. Our findings demonstrate that ScABI3 overexpression in transgenic alfalfa improves salt tolerance by promoting relative water content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and photosynthetic parameters. Furthermore, the key genes of plant hormone signaling and the classical salt tolerance pathway were activated in ScABI3 transgenic lines under salt stress. Based on these results, ScABI3 could be considered a potentially critical candidate gene to alleviate salt stress in alfalfa. The present study provides valuable insights for developing transgenic crop breeding strategies for saline-alkaline soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yigong Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Chun Wang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Jiangyuan Xiao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Mingqi Huang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Lu Zhuo
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China.
| | - Daoyuan Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
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