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Niekerk LA, Gokul A, Basson G, Badiwe M, Nkomo M, Klein A, Keyster M. Heavy metal stress and mitogen activated kinase transcription factors in plants: Exploring heavy metal-ROS influences on plant signalling pathways. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:2793-2810. [PMID: 38650576 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14926] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Due to their stationary nature, plants are exposed to a diverse range of biotic and abiotic stresses, of which heavy metal (HM) stress poses one of the most detrimental abiotic stresses, targeting diverse plant processes. HMs instigate the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to mitigate the adverse effects of ROS, plants induce multiple defence mechanisms. Besides the negative implications of overproduction of ROS, these molecules play a multitude of signalling roles in plants, acting as a central player in the complex signalling network of cells. One of the ROS-associated signalling mechanisms is the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, a signalling pathway which transduces extracellular stimuli into intracellular responses. Plant MAPKs have been implicated in signalling involved in stress response, phytohormone regulation, and cell cycle cues. However, the influence of various HMs on MAPK activation has not been well documented. In this review, we address and summarise several aspects related to various HM-induced ROS signalling. Additionally, we touch on how these signals activate the MAPK cascade and the downstream transcription factors that influence plant responses to HMs. Moreover, we propose a workflow that could characterise genes associated with MAPKs and their roles during plant HM stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee-Ann Niekerk
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Arun Gokul
- Department of Plant Sciences, Qwaqwa Campus, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
| | - Gerhard Basson
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Mihlali Badiwe
- Plant Pathology Department, AgriScience Faculty, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Mbukeni Nkomo
- Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Main Road, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
| | - Ashwil Klein
- Plant Omics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Marshall Keyster
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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2
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Ma Z, Hu L. WRKY Transcription Factor Responses and Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6845. [PMID: 38999954 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants are subjected to abiotic stresses throughout their developmental period. Abiotic stresses include drought, salt, heat, cold, heavy metals, nutritional elements, and oxidative stresses. Improving plant responses to various environmental stresses is critical for plant survival and perpetuation. WRKY transcription factors have special structures (WRKY structural domains), which enable the WRKY transcription factors to have different transcriptional regulatory functions. WRKY transcription factors can not only regulate abiotic stress responses and plant growth and development by regulating phytohormone signalling pathways but also promote or suppress the expression of downstream genes by binding to the W-box [TGACCA/TGACCT] in the promoters of their target genes. In addition, WRKY transcription factors not only interact with other families of transcription factors to regulate plant defence responses to abiotic stresses but also self-regulate by recognising and binding to W-boxes in their own target genes to regulate their defence responses to abiotic stresses. However, in recent years, research reviews on the regulatory roles of WRKY transcription factors in higher plants have been scarce and shallow. In this review, we focus on the structure and classification of WRKY transcription factors, as well as the identification of their downstream target genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the response to abiotic stresses, which can improve the tolerance ability of plants under abiotic stress, and we also look forward to their future research directions, with a view of providing theoretical support for the genetic improvement of crop abiotic stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziming Ma
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg 1, Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Plant Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Emil Ramann Str. 4, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Lanjuan Hu
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
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Shi X, Du J, Wang X, Zhang X, Yan X, Yang Y, Jia H, Zhang S. NtGCN2 confers cadmium tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum L. by regulating cadmium uptake, efflux, and subcellular distribution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172695. [PMID: 38663613 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172695] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
General control non-derepressible-2 (GCN2) is widely expressed in eukaryotes and responds to biotic and abiotic stressors. However, the precise function and mechanism of action of GCN2 in response to cadmium (Cd) stress in Nicotiana tabacum L. (tobacco) remains unclear. We investigated the role of NtGCN2 in Cd tolerance and explored the mechanism by which NtGCN2 responds to Cd stress in tobacco by exposing NtGCN2 transgenic tobacco lines to different concentrations of CdCl2. NtGCN2 was activated under 50 μmol·L-1 CdCl2 stress and enhanced the Cd tolerance and photosynthetic capacities of tobacco by increasing chlorophyll content and antioxidant capacity by upregulating NtSOD, NtPOD, and NtCAT expression and corresponding enzyme activities and decreasing malondialdehyde and O2·- contents. NtGCN2 enhanced the osmoregulatory capacity of tobacco by elevating proline (Pro) and soluble sugar contents and maintaining low levels of relative conductivity. Finally, NtGCN2 enhanced Cd tolerance in tobacco by reducing Cd uptake and translocation, promoting Cd efflux, and regulating Cd subcellular distribution. In conclusion, NtGCN2 improves the tolerance of tobacco to Cd through a series of mechanisms, namely, increasing antioxidant, photosynthetic, and osmoregulation capacities and regulating Cd uptake, translocation, efflux, and subcellular distribution. This study provides a scientific basis for further exploration of the role of NtGCN2 in plant responses to Cd stress and enhancement of the Cd stress signaling network in tobacco.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Shi
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China
| | - Jiao Du
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoquan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China
| | - Yongxia Yang
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China
| | - Hongfang Jia
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China.
| | - Songtao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Cultivation in Tobacco Industry, National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Centre, College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, China.
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4
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Dong X, Li W, Li C, Akan OD, Liao C, Cao J, Zhang L. Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed the mechanism of catechin biosynthesis in response to lead stress in tung tree (Vernicia fordii). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172796. [PMID: 38692325 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172796] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) affects gene transcription, metabolite biosynthesis and growth in plants. The tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is highly adaptive to adversity, whereas the mechanisms underlying its response to Pb remain uncertain. In this work, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were employed to study tung trees under Pb stress. The results showed that the biomass of tung seedlings decreased with increasing Pb doses, and excessive Pb doses resulted in leaf wilting, root rot, and disruption of Pb homeostasis. Under non-excessive Pb stress, a significant change in the expression patterns of flavonoid biosynthesis genes was observed in the roots of tung seedlings, leading to changes in the accumulation of flavonoids in the roots, especially the upregulation of catechins, which can chelate Pb and reduce its toxicity in plants. In addition, Pb-stressed roots showed a large accumulation of VfWRKY55, VfWRKY75, and VfLRR1 transcripts, which were shown to be involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway by gene module analysis. Overexpression of VfWRKY55, VfWRKY75, and VfLRR1 significantly increased catechin concentrations in tung roots, respectively. These data indicate that Pb stress-induced changes in the expression patterns of those genes regulate the accumulation of catechins. Our findings will help to clarify the molecular mechanism of Pb response in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Wenying Li
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; College of Biology and Agricultural Resources, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, Hubei 438000, China
| | - Changzhu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Utilization of Woody Oil Resource, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Otobong Donald Akan
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; Faculty of Biological Science, Akwa-Ibom State University, Akwa-Ibom State, Uyo 1167, Nigeria
| | - Chancan Liao
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China.
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Chen W, Shi Y, Wang C, Qi X. AtERF13 and AtERF6 double knockout fine-tunes growth and the transcriptome to promote cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis. Gene 2024; 911:148348. [PMID: 38467315 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The toxic heavy metal cadmium (Cd) restricts plant growth. However, how plants fine-tune their growth to modulate Cd resistance has not been determined. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) are key regulators of Cd stress, and Arabidopsis thaliana ERF13 and ERF6 (AtERF13 and AtERF6) negatively regulate growth. We previously demonstrated that AtERF13 is a transcriptional activator that binds a Cd-responsive element. Herein, we report that Arabidopsis plants improve Cd tolerance by repressing AtERF13 and AtERF6. We found that AtERF13 and AtERF6 were strongly downregulated by Cd stress and that AtERF6 weakly bound Cd-responsive elements. Moreover, AtERF13 physically interacted with AtERF6. Importantly, AtERF13 and AtERF6 double knockout mutants, but not single mutants or overexpression lines, grew better, tolerated more Cd and had higher Cd contents than did the wild type. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that the double mutants regulate the defense response to cope with Cd toxicity. Accordingly, we propose that, upon Cd stress, Arabidopsis plants repress AtERF13 and AtERF6 to relieve their growth inhibition effects and adjust the transcriptome to adapt to Cd stress, leading to increased Cd tolerance. Our findings thereby provide deep mechanical insights into how dual-function transcription factors fine-tune growth and the transcriptome to promote Cd tolerance in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanxia Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Yang Shi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Chunying Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Xiaoting Qi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Resources and Biotechnology for Carbon Reduction and Environmental Improvement and College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.
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Zhang G, Sun Y, Ullah N, Kasote D, Zhu L, Liu H, Xu L. Changes in secondary metabolites contents and stress responses in Salvia miltiorrhiza via ScWRKY35 overexpression: Insights from a wild relative Salvia castanea. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 211:108671. [PMID: 38703500 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108671] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Salvia castanea Diels, a close wild relative to the medicinal plant, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, primarily grows in high-altitude regions. While the two species share similar active compounds, their content varies significantly. WRKY transcription factors are key proteins, which regulate plant growth, stress response, and secondary metabolism. We identified 46 ScWRKY genes in S. castanea and found that ScWRKY35 was a highly expressed gene associated with secondary metabolites accumulation. This study aimed to explore the role of ScWRKY35 gene in regulating the accumulation of secondary metabolites and its response to UV and cadmium (Cd) exposure in S. miltiorrhiza. It was found that transgenic S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots overexpressing ScWRKY35 displayed upregulated expression of genes related to phenolic acid synthesis, resulting in increased salvianolic acid B (SAB) and rosmarinic acid (RA) contents. Conversely, tanshinone pathway gene expression decreased, leading to lower tanshinone levels. Further, overexpression of ScWRKY35 upregulated Cd transport protein HMA3 in root tissues inducing Cd sequestration. In contrast, the Cd uptake gene NRAMP1 was downregulated, reducing Cd absorption. In response to UV radiation, ScWRKY35 overexpression led to an increase in the accumulation of phenolic acid and tanshinone contents, including upregulation of genes associated with salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis. Altogether, these findings highlight the role of ScWRKY35 in enhancing secondary metabolites accumulation, as well as in Cd and UV stress modulation in S. miltiorrhiza, which offers a novel insight into its phytochemistry and provides a new option for the genetic improvement of the plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilian Zhang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Yuee Sun
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Najeeb Ullah
- Agricultural Research Station, Office of VP for Research & Graduate Studies. Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Deepak Kasote
- Agricultural Research Station, Office of VP for Research & Graduate Studies. Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Longyi Zhu
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ling Xu
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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Zhang X, Yang M, Yang H, Pian R, Wang J, Wu AM. The Uptake, Transfer, and Detoxification of Cadmium in Plants and Its Exogenous Effects. Cells 2024; 13:907. [PMID: 38891039 PMCID: PMC11172145 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) exerts a toxic influence on numerous crucial growth and development processes in plants, notably affecting seed germination rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, and biomass. While considerable advances in Cd uptake and detoxification of plants have been made, the mechanisms by which plants adapt to and tolerate Cd toxicity remain elusive. This review focuses on the relationship between Cd and plants and the prospects for phytoremediation of Cd pollution. We highlight the following issues: (1) the present state of Cd pollution and its associated hazards, encompassing the sources and distribution of Cd and the risks posed to human health; (2) the mechanisms underlying the uptake and transport of Cd, including the physiological processes associated with the uptake, translocation, and detoxification of Cd, as well as the pertinent gene families implicated in these processes; (3) the detrimental effects of Cd on plants and the mechanisms of detoxification, such as the activation of resistance genes, root chelation, vacuolar compartmentalization, the activation of antioxidant systems and the generation of non-enzymatic antioxidants; (4) the practical application of phytoremediation and the impact of incorporating exogenous substances on the Cd tolerance of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China (R.P.)
| | - Man Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China (R.P.)
| | - Hui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China (R.P.)
| | - Ruiqi Pian
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China (R.P.)
| | - Jinxiang Wang
- Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Rural Pollution Control and Environmental Safety in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ai-Min Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China (R.P.)
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Chen Z, Feng Y, Guo Z, Han M, Yan X. Zinc oxide nanoparticles alleviate cadmium toxicity and promote tolerance by modulating programmed cell death in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133917. [PMID: 38432092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133917] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) can induce programmed cell death (PCD) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) effectively alleviate Cd stress. However, the mechanisms of ZnO NPs-mediated Cd detoxification in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are limited. The pot experiment was conducted with Cd soil (19.2 mg kg-1) and foliar ZnO NPs (100 mg L-1) on alfalfa. The results showed that Cd reduced shoot height and biomass, and accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in oxidative stress and further PCD (plasmolysis, cytosolic and nuclear condensation, subcellular organelle swelling, and cell death). ZnO NPs positively regulated the antioxidant system, cell membrane stability, ultrastructure, osmotic homeostasis, and reduced PCD, indicating a multi-level coordination for the increased Cd tolerance. ZnO NPs up-regulated the activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes and regulated PCD-related genes to scavenge ROS and mitigate PCD caused by Cd. The genes related to ZnO NPs-mediated Cd detoxification were significantly enriched in cell death and porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism. Overall, it elucidates the molecular basis of ZnO NPs-mediated Cd-tolerance by promoting redox and osmotic homeostasis, maintaining cellular ultrastructure, reducing Cd content, and attenuating Cd-induced PCD. it provides a promising application of ZnO NPs to mitigate Cd phytotoxicity and the related cellular and biochemical mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Cd, one of the most toxic heavy metals, has caused serious environmental pollution. ZnO NPs can effectively alleviate Cd stress on plants and the environment. This study revealed that foliar-applied ZnO NPs alleviate Cd toxicity by mitigating the oxidative damage and regulating Cd-induced PCD via morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic levels. The findings elucidated the molecular basis of ZnO NPs-mediated Cd tolerance by promoting osmotic and redox homeostasis, reducing Cd content and lipid peroxidation, attenuating Cd-induced PCD features, and altering PCD-related genes in alfalfa. The study laid a theoretical foundation for the safe production of alfalfa under Cd pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Chen
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yuxi Feng
- College of Animal science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zhipeng Guo
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Mengli Han
- College of Animal science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Xuebing Yan
- College of Animal science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
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Mishra LS, Cook SD, Kushwah S, Isaksson H, Straub IR, Abele M, Mishra S, Ludwig C, Libby E, Funk C. Overexpression of the plastidial pseudo-protease AtFtsHi3 enhances drought tolerance while sustaining plant growth. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14370. [PMID: 38818570 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
With climate change, droughts are expected to be more frequent and severe, severely impacting plant biomass and quality. Here, we show that overexpressing the Arabidopsis gene AtFtsHi3 (FtsHi3OE) enhances drought-tolerant phenotypes without compromising plant growth. AtFtsHi3 encodes a chloroplast envelope pseudo-protease; knock-down mutants (ftshi3-1) are found to be drought tolerant but exhibit stunted growth. Altered AtFtsHi3 expression therefore leads to drought tolerance, while only diminished expression of this gene leads to growth retardation. To understand the underlying mechanisms of the enhanced drought tolerance, we compared the proteomes of ftshi3-1 and pFtsHi3-FtsHi3OE (pFtsHi3-OE) to wild-type plants under well-watered and drought conditions. Drought-related processes like osmotic stress, water transport, and abscisic acid response were enriched in pFtsHi3-OE and ftshi3-1 mutants following their enhanced drought response compared to wild-type. The knock-down mutant ftshi3-1 showed an increased abundance of HSP90, HSP93, and TIC110 proteins, hinting at a potential downstream role of AtFtsHi3 in chloroplast pre-protein import. Mathematical modeling was performed to understand how variation in the transcript abundance of AtFtsHi3 can, on the one hand, lead to drought tolerance in both overexpression and knock-down lines, yet, on the other hand, affect plant growth so differently. The results led us to hypothesize that AtFtsHi3 may form complexes with at least two other protease subunits, either as homo- or heteromeric structures. Enriched amounts of AtFtsH7/9, AtFtsH11, AtFtsH12, and AtFtsHi4 in ftshi3-1 suggest a possible compensation mechanism for these proteases in the hexamer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam D Cook
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Hanna Isaksson
- Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Integrated Science Lab (Icelab), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- IceLab, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Isabella R Straub
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Miriam Abele
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Sanatkumar Mishra
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Christina Ludwig
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Eric Libby
- Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Integrated Science Lab (Icelab), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- IceLab, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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10
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Song H, Duan Z, Zhang J. WRKY transcription factors modulate flowering time and response to environmental changes. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 210:108630. [PMID: 38657548 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108630] [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: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
WRKY transcription factors (TFs), originating in green algae, regulate flowering time and responses to environmental changes in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of WRKY TFs in the correlation between flowering time and environmental changes remain unclear. Therefore, this review summarizes the association of WRKY TFs with flowering pathways to accelerate or delay flowering. WRKY TFs are implicated in phytohormone pathways, such as ethylene, auxin, and abscisic acid pathways, to modulate flowering time. WRKY TFs can modulate salt tolerance by regulating flowering time. WRKY TFs exhibit functional divergence in modulating environmental changes and flowering time. In summary, WRKY TFs are involved in complex pathways and modulate response to environmental changes, thus regulating flowering time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Song
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
| | - Zhenquan Duan
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Jiancheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Peanut, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China, Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao 266000, China
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11
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Jia W, Guo Z, Lv S, Lin K, Li Y. SbYS1 and SbWRKY72 regulate Cd tolerance and accumulation in sweet sorghum. PLANTA 2024; 259:100. [PMID: 38536457 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04388-0] [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: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/24/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION SbYS1 and its upstream transcription factor SbWRKY72 were involved in Cd tolerance and accumulation and are valuable for developing sweet sorghum germplasm with high-Cd tolerance or accumulation ability through genetic manipulation. Cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic and can severely affect human health. Sweet sorghum, as an energy crop, shows great potential in extracting cadmium from Cd-contaminated soils. However, its molecular mechanisms of Cd-tolerance and -accumulation remain largely unknown. Here, we isolated a YSL family gene SbYS1 from the sweet sorghum genotype with high Cd accumulation ability and the expression of SbYS1 in roots was induced by cadmium. GUS staining experiment exhibited that SbYS1 was expressed in the epidermis and parenchyma tissues of roots. Further subcellular localization analysis suggested that SbYS1 was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. Yeast transformed with SbYS1 exhibited a sensitive phenotype compared to the control when exposed to Cd-NA (chelates of cadmium and nicotianamine), indicating that SbYS1 may absorb cadmium in the form of Cd-NA. Arabidopsis overexpressing SbYS1 had a longer root length and accumulated less Cd in roots and shoots. SbWRKY72 bound to the promoter of SbYS1 and negatively regulated the expression of SbYS1. Transgenic Arabidopsis of SbWRKY72 showed higher sensitivity to cadmium and increased cadmium accumulation in roots. Our results provide references for improving the phytoremediation efficiency of sweet sorghum by genetic manipulation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weitao Jia
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 401122, China
| | - Zijing Guo
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Sulian Lv
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
| | - Kangqi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yinxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China.
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China.
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12
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Cao S, Wang M, Pan J, Luo D, Mubeen S, Wang C, Yue J, Wu X, Wu Q, Zhang H, Chen C, Rehman M, Xie S, Li R, Chen P. Physiological, transcriptome and gene functional analysis provide novel sights into cadmium accumulation and tolerance mechanisms in kenaf. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 137:500-514. [PMID: 37980034 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Kenaf is considered to have great potential for remediation of heavy metals in ecosystems. However, studies on molecular mechanisms of root Cd accumulation and tolerance are still inadequate. In this study, two differently tolerant kenaf cultivars were selected as materials and the physiological and transcriptomic effects were evaluated under Cd stress. This study showed that 200 µmol/L CdCl2 treatment triggered the reactive oxygen species (ROS) explosion and membrane lipid peroxidation. Compared with the Cd-sensitive cultivar 'Z', the Cd-tolerant cultivar 'F' was able to resist oxidative stress in cells by producing higher antioxidant enzyme activities and increasing the contents of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH). The root cell wall of 'F' exhibited higher polysaccharide contents under Cd treatment, providing more Cd-binding sites. There were 3,439 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were co-regulated by Cd treatment in two cultivars. Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were significantly enriched by functional annotation analysis. DEGs associated with pectin, cellulose, and hemi-cellulose metabolism were involved in Cd chelation of root cell wall; V-ATPases, ABCC3 and Narmp3 could participated in vacuolar compartmentalization of Cd; PDR1 was responsible for Cd efflux; the organic acid transporters contributed to the absorption of Cd in soil. These genes might have played key roles in kenaf Cd tolerance and Cd accumulation. Moreover, HcZIP2 was identified to be involved in Cd uptake and transport in kenaf. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular pathways underlying Cd accumulation and detoxification mechanisms in kenaf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Cao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jiao Pan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Dengjie Luo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Samavia Mubeen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Caijin Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jiao Yue
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xia Wu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Qijing Wu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Canni Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Muzammal Rehman
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Sichen Xie
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ru Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agric-products safety, Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
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13
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Yang L, Kang Y, Li N, Wang Y, Sun H, Ao T, Chen L, Chen W. Safe utilization evaluation of two typical traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Cd-contaminated soil based on the analysis of Cd transfer and AHP model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169741. [PMID: 38160833 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Due to the increasing scarcity of wild resources, most traditional Chinese medicinal materials (TCMMs) in the market are produced via artificial cultivation. The widespread pollution of cadmium (Cd) in soil limits the safe cultivation and use of TCMMs. This study investigated Cd accumulation, distribution, and the medicinal component content under simulated field conditions to clarify the differences in the Cd absorption, transfer and detoxification mechanisms of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua and Bletilla striata, and provide the preliminary safe utilization conditions of TCMMs based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that the Cd content of P. cyrtonema Hua was lower than the safety threshold under a high soil Cd concentration of 0.91 mg/kg (Cd-L), while B. striata was safe only at a low Cd concentration of 0.25 mg/kg (CK). Cd at 0.91 mg/kg induced hormesis affecting the net increase in biomass and medicinal component content for both TCMMs, while P. cyrtonema Hua showed better potential for safe utilization. Additionally, P. cyrtonema Hua had stronger resistance to Cd stress, exhibiting superior characteristics for synergistic absorption of Cd with mineral elements, transfer to nonmedical part and safer fixation forms in subcellular components. In contrast, B. striata showed insufficient Cd tolerance, and Cd was easily accumulated in organelles to inhibit plant growth. Our findings may attract more attention to the safe cultivation of TCMMs and provide insight into guidance for the safe utilization of slightly Cd-contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- Key Laboratory of the Evaluation and Monitoring of Southwest Land Resources, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China; College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuchen Kang
- Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu 610207, China
| | - Na Li
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yuhao Wang
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Hui Sun
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Tianqi Ao
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Li Chen
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Wenqing Chen
- Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu 610207, China; College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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14
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Zhang M, Gao JY, Dong SC, Chang MH, Zhu JX, Guo DL, Guo CH, Bi YD. Alfalfa MsbHLH115 confers tolerance to cadmium stress through activating the iron deficiency response in Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1358673. [PMID: 38410731 PMCID: PMC10894947 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1358673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) pollution severely affects plant growth and development, posing risks to human health throughout the food chain. Improved iron (Fe) nutrients could mitigate Cd toxicity in plants, but the regulatory network involving Cd and Fe interplay remains unresolved. Here, a transcription factor gene of alfalfa, MsbHLH115 was verified to respond to iron deficiency and Cd stress. Overexpression of MsbHLH115 enhanced tolerance to Cd stress, showing better growth and less ROS accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Overexpression of MsbHLH115 significantly enhanced Fe and Zn accumulation and did not affect Cd, Mn, and Cu concentration in Arabidopsis. Further investigations revealed that MsbHLH115 up-regulated iron homeostasis regulation genes, ROS-related genes, and metal chelation and detoxification genes, contributing to attenuating Cd toxicity. Y1H, EMSA, and LUC assays confirmed the physical interaction between MsbHLH115 and E-box, which is present in the promoter regions of most of the above-mentioned iron homeostasis regulatory genes. The transient expression experiment showed that MsbHLH115 interacted with MsbHLH121pro. The results suggest that MsbHLH115 may directly regulate the iron-deficiency response system and indirectly regulate the metal detoxification response mechanism, thereby enhancing plant Cd tolerance. In summary, enhancing iron accumulation through transcription factor regulation holds promise for improving plant tolerance to Cd toxicity, and MsbHLH115 is a potential candidate for addressing Cd toxicity issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Zhang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Genetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China
| | - Jing-Yun Gao
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Genetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China
| | - Shi-Chen Dong
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Genetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China
| | - Meng-Han Chang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Genetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China
| | - Jing-Xuan Zhu
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Genetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China
| | - Dong-Lin Guo
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Genetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China
| | - Chang-Hong Guo
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Cell Genetics and Genetic Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, China
| | - Ying-Dong Bi
- Institute of Crops Tillage and Cultivation, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
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15
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Gu L, Hou Y, Sun Y, Chen X, Wang G, Wang H, Zhu B, Du X. The maize WRKY transcription factor ZmWRKY64 confers cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis and maize (Zea mays L.). PLANT CELL REPORTS 2024; 43:44. [PMID: 38246890 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03112-8] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE ZmWRKY64 positively regulates Arabidopsis and maize Cd stress through modulating Cd uptake, translocation, and ROS scavenging genes expression. Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal with severe impacts on crops growth and development. The WRKY transcription factor is a significant regulator influencing plant stress response. Nevertheless, the function of the WRKY protein in maize Cd stress response remains unclear. Here, we identified a maize WRKY gene, ZmWRKY64, the expression of which was enhanced in maize roots and leaves under Cd stress. ZmWRKY64 was localized in the nucleus and displayed transcriptional activity in yeast. Heterologous expression of ZmWRKY64 in Arabidopsis diminished Cd accumulation in plants by negatively regulating the expression of AtIRT1, AtZIP1, AtHMA2, AtNRAMP3, and AtNRAMP4, which are involved in Cd uptake and transport, resulting in Cd stress tolerance. Knockdown of ZmWRKY64 in maize led to excessive Cd accumulation in leaf cells and in the cytosol of the root cells, resulting in a Cd hypersensitive phenotype. Further analysis confirmed that ZmWRKY64 positively regulated ZmABCC4, ZmHMA3, ZmNRAMP5, ZmPIN2, ZmABCG51, ZmABCB13/32, and ZmABCB10, which may influence Cd translocation and auxin transport, thus mitigating Cd toxicity in maize. Moreover, ZmWRKY64 could directly enhance the transcription of ZmSRG7, a reported key gene regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis under abiotic stress. Our results indicate that ZmWRKY64 is important in maize Cd stress response. This work provides new insights into the WRKY transcription factor regulatory mechanism under a Cd-polluted environment and may lead to the genetic improvement of Cd tolerance in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Gu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Yunyan Hou
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Yiyue Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Xuanxuan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Guangyi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Hongcheng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Xuye Du
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
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16
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Yang T, Pang B, Zhou L, Gu L, Wang H, Du X, Wang H, Zhu B. Transcriptome Profiling, Physiological and Biochemical Analyses Reveal Comprehensive Insights in Cadmium Stress in Brassica carinata L. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1260. [PMID: 38279259 PMCID: PMC10816673 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
With the constant progress of urbanization and industrialization, cadmium (Cd) has emerged as one of the heavy metals that pollute soil and water. The presence of Cd has a substantial negative impact on the growth and development of both animals and plants. The allotetraploid Brasscia. carinata, an oil crop in the biofuel industry, is known to produce seeds with a high percentage of erucic acid; it is also known for its disease resistance and widespread adaptability. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the tolerance of B. carinata to Cd and its physiological responses and gene expressions under exposure to Cd. Here, we observed that the tested B. carinata exhibited a strong tolerance to Cd (1 mmol/L CdCl2 solution) and exhibited a significant ability to accumulate Cd, particularly in its roots, with concentrations reaching up to 3000 mg/kg. Additionally, we found that the total oil content of B. carinata seeds harvested from the Cd-contaminated soil did not show a significant change, but there were noticeable alterations in certain constituents. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), were observed to significantly increase after treatment with different concentrations of CdCl2 solutions (0.25 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L, and 1 mmol/L CdCl2). This suggests that these antioxidant enzymes work together to enhance Cd tolerance. Comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the shoots and roots of B. carinata when exposed to a 0.25 mmol/L CdCl2 solution for 7 days. A total of 631 DEGs were found in the shoots, while 271 DEGs were found in the roots. It was observed that these selected DEGs, which responded to Cd stress, also showed differential expression after exposure to PbCl2. This suggests that B. carinata may employ a similar molecular mechanism when tolerating these heavy metals. The functional annotation of the DEGs showed enrichment in the categories of 'inorganic ion transport and metabolism' and 'signal transduction mechanisms'. Additionally, the DEGs involved in 'tryptophan metabolism' and 'zeatin biosynthesis' pathways were found to be upregulated in both the shoots and roots of B. carinata, suggesting that the plant can enhance its tolerance to Cd by promoting the biosynthesis of plant hormones. These results highlight the strong Cd tolerance of B. carinata and its potential use as a Cd accumulator. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying heavy metal tolerance in B. carinata.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Huinan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China; (T.Y.); (B.P.); (L.Z.); (L.G.); (H.W.); (X.D.)
| | - Bin Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China; (T.Y.); (B.P.); (L.Z.); (L.G.); (H.W.); (X.D.)
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17
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Kaushik S, Ranjan A, Sidhu A, Singh AK, Sirhindi G. Cadmium toxicity: its' uptake and retaliation by plant defence system and ja signaling. Biometals 2024:10.1007/s10534-023-00569-8. [PMID: 38206521 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-023-00569-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd+2) renders multifarious environmental stresses and highly toxic to nearly all living organisms including plants. Cd causes toxicity by unnecessary augmentation of ROS that targets essential molecules and fundamental processes in plants. In response, plants outfitted a repertory of mechanisms to offset Cd toxicity. The main elements of these are Cd chelation, sequestration into vacuoles, and adjustment of Cd uptake by transporters and escalation of antioxidative mechanism. Signal molecules like phytohormones and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate the MAPK cascade, the activation of the antioxidant system andsynergistic crosstalk between different signal molecules in order to regulate plant responses to Cd toxicity. Transcription factors like WRKY, MYB, bHLH, bZIP, ERF, NAC etc., located downstream of MAPK, and are key factors in regulating Cd toxicity responses in plants. Apart from this, MAPK and Ca2+signaling also have a salient involvement in rectifying Cd stress in plants. This review highlighted the mechanism of Cd uptake, translocation, detoxification and the key role of defense system, MAPKs, Ca2+ signals and jasmonic acid in retaliating Cd toxicity via synchronous management of various other regulators and signaling components involved under stress condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Kaushik
- Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Alok Ranjan
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Patna Women's College, Bihar, 800001, India
| | - Anmol Sidhu
- Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Anil Kumar Singh
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Geetika Sirhindi
- Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India.
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18
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Zhang X, Ma Y, Lai D, He M, Zhang X, Zhang W, Ji M, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Liu L, Xu L. RsPDR8, a member of ABCG subfamily, plays a positive role in regulating cadmium efflux and tolerance in radish (Raphanus sativus L.). PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 205:108149. [PMID: 37939545 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108149] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is one of the most vital root vegetable crops worldwide. Cadmium (Cd), a non-essential and toxic heavy metal, can dramatically restrict radish taproot quality and safety. Although the Peiotrpic Drug Resistance (PDR) genes play crucial roles in heavy metal accumulation and transport in plants, the systematic identification and functional characterization of RsPDRs remain largely unexplored in radish. Herein, a total of 19 RsPDR genes were identified from the radish genome. A few RsPDRs, including RsPDR1, RsPDR8 and RsPDR12, showed significant differential expression under Cd and lead (Pb) stress in the 'NAU-YH' genotype. Interestingly, the plasma membrane-localized RsPDR8 exhibited significantly up-regulated expression and enhanced promoter activity under Cd exposure. Ectopic expression of RsPDR8 conferred Cd tolerance via reducing Cd accumulation in yeast cells. Moreover, the transient transformation of RsPDR8 revealed that it positively regulated Cd tolerance by promoting ROS scavenging and enhancing membrane permeability in radish. In addition, overexpression of RsPDR8 increased root elongation but deceased Cd accumulation compared with the WT plants in Arabidopsis, demonstrating that it could play a positive role in mediating Cd efflux and tolerance in plants. Together, these results would facilitate deciphering the molecular mechanism underlying RsPDR8-mediated Cd tolerance and detoxification in radish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Yingfei Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Deqiang Lai
- Cangzhou Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Cangzhou, 061001, PR China
| | - Min He
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Weilan Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Mingmei Ji
- Cangzhou Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Cangzhou, 061001, PR China
| | - Yuelin Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Yan Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China
| | - Liwang Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China; College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, PR China
| | - Liang Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement (East China) of MOAR, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China.
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19
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Chen X, Wu X, Han C, Jia Y, Wan X, Liu Q, He F, Zhang F. A WRKY transcription factor, PyWRKY71, increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes and promoted the accumulation of cadmium in poplar. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 205:108163. [PMID: 37979573 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108163] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) pollution poses significant threats to the ecological environment and human health. Currently, phytoremediation is recognized as an environmentally friendly approach for mitigating Cd pollution, with increasing attention on the utilization of transgenic plants in Cd-contaminated soil remediation. In this study, we isolated and cloned PyWRKY71 from Populus yunnanensis and conducted a pot experiment to validate its enhanced functionality in conferring Cd tolerance to woody plants (poplar). During the experiment, the increase in plant height of the OE-87 line (overexpression poplar) was 1.46 times than that of the wild type (WT). Moreover, PyWRKY71 significantly promoted the accumulation of Cd in poplar, especially in the roots, where the Cd content in the OE-45 and OE-87 lines was 1.42 times than that in the WT. The chlorophyll content of transgenic poplar leaves was higher than that of the WT, reflecting a protective mechanism of PyWRKY71. Additionally, the activities of other antioxidants, including POD, SOD, CAT, and MDA, were elevated in transgenic poplars, bolstering their tolerance to Cd stress. In summary, PyWRKY71 exhibits substantial potential in regulating plant tolerance to Cd stress. This study not only provides a solid scientific foundation but also introduces a novel modified poplar variety for the remediation of Cd pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Chen
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Xiaolu Wu
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. Southwest Branch, China
| | - Chengyu Han
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Yuhang Jia
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Xueqin Wan
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Qinglin Liu
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Fang He
- College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.
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20
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Ni WJ, Mubeen S, Leng XM, He C, Yang Z. Molecular-Assisted Breeding of Cadmium Pollution-Safe Cultivars. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 37923701 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) contamination in edible agricultural products, especially in crops intended for consumption, has raised worldwide concerns regarding food safety. Breeding of Cd pollution-safe cultivars (Cd-PSCs) is an effective solution to preventing the entry of Cd into the food chain from contaminated agricultural soil. Molecular-assisted breeding methods, based on molecular mechanisms for cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation and bioinformatic tools, have been developed to accelerate and facilitate the breeding of Cd-PSCs. This review summarizes the recent progress in the research of the low Cd accumulation traits of Cd-PSCs in different crops. Furthermore, the application of molecular-assisted breeding methods, including transgenic approaches, genome editing, marker-assisted selection, whole genome-wide association analysis, and transcriptome, has been highlighted to outline the breeding of Cd-PSCs by identifying critical genes and molecular biomarkers. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the development of Cd-PSCs and the potential future for breeding Cd-PSC using modern molecular technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Juan Ni
- School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Samavia Mubeen
- School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xiao-Min Leng
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Chuntao He
- School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhongyi Yang
- School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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21
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Li F, Deng Y, Liu Y, Mai C, Xu Y, Wu J, Zheng X, Liang C, Wang J. Arabidopsis transcription factor WRKY45 confers cadmium tolerance via activating PCS1 and PCS2 expression. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132496. [PMID: 37703737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132496] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) has long been recognized as toxic pollutant to crops worldwide. The biosynthesis of glutathione-dependent phytochelatin (PC) plays crucial roles in the detoxification of Cd in plants. However, its regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we revealed that Arabidopsis transcription factor WRKY45 confers Cd tolerance via promoting the expression of PC synthesis-related genes PCS1 and PCS2, respectively. Firstly, we found that Cd stress induces the transcript levels of WRKY45 and its protein abundance. Accordingly, in contrast to wild type Col-0, the increased sensitivity to Cd is observed in wrky45 mutant, while overexpressing WRKY45 plants are more tolerant to Cd. Secondly, quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the expression of AtPCS1 and AtPCS2 is stimulated in overexpressing WRKY45 plants, but decreased in wrky45 mutant. Thirdly, WRKY45 promotes the expression of PCS1 and PCS2, electrophoresis mobility shift assay analysis uncovered that WRKY45 directly binds to the W-box cis-element of PCS2 promoter. Lastly, the overexpression of WRKY45 in Col-0 leads to more accumulation of PCs in Arabidopsis, and the overexpression of PCS1 or PCS2 in wrky45 mutant plants rescues the phenotypes induced by Cd stress. In conclusion, our results show that AtWRKY45 positively regulates Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis via activating PCS1 and PCS2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangjian Li
- Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yaru Deng
- Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Cuishan Mai
- Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yun Xu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiarui Wu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xinni Zheng
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Cuiyue Liang
- Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jinxiang Wang
- Root Biology Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Rural pollution Control and Environmental Safety in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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22
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Sandalio LM, Espinosa J, Shabala S, León J, Romero-Puertas MC. Reactive oxygen species- and nitric oxide-dependent regulation of ion and metal homeostasis in plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:5970-5988. [PMID: 37668424 PMCID: PMC10575707 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Deterioration and impoverishment of soil, caused by environmental pollution and climate change, result in reduced crop productivity. To adapt to hostile soils, plants have developed a complex network of factors involved in stress sensing, signal transduction, and adaptive responses. The chemical properties of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) allow them to participate in integrating the perception of external signals by fine-tuning protein redox regulation and signal transduction, triggering specific gene expression. Here, we update and summarize progress in understanding the mechanistic basis of ROS and RNS production at the subcellular level in plants and their role in the regulation of ion channels/transporters at both transcriptional and post-translational levels. We have also carried out an in silico analysis of different redox-dependent modifications of ion channels/transporters and identified cysteine and tyrosine targets of nitric oxide in metal transporters. Further, we summarize possible ROS- and RNS-dependent sensors involved in metal stress sensing, such as kinases and phosphatases, as well as some ROS/RNS-regulated transcription factors that could be involved in metal homeostasis. Understanding ROS- and RNS-dependent signaling events is crucial to designing new strategies to fortify crops and improve plant tolerance of nutritional imbalance and metal toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa M Sandalio
- Stress, Development and Signaling in Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús Espinosa
- Stress, Development and Signaling in Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada, Spain
| | - Sergey Shabala
- School of Biological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- International Research Centre for Environmental Membrane Biology, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - José León
- Institute of Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (CSIC-UPV), Valencia, Spain
| | - María C Romero-Puertas
- Stress, Development and Signaling in Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada, Spain
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Wang Y, Li W, Qu J, Li F, Du W, Weng J. Genome-Wide Characterization of the Maize ( Zea mays L.) WRKY Transcription Factor Family and Their Responses to Ustilago maydis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14916. [PMID: 37834371 PMCID: PMC10573107 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the WRKY transcription factor (TF) family are unique to plants and serve as important regulators of diverse physiological processes, including the ability of plants to manage biotic and abiotic stressors. However, the functions of specific WRKY family members in the context of maize responses to fungal pathogens remain poorly understood, particularly in response to Ustilago maydis (DC.) Corda (U. maydis), which is responsible for the devastating disease known as corn smut. A systematic bioinformatic approach was herein employed for the characterization of the maize WRKY TF family, leading to the identification of 120 ZmWRKY genes encoded on 10 chromosomes. Further structural and phylogenetic analyses of these TFs enabled their classification into seven different subgroups. Segmental duplication was established as a major driver of ZmWRKY family expansion in gene duplication analyses, while the Ka/Ks ratio suggested that these ZmWRKY genes had experienced strong purifying selection. When the transcriptional responses of these genes to pathogen inoculation were evaluated, seven U. maydis-inducible ZmWRKY genes were identified, as validated using a quantitative real-time PCR approach. All seven of these WKRY proteins were subsequently tested using a yeast one-hybrid assay approach, which revealed their ability to directly bind the ZmSWEET4b W-box element, thereby controlling the U. maydis-inducible upregulation of ZmSWEET4b. These results suggest that these WRKY TFs can control sugar transport in the context of fungal infection. Overall, these data offer novel insight into the evolution, transcriptional regulation, and functional characteristics of the maize WRKY family, providing a basis for future research aimed at exploring the mechanisms through which these TFs control host plant responses to common smut and other fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Specialty Corn Institute, College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110866, China; (Y.W.); (J.Q.); (F.L.)
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Wangshu Li
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Jianzhou Qu
- Specialty Corn Institute, College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110866, China; (Y.W.); (J.Q.); (F.L.)
| | - Fenghai Li
- Specialty Corn Institute, College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110866, China; (Y.W.); (J.Q.); (F.L.)
| | - Wanli Du
- Specialty Corn Institute, College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110866, China; (Y.W.); (J.Q.); (F.L.)
| | - Jianfeng Weng
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China;
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Rai GK, Mishra S, Chouhan R, Mushtaq M, Chowdhary AA, Rai PK, Kumar RR, Kumar P, Perez-Alfocea F, Colla G, Cardarelli M, Srivastava V, Gandhi SG. Plant salinity stress, sensing, and its mitigation through WRKY. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1238507. [PMID: 37860245 PMCID: PMC10582725 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1238507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Salinity or salt stress has deleterious effects on plant growth and development. It imposes osmotic, ionic, and secondary stresses, including oxidative stress on the plants and is responsible for the reduction of overall crop productivity and therefore challenges global food security. Plants respond to salinity, by triggering homoeostatic mechanisms that counter salt-triggered disturbances in the physiology and biochemistry of plants. This involves the activation of many signaling components such as SOS pathway, ABA pathway, and ROS and osmotic stress signaling. These biochemical responses are accompanied by transcriptional modulation of stress-responsive genes, which is mostly mediated by salt-induced transcription factor (TF) activity. Among the TFs, the multifaceted significance of WRKY proteins has been realized in many diverse avenues of plants' life including regulation of plant stress response. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to highlight the significance of salinity in a global perspective, the mechanism of salt sensing in plants, and the contribution of WRKYs in the modulation of plants' response to salinity stress. This review will be a substantial tool to investigate this problem in different perspectives, targeting WRKY and offering directions to better manage salinity stress in the field to ensure food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyanendra Kumar Rai
- School of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Sonal Mishra
- Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Jammu, Samba, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Rekha Chouhan
- Infectious Diseases Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, India
| | - Muntazir Mushtaq
- School of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Aksar Ali Chowdhary
- Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Jammu, Samba, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Pradeep K. Rai
- Advance Center for Horticulture Research, Udheywala, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Ranjeet Ranjan Kumar
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Division of Integrated Farming System, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Jodhpur, India
| | - Francisco Perez-Alfocea
- Department of Nutrition, Centre for Applied Soil Science and Biology of the Segura (CEBAS), of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Colla
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Vikas Srivastava
- Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Jammu, Samba, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Sumit G. Gandhi
- Infectious Diseases Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, India
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Han GH, Huang RN, Hong LH, Xu JX, Hong YG, Wu YH, Chen WW. The transcription factor NAC102 confers cadmium tolerance by regulating WAKL11 expression and cell wall pectin metabolism in Arabidopsis. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:2262-2278. [PMID: 37565550 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13557] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) toxicity severely limits plant growth and development. Moreover, Cd accumulation in vegetables, fruits, and food crops poses health risks to animals and humans. Although the root cell wall has been implicated in Cd stress in plants, whether Cd binding by cell wall polysaccharides contributes to tolerance remains controversial, and the mechanism underlying transcriptional regulation of cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis in response to Cd stress is unknown. Here, we functionally characterized an Arabidopsis thaliana NAC-type transcription factor, NAC102, revealing its role in Cd stress responses. Cd stress rapidly induced accumulation of NAC102.1, the major transcript encoding functional NAC102, especially in the root apex. Compared to wild type (WT) plants, a nac102 mutant exhibited enhanced Cd sensitivity, whereas NAC102.1-overexpressing plants displayed the opposite phenotype. Furthermore, NAC102 localizes to the nucleus, binds directly to the promoter of WALL-ASSOCIATED KINASE-LIKE PROTEIN11 (WAKL11), and induces transcription, thereby facilitating pectin degradation and decreasing Cd binding by pectin. Moreover, WAKL11 overexpression restored Cd tolerance in nac102 mutants to the WT levels, which was correlated with a lower pectin content and lower levels of pectin-bound Cd. Taken together, our work shows that the NAC102-WAKL11 module regulates cell wall pectin metabolism and Cd binding, thus conferring Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Hao Han
- Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
| | - Ru Nan Huang
- Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
| | - Li Hong Hong
- Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
| | - Jia Xi Xu
- Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
| | - Yi Guo Hong
- Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
- Warwick-Hangzhou RNA Signaling Joint Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Warwick, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Huan Wu
- Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
| | - Wei Wei Chen
- Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Lee MB, Han H, Lee S. The role of WRKY transcription factors, FaWRKY29 and FaWRKY64, for regulating Botrytis fruit rot resistance in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:420. [PMID: 37691125 PMCID: PMC10494375 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04426-1] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is one of the most economically important horticultural crops worldwide. Botrytis fruit rot (BFR) caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea is the most devasting disease of cultivated strawberries. Most commercially grown strawberry varieties are susceptible to BFR, and controlling BFR relies on repeated applications of various fungicides. Despite extensive efforts, breeding for BFR resistance has been unsuccessful, primarily due to lack of information regarding the mechanisms of disease resistance and genetic resources available in strawberry. RESULTS Using a reverse genetics approach, we identified candidate genes associated with BFR resistance and screened Arabidopsis mutants using strawberry isolates of B. cinerea. Among the five Arabidopsis T-DNA knockout lines tested, the mutant line with AtWRKY53 showed the greatest reduction in disease symptoms of BFR against the pathogen. Two genes, FaWRKY29 and FaWRKY64, were identified as orthologs in the latest octoploid strawberry genome, 'Florida Brilliance'. We performed RNAi-mediated transient assay and found that the disease frequencies were significantly decreased in both FaWRKY29- and FaWRKY64-RNAi fruits of the strawberry cultivar, 'Florida Brilliance'. Furthermore, our transcriptomic data analysis revealed significant regulation of genes associated with ABA and JA signaling, plant cell wall composition, and ROS in FaWRKY29 or FaWRKY64 knockdown strawberry fruits in response to the pathogen. CONCLUSION Our study uncovered the foundational role of WRKY transcription factor genes, FaWRKY29 and FaWRKY64, in conferring resistance against B. cinerea. The discovery of susceptibility genes involved in BFR presents significant potential for developing resistance breeding strategies in cultivated strawberries, potentially leveraging CRISPR-based gene editing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Bo Lee
- Department of Plant Resources, College of Industrial Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, 32439, Korea
- Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL, 33598, USA
| | - Hyeondae Han
- Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL, 33598, USA
| | - Seonghee Lee
- Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL, 33598, USA.
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Kumar A, Sichov N, Bucki P, Miyara SB. SlWRKY16 and SlWRKY31 of tomato, negative regulators of plant defense, involved in susceptibility activation following root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica infection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14592. [PMID: 37669955 PMCID: PMC10480479 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40557-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The involvement of WRKY transcription factors in plant-nematode interactions, and in particular, how these WRKYs participate in regulating the complex morphological and physiological changes occurring after nematode infection, are the topic of active research. We characterized the functional role of the unstudied tomato WRKY genes SlWRKY16 and SlWRKY31 in regulating tomato roots' response to infection by the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. Using promoter-GUS reporter gene fusions and qRT-PCR, we show that both SlWRKYs are predominantly expressed during the first half of the parasitic life stages, when feeding-site induction and construction occur. Expression of SlWRKY16 increased sharply 15 days after inoculation, whereas SlWRKY31 was already induced earlier, but reached its maximum expression at this time. Both genes were downregulated at the mature female stage. To determine biological function, we produced transgenic lines overexpressing SlWRKY16 and SlWRKY31 in tomato hairy roots. Overexpression of both genes resulted in enhanced M. javanica infection, reflected by increased galling occurrence and reproduction. Expression profiling of marker genes responsive to defense-associated phytohormones indicated reductions in salicylic acid defense-related PR-1 and jasmonic acid defense-related PI in inoculated roots overexpressing SlWRK16 and SlWRKY31, respectively. Our results suggest that SlWRKY16 and SlWRKY31 function as negative regulators of plant immunity induced upon nematode infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar
- Department of Entomology, Nematology and Chemistry Units, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, 50250, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Natalia Sichov
- Department of Entomology, Nematology and Chemistry Units, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, 50250, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Patricia Bucki
- Department of Entomology, Nematology and Chemistry Units, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, 50250, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Sigal Brown Miyara
- Department of Entomology, Nematology and Chemistry Units, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, 50250, Bet Dagan, Israel.
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28
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Ding S, Zhang H, Zhou C, Bao Y, Xu X, Chen Y, Shen Z, Chen C. Transcriptomic, epigenomic and physiological comparisons reveal key factors for different manganese tolerances in three Chenopodium ambrosioides L. populations. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 201:107883. [PMID: 37442049 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Chenopodium ambrosioides is a manganese (Mn) hyperaccumulator that can be used for Mn-polluted soil phytoremediation. However, the mechanism of Mn tolerance of C. ambrosioides remains largely unknown. In this study, the key factors for Mn tolerance of C. ambrosioides was investigated from the aspects of DNA methylation pattern, gene expression regulation and physiological function. We found that the two genotypes of C. ambrosioides populations have differentiated tolerance to Mn stress (Mn-tolerant: CS and XC, Mn-sensitive: WH). Although there was no difference in Mn accumulation between two types under excess Mn, the biomass and photosynthetic systems were more severely inhibited in Mn-sensitive type, as well as suffering more serious oxidative damage. More differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were downregulated in the Mn-tolerant type, indicating that the Mn-tolerant type tends to inhibit gene expression to cope with Mn stress. DEGs related to metal transport, antioxidant system, phytohormone and transcription factors contribute to the tolerance of C. ambrosioides to Mn, and account for difference in Mn stress sensitivities between the Mn-sensitive and tolerant types. We also found that DNA methylation variation may help to cope with Mn stress. The global DNA methylation level in C. ambrosioides increased under Mn stress, especially in the Mn-sensitive type. Dozens of methylated loci were significantly associated with the Mn accumulation trait of C. ambrosioides, and some critical DEGs were regulated by DNA methylation. Our study comprehensively demonstrated the Mn tolerance mechanism of C. ambrosioides for the first time, and highlighted the roles of epigenetic modification in C. ambrosioides response to Mn stress. Our findings may contribute to elucidating the adaptation mechanism of hyperaccumulator to the heavy metal toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifeng Ding
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Hanchao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Changwei Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yiqiong Bao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yahua Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zhenguo Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Chen Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Zhang Y, Mo Y, Han L, Sun Z, Xu W. Exploring Transcriptional Regulation of Hyperaccumulation in Sedum plumbizincicola through Integrated Transcriptome Analysis and CRISPR/Cas9 Technology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11845. [PMID: 37511604 PMCID: PMC10380820 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The cadmium hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola has remarkable abilities for cadmium (Cd) transport, accumulation and detoxification, but the transcriptional regulation mechanisms responsible for its Cd hyperaccumulation remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comparative transcriptome study between S. plumbizincicola and the non-hyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE) of Sedum alfredii with or without Cd treatment. Our results revealed many differentially expressed genes involved in heavy metal transport and detoxification that were abundantly expressed in S. plumbizincicola. Additionally, we identified a large number of differentially expressed transcription factor genes, highlighting the complexity of transcriptional regulatory networks. We further screened four transcription factor genes that were highly expressed in the roots of S. plumbizincicola as candidate genes for creating CRISPR/Cas9 knockout mutations. Among these, the SpARR11 and SpMYB84 mutant lines exhibited decreased Cd accumulation in their aboveground parts, suggesting that these two transcription factors may play a role in the regulation of the Cd hyperaccumulation in S. plumbizincicola. Although further research will be required to determine the precise targeted genes of these transcription factors, combined transcriptome analysis and CRISPR/Cas9 technology provides unprecedented opportunities for identifying transcription factors related to Cd hyperaccumulation and contributes to the understanding of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of hyperaccumulation in S. plumbizincicola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Yanlan Mo
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Liyuan Han
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.Z.)
| | - Zhenyuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.Z.)
| | - Wenzhong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093, China
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Nie W, Liu L, Chen Y, Luo M, Feng C, Wang C, Yang Z, Du C. Identification of the Regulatory Role of SlWRKYs in Tomato Defense against Meloidogyne incognita. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2416. [PMID: 37446977 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Root-knot nematode (RKN) infections are among the most serious soil-borne diseases in the world, and tomato is a common host of RKNs. WRKY transcription factors are involved in complex, diverse biological processes in plants. In a previous study, a resistant variety, LA3858 (Mi-3/Mi-3), was treated at different soil temperatures before RNA-seq, and six differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding WRKY proteins were screened. In this study, cloning and sequencing were used to identify six target DEGs encoding SlWRKY1, SlWRKY13, SlWRKY30, SlWRKY41, SlWRKY46, and SlWRKY80. Conserved domain identification and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that SlWRKY1, SlWRKY13, and SlWRKY46 have similar functions and are mainly involved in plant growth and development and abiotic stress responses. SlWRKY30 and SlWRKY41 share high homology, while AtWRKY46 and AtWRKY70, which are highly homologous to SlWRKY80, play an important role in the disease resistance of A. thaliana. Considering these findings combined with the high level of SlWRKY80 expression observed in the roots and leaves of the resistant variety Motelle (Mi-1/Mi-1) and the continuous upregulation of SlWRKY80 expression in the roots after inoculation of Motelle with M. incognita, it is speculated that SlWRKY80 plays an important role in the Mi-1-mediated disease resistance pathway. Further study revealed that SlWRKY80 is a typical nuclear-localized protein, and a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay verified that SlWRKY80 is involved in tomato resistance to RKNs as a positive regulator. SA and JA signals play an important role in Mi-1-mediated resistance to RKNs. SlWRKY80 was able to respond rapidly to treatment with both plant hormones, which indicated that SlWRKY80 might be involved in disease resistance regulation through various immune pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidan Nie
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Lili Liu
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Yinxia Chen
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Mingyin Luo
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Chenghao Feng
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Chaonan Wang
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Zhongmin Yang
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Chong Du
- College of Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
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31
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Sun SK, Chen J, Zhao FJ. Regulatory mechanisms of sulfur metabolism affecting tolerance and accumulation of toxic trace metals and metalloids in plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:3286-3299. [PMID: 36861339 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Soil contamination with trace metals and metalloids can cause toxicity to plants and threaten food safety and human health. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to cope with excess trace metals and metalloids in soils, including chelation and vacuolar sequestration. Sulfur-containing compounds, such as glutathione and phytochelatins, play a crucial role in their detoxification, and sulfur uptake and assimilation are regulated in response to the stress of toxic trace metals and metalloids. This review focuses on the multi-level connections between sulfur homeostasis in plants and responses to such stresses, especially those imposed by arsenic and cadmium. We consider recent progress in understanding the regulation of biosynthesis of glutathione and phytochelatins and of the sensing mechanism of sulfur homeostasis for tolerance of trace metals and metalloids in plants. We also discuss the roles of glutathione and phytochelatins in controlling the accumulation and distribution of arsenic and cadmium in plants, and possible strategies for manipulating sulfur metabolism to limit their accumulation in food crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Kai Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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32
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Zhou T, Ling D, He Q, Wang P, Zhu J. RNA-Seq Analysis of Aboveground and Underground Parts of Biomass Sorghum Was Performed to Evaluate Its Suitability for Environmental Remediation. Biomolecules 2023; 13:925. [PMID: 37371507 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
"Alto2" is a new biomass sorghum variety, which has the characteristics of fast growth, high growth, and strong cadmium (Cd) resistance, so it has the application prospect of soil remediation plants. In order to reveal the Cd resistance mechanism of this plant and pave the way for genetic breeding and cultivation of efficient remediation plants in the future, in this research, through the determination of Cd content in various tissues of sorghum under Cd stress and the physicochemical response combined with RNA-Seq analysis, the mechanism of Cd resistance of "Alto2" was initially revealed. The results show biomass sorghum "Alto2" was mainly connected with aboveground and underground parts through the MAPK signaling pathway and plant hormone signaling pathway, and transmit stress signal in response to Cd stress. Chelase and metal-binding proteins may be the functional genes mainly responsible for Cd enrichment and transport and regulated by stress signals. However, the expression of aboveground transporters was not significant. This may be because Cd in biomass sorghum is mainly concentrated in the underground part and is enriched by the chelation of secondary metabolites from plant roots by the cell wall leading to inhibition of aboveground transporter expression. The results of this study indicate that the biomass sorghum "Alto2" on Cd has high resistance, but the lack of the aboveground enrichment of transportability requires further research to improve the Cd transportability of this plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhou
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, No.498, South Shaoshan Road, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Dingxun Ling
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, No.498, South Shaoshan Road, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Qihao He
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, No.498, South Shaoshan Road, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Ping Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, No.498, South Shaoshan Road, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Jian Zhu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, No.498, South Shaoshan Road, Changsha 410004, China
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Zhong M, Yue L, Qin H, Wang G, Xiao L, Cheng Q, Lei B, Huang R, Yang X, Kang Y. TGase-induced Cd tolerance by boosting polyamine, nitric oxide, cell wall composition and phytochelatin synthesis in tomato. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 259:115023. [PMID: 37201425 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In highly intensive greenhouse vegetable production, soil acidification was caused by excessive fertilization, increasing cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the vegetables, which bears environmental hazards and is a negative influence on vegetables and humans. Transglutaminases (TGases), a central mediator for certain physiological effects of polyamines (PAs) in the plant kingdom, play important roles in plant development and stress response. Despite increased research on the crucial role of TGase in protecting against environmental stresses, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of Cd tolerance. In this study, we found, TGase activity and transcript level, which was upregulated by Cd, and TGase-induced Cd tolerance related to endogenous bound PAs increase and formation of nitric oxide (NO). Plant growth of tgase mutants was hypersensitive to Cd, chemical complementation by putrescine, sodium nitroprusside (SNP, nitric oxide donor) or gain of function TGase experiments restore Cd tolerance. α-diflouromethylornithine (DFMO, a selective ODC inhibitor) and 2-4-carboxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO, NO scavenger), were respectively found declined drastically endogenous bound PA and NO content in TGase overexpression plants. Likewise, we reported that TGase interacted with polyamine uptake protein 3 (Put3), and the silencing of Put3 largely reduced TGase-induced Cd tolerance and bound PAs formation. This salvage strategy depends on TGase-regulated synthesis of bound PAs and NO that is able to positively increase the concentration of thiol and phytochelatins, elevate Cd in the cell wall, as well as induce the levels of expression Cd uptake and transport genes. Collectively, these findings indicate that TGase-mediated enhanced levels of bound PA and NO acts as a vital mechanism to protect the plant from Cd-caused toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhong
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Lingqi Yue
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Hongyi Qin
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Guohu Wang
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Liwen Xiao
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Qinqin Cheng
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Bingfu Lei
- Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Riming Huang
- College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China
| | - Xian Yang
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
| | - Yunyan Kang
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
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34
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Fan P, Wu L, Wang Q, Wang Y, Luo H, Song J, Yang M, Yao H, Chen S. Physiological and molecular mechanisms of medicinal plants in response to cadmium stress: Current status and future perspective. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 450:131008. [PMID: 36842201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants have a wide range of uses worldwide. However, the quality of medicinal plants is affected by severe cadmium pollution. Cadmium can reduce photosynthetic capacity, lead to plant growth retardation and oxidative stress, and affect secondary metabolism. Medicinal plants have complex mechanisms to cope with cadmium stress. On the one hand, an antioxidant system can effectively scavenge excess reactive oxygen species produced by cadmium stress. On the other hand, cadmium chelates are formed by chelating peptides and then sequestered through vacuolar compartmentalization. Cadmium has no specific transporter in plants and is generally transferred to plant tissues through competition for the transporters of divalent metal ions, such as zinc, iron, and manganese. In recent years, progress has been achieved in exploring the physiological mechanisms by which medicinal plants responding to cadmium stress. The exogenous regulation of cadmium accumulation in medicinal plants has been studied, and the aim is reducing the toxicity of cadmium. However, research into molecular mechanisms is still lagging. In this paper, we review the physiological and molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks of medicinal plants exposed to cadmium, providing a reference for the study on the responses of medicinal plants to cadmium stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panhui Fan
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Liwei Wu
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hongmei Luo
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingyuan Song
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Meihua Yang
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hui Yao
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resources, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Shilin Chen
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
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35
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Zhang C, Tong C, Cao L, Zheng P, Tang X, Wang L, Miao M, Liu Y, Cao S. Regulatory module WRKY33-ATL31-IRT1 mediates cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:1653-1670. [PMID: 36738191 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants among heavy metals, and threatens food safety and human health by accumulating in plant sink tissues. Here, we report a novel regulatory cascade that profoundly influences Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis. Phenotypic analysis showed that an insertional knockdown mutation at the Arabidopsis Tóxicos en Levadura 31 (ATL31) locus resulted in hypersensitivity to Cd stress, most likely due to a significant increase in Cd accumulation. Consistently, ATL31-overexpressing lines exhibited enhanced Cd stress tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation. Further, IRON-REGULATED TRANSPORTER 1 (IRT1) was identified, and yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays demonstrated its interaction with ATL31. Biochemical, molecular, and genetic analyses showed that IRT1 is targeted by ATL31 for ubiquitin-conjugated degradation in response to Cd stress. Intriguingly, transcription of ATL31 was strongly induced by Cd stress. In addition, transgenic and molecular analyses showed that WRKY33 directly activated the transcription of ATL31 in response to Cd stress and positively regulated Cd tolerance. Genetic analysis indicated that ATL31 acts upstream of IRT1 and downstream of WRKY33 to regulate Cd tolerance. Our study revealed that the WRKY33-ATL31-IRT1 module plays a crucial role in timely blocking Cd absorption to prevent metal toxicity in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chenchen Tong
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Cao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Pengpeng Zheng
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaofeng Tang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lihuan Wang
- School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Min Miao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yongsheng Liu
- School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Shuqing Cao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
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36
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Moravčíková D, Žiarovská J. The Effect of Cadmium on Plants in Terms of the Response of Gene Expression Level and Activity. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12091848. [PMID: 37176906 PMCID: PMC10181241 DOI: 10.3390/plants12091848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can cause damage to living organisms at different levels. Even at low concentrations, Cd can be toxic to plants, causing harm at multiple levels. As they are unable to move away from areas contaminated by Cd, plants have developed various defence mechanisms to protect themselves. Hyperaccumulators, which can accumulate and detoxify heavy metals more efficiently, are highly valued by scientists studying plant accumulation and detoxification mechanisms, as they provide a promising source of genes for developing plants suitable for phytoremediation techniques. So far, several genes have been identified as being upregulated when plants are exposed to Cd. These genes include genes encoding transcription factors such as iron-regulated transporter-like protein (ZIP), natural resistance associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) gene family, genes encoding phytochelatin synthases (PCs), superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes, heavy metal ATPase (HMA), cation diffusion facilitator gene family (CDF), Cd resistance gene family (PCR), ATP-binding cassette transporter gene family (ABC), the precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) and precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) multigene family are also influenced. Thanks to advances in omics sciences and transcriptome analysis, we are gaining more insights into the genes involved in Cd stress response. Recent studies have also shown that Cd can affect the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzymes, hormonal pathways, and energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Moravčíková
- Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Institute of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Jana Žiarovská
- Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Institute of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
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37
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Gong Z, Duan Y, Liu D, Zong Y, Zhang D, Shi X, Hao X, Li P. Physiological and transcriptome analysis of response of soybean (Glycine max) to cadmium stress under elevated CO 2 concentration. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 448:130950. [PMID: 36860078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The continuous accumulation of Cd has long-lasting detrimental effects on plant growth and food safety. Although elevated CO2 concentration (EC) has been reported to reduce Cd accumulation and toxicity in plants, evidence on the functions of elevated CO2 concentration and its mechanisms in the possible alleviation of Cd toxicity in soybean are limited. Here, we used physiological and biochemical methods together with transcriptomic comparison to explore the effects of EC on Cd-stressed soybean. Under Cd stress, EC significantly increased the weight of roots and leaves, promoted the accumulations of proline, soluble sugars, and flavonoid. In addition, the enhancement of GSH activity and GST gene expressions promoted Cd detoxification. These defensive mechanisms reduced the contents of Cd2+, MDA, and H2O2 in soybean leaves. The up-regulation of genes encoding phytochelatin synthase, MTPs, NRAMP, and vacuoles protein storage might play vital roles in the transportation and compartmentalization process of Cd. The MAPK and some transcription factors such as bHLH, AP2/ERF, and WRKY showed changed expressions and might be engaged in mediation of stress response. These findings provide a boarder view on the regulatory mechanism of EC on Cd stress and provide numerous potential target genes for future engineering of Cd-tolerant cultivars in soybean breeding programs under climate changes scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Gong
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801 Taigu, China; State Key Laboratory of Sustainable Dryland Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Yuqian Duan
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801 Taigu, China
| | - Danmei Liu
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, 030036, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yuzheng Zong
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801 Taigu, China
| | - Dongsheng Zhang
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801 Taigu, China
| | - Xinrui Shi
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801 Taigu, China
| | - Xingyu Hao
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801 Taigu, China; State Key Laboratory of Sustainable Dryland Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China.
| | - Ping Li
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, 030801 Taigu, China; State Key Laboratory of Sustainable Dryland Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China.
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38
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Liu Z, Wu X, Hou L, Ji S, Zhang Y, Fan W, Li T, Zhang L, Liu P, Yang L. Effects of cadmium on transcription, physiology, and ultrastructure of two tobacco cultivars. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161751. [PMID: 36690104 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metal pollutants worldwide. Tobacco is an important cash crop; however, the accumulation of Cd in its biomass is very high. Cadmium may enter the body of smokers with contaminated tobacco and the surrounding environment via smoke. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of Cd accumulation and tolerance in tobacco plants, especially in the leaves. In this study, the effects of Cd on the growth, accumulation, and biochemical indices of two tobacco varieties, K326 (Cd resistant) and NC55 (Cd sensitive), were studied through transcriptomic and physiological experiments. Transcriptome and physiological analyses showed differences in the expression of Cd transport and Cd resistance related genes between NC55 and K326 under Cd stress. The root meristem cells of NC55 were more severely damaged. The antioxidant enzyme activity, ABA and ZT content, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and nitrogen metabolism enzyme activity in K326 leaves were higher than in NC55. These data elucidate the mechanisms of low Cd accumulation and high Cd tolerance in K326 leaves and provide a theoretical basis for cultivating tobacco varieties with low Cd accumulation and high Cd resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguo Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Xiuzhe Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Lei Hou
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Shengzhe Ji
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Weiru Fan
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Tong Li
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Li Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Peng Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China.
| | - Long Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, China.
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Song H, Geng Q, Wu X, Hu M, Ye M, Yu X, Chen Y, Xu J, Jiang L, Cao S. The transcription factor MYC1 interacts with FIT to negatively regulate iron homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 114:193-208. [PMID: 36721966 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Iron (Fe) is an indispensable trace mineral element for the normal growth of plants, and it is involved in different biological processes; Fe shortage in plants can induce chlorosis and yield loss. The objective of this research is to identify novel genes that participated in the regulation of Fe-deficiency stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. A basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor (MYC1) was identified to be interacting with the FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY-INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (FIT) using a yeast-two-hybrid assay. Transcript-level analysis showed that there was a decrease in MYC1 expression in Arabidopsis to cope with Fe-deficiency stress. Functional deficiency of MYC1 in Arabidopsis leads to an increase in Fe-deficiency tolerance and Fe-accumulation, whereas MYC1-overexpressing plants have an enhanced sensitivity to Fe-deficiency stress. Additionally, MYC1 inhibited the formation of FIT and bHLH38/39 heterodimers, which suppressed the expressed level for Fe acquisition genes FRO2 and IRT1 during Fe-deficiency stress. These results showed that MYC1 functions as a negative modulator of the Fe-deficiency stress response by inhibiting the formation of FIT and bHLH38/39 heterodimers, thereby suppressing the binding of FIT and bHLH38/39 heterodimers to the promoters of FRO2 and IRT1 to modulate Fe intake during Fe-deficiency stress. Overall, the findings of this study elucidated the role of MYC1 in coping with Fe-deficiency stress, and provided potential targets for the developing of crop varieties resistant to Fe-deficiency stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Song
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Qingliu Geng
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Xi Wu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Min Hu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Min Ye
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Xin Yu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Yifan Chen
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Jiena Xu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Li Jiang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
| | - Shuqing Cao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China
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Wu Q, Meng YT, Feng ZH, Shen RF, Zhu XF. The endo-beta mannase MAN7 contributes to cadmium tolerance by modulating root cell wall binding capacity in Arabidopsis thaliana. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36965189 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is detrimental to crop growth and threatens human health through the food chain. To cope with Cd toxicity, plants employ multiple strategies to decrease Cd uptake and its root-to-shoot translocation. However, genes that participate in the Cd-induced transcriptional regulatory network, including those encoding transcription factors, remain largely unidentified. In this study, we demonstrate that ENDO-BETA-MANNASE 7 (MAN7) is necessary for the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to toxic Cd levels. We show that MAN7 is responsible for mannase activity and modulates mannose content in the cell wall, which plays a role in Cd compartmentalization in the cell wall under Cd toxicity conditions. Additionally, the repression of root growth by Cd was partially reversed via exogenous application of mannose, suggesting that MAN7-mediated cell wall Cd redistribution depends on the mannose pathway. Notably, we identified a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, bZIP44, that acts upstream of MAN7 in response to Cd toxicity. Transient dual-luciferase assays indicated that bZIP44 directly binds to the MAN7 promoter region and activates its transcription. Loss of bZIP44 function was associated with greater sensitivity to Cd treatment and higher accumulation of the heavy metal in roots and shoots. Moreover, MAN7 overexpression relieved the inhibition of root elongation seen in the bzip44 mutant under Cd toxicity conditions. This study thus reveals a pathway showing that MAN7-associated Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis is controlled by bZIP44 upon Cd exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu Ting Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhi Hang Feng
- College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ren Fang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao Fang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Xian P, Yang Y, Xiong C, Guo Z, Alam I, He Z, Zhang Y, Cai Z, Nian H. Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1133892. [PMID: 36968408 PMCID: PMC10033887 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1133892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cadmium (Cd) stress is a significant threat to soybean production, and enhancing Cd tolerance in soybean is the focus of this study. The WRKY transcription factor family is associated with abiotic stress response processes. In this study, we aimed to identify a Cd-responsive WRKY transcription factor GmWRKY172 from soybean and investigate its potential for enhancing Cd tolerance in soybean. METHODS The characterization of GmWRKY172 involved analyzing its expression pattern, subcellular localization, and transcriptional activity. To assess the impact of GmWRKY172, transgenic Arabidopsis and soybean plants were generated and examined for their tolerance to Cd and Cd content in shoots. Additionally, transgenic soybean plants were evaluated for Cd translocation and various physiological stress indicators. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the potential biological pathways regulated by GmWRKY172. RESULTS GmWRKY172 was significantly upregulated by Cd stress, highly expressed in leaves and flowers, and localized to the nucleus with transcriptional activity. Transgenic plants overexpressing GmWRKY172 showed enhanced Cd tolerance and reduced Cd content in shoots compared to WT. Lower Cd translocation from roots to shoots and seeds was also observed in transgenic soybean. Under Cd stress, transgenic soybean accumulated less malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) than WT plants, with higher flavonoid and lignin contents, and peroxidase (POD) activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that many stress-related pathways were regulated by GmWRKY172 in transgenic soybean, including flavonoid biosynthesis, cell wall synthesis, and peroxidase activity. DISCUSSION Our findings demonstrated that GmWRKY172 enhances Cd tolerance and reduces seed Cd accumulation in soybean by regulating multiple stress-related pathways, and could be a promising candidate for breeding Cd-tolerant and low Cd soybean varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiqi Xian
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuwen Xiong
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhibin Guo
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Intikhab Alam
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihang He
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yakun Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhandong Cai
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai Nian
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Hainan, China
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Transcriptional Regulatory Network of Plant Cadmium Stress Response. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054378. [PMID: 36901809 PMCID: PMC10001906 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential heavy metal with high toxicity to plants. Plants have acquired specialized mechanisms to sense, transport, and detoxify Cd. Recent studies have identified many transporters involved in Cd uptake, transport, and detoxification. However, the complex transcriptional regulatory networks involved in Cd response remain to be elucidated. Here, we provide an overview of current knowledge regarding transcriptional regulatory networks and post-translational regulation of the transcription factors involved in Cd response. An increasing number of reports indicate that epigenetic regulation and long non-coding and small RNAs are important in Cd-induced transcriptional responses. Several kinases play important roles in Cd signaling that activate transcriptional cascades. We also discuss the perspectives to reduce grain Cd content and improve crop tolerance to Cd stress, which provides a theoretical reference for food safety and the future research of plant varieties with low Cd accumulation.
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43
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Tang Z, Wang HQ, Chen J, Chang JD, Zhao FJ. Molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity and detoxification of trace metals and metalloids in plants. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:570-593. [PMID: 36546407 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plants take up a wide range of trace metals/metalloids (hereinafter referred to as trace metals) from the soil, some of which are essential but become toxic at high concentrations (e.g., Cu, Zn, Ni, Co), while others are non-essential and toxic even at relatively low concentrations (e.g., As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg). Soil contamination of trace metals is an increasing problem worldwide due to intensifying human activities. Trace metal contamination can cause toxicity and growth inhibition in plants, as well as accumulation in the edible parts to levels that threatens food safety and human health. Understanding the mechanisms of trace metal toxicity and how plants respond to trace metal stress is important for improving plant growth and food safety in contaminated soils. The accumulation of excess trace metals in plants can cause oxidative stress, genotoxicity, programmed cell death, and disturbance in multiple physiological processes. Plants have evolved various strategies to detoxify trace metals through cell-wall binding, complexation, vacuolar sequestration, efflux, and translocation. Multiple signal transduction pathways and regulatory responses are involved in plants challenged with trace metal stresses. In this review, we discuss the recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in trace metal toxicity, detoxification, and regulation, as well as strategies to enhance plant resistance to trace metal stresses and reduce toxic metal accumulation in food crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Han-Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jia-Dong Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
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Colzi I, Gonnelli C, Vergata C, Golia G, Coppi A, Castellani MB, Giovino A, Buti M, Sabato T, Capuana M, Aprile A, De Bellis L, Cicatelli A, Guarino F, Castiglione S, Ioannou AG, Fotopoulos V, Martinelli F. Transgenerational effects of chromium stress at the phenotypic and molecular level in Arabidopsis thaliana. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:130092. [PMID: 36303345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we describe the results obtained in a study of the transgenerational phenotypic effects of chromium (Cr) stress on the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. The F1 generation derived from parents grown under chronic and medium chronic stress showed significantly higher levels of the maximal effective concentration (EC50) compared with F1 plants generated from unstressed parents. Moreover, F1 plants from Cr-stressed parents showed a higher germination rate when grown in the presence of Cr. F1 plants derived from parents cultivated under chronic Cr stress displayed reduced hydrogen peroxide levels under Cr stress compared to controls. At lower Cr stress levels, F1 plants were observed to activate promptly more genes involved in Cr stress responses than F0 plants, implying a memory effect linked to transgenerational priming. At higher Cr levels, and at later stages, F1 plants modulated significantly fewer genes than F0 plants, implying a memory effect leading to Cr stress adaptation. Several bHLH transcription factors were induced by Cr stress in F1 but not in F0 plants, including bHLH100, ORG2 and ORG3. F1 plants optimized gene expression towards pathways linked to iron starvation response. A model of the transcriptional regulation of transgenerational memory to Cr stress is presented here, and could be applied for other heavy metal stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Colzi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Andrea Coppi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy.
| | | | - Antonio Giovino
- CREA Consiglio per la ricerca in Agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di Ricerca Difesa e Certificazione, Bagheria, Italy.
| | - Matteo Buti
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Capuana
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Italy.
| | - Alessio Aprile
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Luigi De Bellis
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Angela Cicatelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Italy.
| | | | | | - Andreas G Ioannou
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 3603 Lemesos, Cyprus.
| | - Vasileios Fotopoulos
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, 3603 Lemesos, Cyprus.
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Wu X, Wang T, Song H, Jia Y, Ma Q, Tao M, Zhu X, Cao S. The transcription factor WRKY12 negatively regulates iron entry into seeds in Arabidopsis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:415-426. [PMID: 36223275 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Yellow Stripe 1-Like 1 (YSL1) and Yellow Stripe 1-Like 3 (YSL3) transport metal-nicotianamine (NA) complexes to leaves, pollen, and developing seeds and play an important role in regulating iron (Fe) accumulation during the seed development and maturation stages; however, how their gene transcript levels are regulated remains unknown. In this study, we used yeast one-hybrid screening to identify a transcription factor, WRKY12, in Arabidopsis that directly regulates the transcription levels of YSL1 and YSL3 genes. WRKY12 has opposite expression patterns to YSL1 and YSL3. wrky12 mutants are tolerant to Fe deficiency, whereas WRKY12 overexpression lines are sensitive to Fe deficiency. During the development and maturation of seeds, WRKY12 can directly bind to the promoters of YSL1 and YSL3 and inhibit their expression. Genetic analysis showed that WRKY12 functions upstream of YSL1 and YSL3 in Fe intake during the seed development and maturation stages. Together, our results suggest that WRKY12 negatively regulates the iron intake in plant seeds by inhibiting the expression of YSL1 and YSL3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Hui Song
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Yafeng Jia
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Qian Ma
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Manzhi Tao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Shuqing Cao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
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Imran M, Khan AL, Mun BG, Bilal S, Shaffique S, Kwon EH, Kang SM, Yun BW, Lee IJ. Melatonin and nitric oxide: Dual players inhibiting hazardous metal toxicity in soybean plants via molecular and antioxidant signaling cascades. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136575. [PMID: 36155020 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin (MT), a ubiquitous signaling molecule, is known to improve plant growth. Its regulatory function alongside nitric oxide (NO) is known to induce heavy metal (Cd and Pb) stress tolerance, although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we observed that the combined application of MT and NO remarkably enhanced plant biomass by reducing oxidative stress. Both MT and NO minimized metal toxicity by significantly lowering the levels of endogenous abscisic acid and jasmonic acid via downregulating NCED3 and upregulating catabolic genes (CYP707A1 and CYP707A2). MT/NO-induced mitigation of Cd and Pb stress was associated with increased endo-melatonin and variable endo-S-nitrosothiol levels caused by enhanced expression of gmNR and gmGSNOR mRNAs. Remarkably, the combined application of MT/NO reduced soil Cd and Pb mobilization by increasing the uptake of Ca2+ and K+ and increasing the exudation of organic acids into the rhizosphere. These results correlated with the upregulation of MTF-1 and WARKY27 during metal translocation. MT/NO regulates the MAPK and CDPK cascades to promote plant cell survival and Ca2+ signaling, thereby imparting resistance to heavy metal toxicity. In conclusion, MT/NO modulates the stress-resistance machinery to mitigate Cd and Pb toxicity by regulating the activation of antioxidant and molecular transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Imran
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
| | - Abdul Latif Khan
- Department of Engineering Technology, College of Technology, University of Houston, Sugar Land, TX 77479, USA
| | - Bong-Gyu Mun
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Saqib Bilal
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman
| | - Shifa Shaffique
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Hae Kwon
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Mo Kang
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Wook Yun
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
| | - In-Jung Lee
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
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Xue C, Sun L, Qu B, Gao Y, Liu Z, Guo C, Liu W, Chang W, Tai P. Grafting with an invasive Xanthium strumarium improves tolerance and phytoremediation of native congener X. sibiricum to cadmium/copper/nickel tailings. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136561. [PMID: 36155022 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Invasive plants could play an important role in the restoration of tailings, but their invasiveness limits their practical application. In this study, the phytoremediation potentials and invasive risks of an exotic invasive plant (Xanthium strumarium, LT), a native plant (X. sibiricum, CR), and combinations of inoculations (EG, with CR as the scion and LT as the rootstock; SG, with CR as both the scion and rootstock) were evaluated on Cd/Cu/Ni tailings. LT rootstock has a stronger nutrient and metal transport capacity, compared with CR. EG not only had higher biomass and Cd/Cu/Ni accumulation, but also abundant rhizosphere microbial communities. Hydroponic and common garden experiments showed that the growth and metal enrichment characteristics of EG are not inherited by plant offspring, which reduces the risk of the biological diffusion in the process of using exotic species. Transcriptome analysis shows that a large number of differentially-expressed genes in EG leaves and roots are involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, secondary metabolite generation, and signal transduction. The genes induced in EG leaves, including cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel, calcium-binding protein, and WRKY transcription factor, were found to be differentially expressed compared to CR. The genes induced in EG roots, included phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamoyl-CoA reductase, caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase, and beta-glucosidase. We speculate that lignin and glucosinolates play an important role in the metal accumulation and transportation of EG. The results demonstrate that grafting with LT not only improved CR tolerance and accumulation of Cd, Cu, and Ni, but also created a beneficial microbial environment for plants in tailings. More importantly, grafting with LT did not enhance the invasiveness of CR. Our results provide an example of the safe use of invasive plants in the restoration of Cd/Cu/Ni tailings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; College of Biological Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Lizong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bo Qu
- College of Biological Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yingmei Gao
- College of Biological Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Zhi Liu
- Shenyang Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Cheng Guo
- Liaoning Shihua University, Fushun, 113000, China
| | - Wanbin Liu
- Dengta Agricultural and Rural Service Center, China
| | - Wenyue Chang
- Shenyang Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Peidong Tai
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
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Cao HW, Zhao YN, Liu XS, Rono JK, Yang ZM. A metal chaperone OsHIPP16 detoxifies cadmium by repressing its accumulation in rice crops. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:120058. [PMID: 36041567 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is an environmentally polluted toxic heavy metal and seriously risks food safety and human health through food chain. Mining genetic potentials of plants is a crucial step for limiting Cd accumulation in rice crops and improving environmental quality. This study characterized a novel locus in rice genome encoding a Cd-binding protein named OsHIPP16, which resides in the nucleus and near plasma membrane. OsHIPP16 was strongly induced by Cd stress. Histochemical analysis with pHIPP16::GUS reveals that OsHIPP16 is primarily expressed in root and leaf vascular tissues. Expression of OsHIPP16 in the yeast mutant strain ycf1 sensitive to Cd conferred cellular tolerance. Transgenic rice overexpressing OsHIPP16 (OE) improved rice growth with increased plant height, biomass, and chlorophyll content but with a lower degree of oxidative injury and Cd accumulation, whereas knocking out OsHIPP16 by CRISPR-Cas9 compromised the growth and physiological response. A lifelong trial with Cd-polluted soil shows that the OE plants accumulated much less Cd, particularly in brown rice where the Cd concentrations declined by 11.76-34.64%. Conversely, the knockout oshipp16 mutants had higher levels of Cd with the concentration in leaves being increased by 26.36-35.23% over the wild-type. These results suggest that adequate expression of OsHIPP16 would profoundly contribute to Cd detoxification by regulating Cd accumulation in rice, suggesting that both OE and oshipp16 mutant plants have great potentials for restricting Cd acquisition in the rice crop and phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated wetland soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wei Cao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Ya Ning Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xue Song Liu
- Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
| | - Justice Kipkorir Rono
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zhi Min Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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Wang L, Guo D, Zhao G, Wang J, Zhang S, Wang C, Guo X. Group IIc WRKY transcription factors regulate cotton resistance to Fusarium oxysporum by promoting GhMKK2-mediated flavonoid biosynthesis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:249-265. [PMID: 35727190 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are crucial regulators in response to pathogen infection. However, the regulatory mechanisms of WRKY TFs in response to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov), the most devastating pathogen of cotton, remain unclear. Here, transcriptome sequencing indicated that the group IIc WRKY TF subfamily was the most important TF subfamily in response to Fov. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function analyses showed that group IIc WRKY TFs positively regulated cotton resistance to Fov. A series of chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, yeast one-hybrid assay and electrophoresis mobility shift assay experiments indicated that group IIc WRKY TFs directly bound to the promoter of GhMKK2 and regulated its expression. Importantly, a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade composed of GhMKK2, GhNTF6 and GhMYC2 was identified. The functional analysis indicated that group IIc WRKY TFs induced the GhMKK2-GhNTF6 pathway to increase resistance to Fov by upregulating the GhMYC2-mediated expression of several flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes, which led to flavonoid accumulation. In conclusion, our study demonstrated a novel disease defense mechanism by which the WRKY-MAPK pathway promotes flavonoid biosynthesis to defend against pathogen infection. This pathway improves our understanding of the interaction mode between WRKY TFs and MAPK cascades in plant immunity and the vital role of plant flavonoids in pathogen defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Dezheng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Guangdong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Jiayu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Shuxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Chen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xingqi Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China
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50
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Liu X, Wang H, He F, Du X, Ren M, Bao Y. The TaWRKY22–TaCOPT3D Pathway Governs Cadmium Uptake in Wheat. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810379. [PMID: 36142291 PMCID: PMC9499326 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal nonessential for plants; this toxic metal accumulation in crops has significant adverse effects on human health. The crosstalk between copper (Cu) and Cd has been reported; however, the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The present study investigated the function of wheat Cu transporter 3D (TaCOPT3D) in Cd tolerance. The TaCOPT3D transcripts significantly accumulated in wheat roots under Cd stress. Furthermore, TaCOPT3D-overexpressing lines were compared to wildtype (WT) plants to test the role of TaCOPT3D in Cd stress response. Under 20 mM Cd treatment, TaCOPT3D-overexpressing lines exhibited more biomass and lower root, shoot, and grain Cd accumulation than the WT plants. In addition, overexpression of TaCOPT3D decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and increased the active antioxidant enzymes under Cd conditions. Moreover, the transcription factor (TF) TaWRKY22, which targeted the TaCOPT3D promoter, was identified in the regulatory pathway of TaCOPT3D under Cd stress. Taken together, these results show that TaCOPT3D plays an important role in regulating plant adaptation to cadmium stress through bound by TaWRKY22. These findings suggest that TaCOPT3D is a potential candidate for decreasing Cd accumulation in wheat through genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Liu
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Hongcheng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Fang He
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Xuye Du
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Mingjian Ren
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550004, China
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (Y.B.)
| | - Yinguang Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Agronomy College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271000, China
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (Y.B.)
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