1
|
Ma Z, Hu L. WRKY Transcription Factor Responses and Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6845. [PMID: 38999954 PMCID: PMC11241455 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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
DeLoose M, Clúa J, Cho H, Zheng L, Masmoudi K, Desnos T, Krouk G, Nussaume L, Poirier Y, Rouached H. Recent advances in unraveling the mystery of combined nutrient stress in plants. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 117:1764-1780. [PMID: 37921230 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Efficiently regulating growth to adapt to varying resource availability is crucial for organisms, including plants. In particular, the acquisition of essential nutrients is vital for plant development, as a shortage of just one nutrient can significantly decrease crop yield. However, plants constantly experience fluctuations in the presence of multiple essential mineral nutrients, leading to combined nutrient stress conditions. Unfortunately, our understanding of how plants perceive and respond to these multiple stresses remains limited. Unlocking this mystery could provide valuable insights and help enhance plant nutrition strategies. This review focuses specifically on the regulation of phosphorous homeostasis in plants, with a primary emphasis on recent studies that have shed light on the intricate interactions between phosphorous and other essential elements, such as nitrogen, iron, and zinc, as well as non-essential elements like aluminum and sodium. By summarizing and consolidating these findings, this review aims to contribute to a better understanding of how plants respond to and cope with combined nutrient stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan DeLoose
- The Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - Joaquin Clúa
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Huikyong Cho
- The Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - Luqing Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China
| | - Khaled Masmoudi
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Thierry Desnos
- Aix Marseille Univ, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, EBMP, UMR7265, Cité des énergies, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Gabriel Krouk
- IPSiM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Nussaume
- Aix Marseille Univ, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, EBMP, UMR7265, Cité des énergies, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Yves Poirier
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hatem Rouached
- The Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Song J, Liu Y, Cai W, Zhou S, Fan X, Hu H, Ren L, Xue Y. Unregulated GmAGL82 due to Phosphorus Deficiency Positively Regulates Root Nodule Growth in Soybean. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1802. [PMID: 38339080 PMCID: PMC10855635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031802] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen fixation, occurring through the symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia in root nodules, is crucial in sustainable agriculture. Nodulation and soybean production are influenced by low levels of phosphorus stress. In this study, we discovered a MADS transcription factor, GmAGL82, which is preferentially expressed in nodules and displays significantly increased expression under conditions of phosphate (Pi) deficiency. The overexpression of GmAGL82 in composite transgenic plants resulted in an increased number of nodules, higher fresh weight, and enhanced soluble Pi concentration, which subsequently increased the nitrogen content, phosphorus content, and overall growth of soybean plants. Additionally, transcriptome analysis revealed that the overexpression of GmAGL82 significantly upregulated the expression of genes associated with nodule growth, such as GmENOD100, GmHSP17.1, GmHSP17.9, GmSPX5, and GmPIN9d. Based on these findings, we concluded that GmAGL82 likely participates in the phosphorus signaling pathway and positively regulates nodulation in soybeans. The findings of this research may lay the theoretical groundwork for further studies and candidate gene resources for the genetic improvement of nutrient-efficient soybean varieties in acidic soils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia Song
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
| | - Ying Liu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Wangxiao Cai
- College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (W.C.); (S.Z.); (X.F.)
| | - Silin Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (W.C.); (S.Z.); (X.F.)
| | - Xi Fan
- College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (W.C.); (S.Z.); (X.F.)
| | - Hanqiao Hu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Lei Ren
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yingbin Xue
- College of Coastal Agricultural Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; (J.S.); (Y.L.); (H.H.)
- South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sun S, Liu X, Zhang T, Yang H, Yu B. Functional Characterisation of the Transcription Factor GsWRKY23 Gene from Glycine soja in Overexpressed Soybean Composite Plants and Arabidopsis under Salt Stress. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3030. [PMID: 37687277 PMCID: PMC10490167 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
WRKY proteins are a superfamily of transcription factors (TFs) that play multiple roles in plants' growth, development, and environmental stress response. In this study, a novel WRKY gene called GsWRKY23 that is specifically upregulated in salt-tolerant Glycine soja accession BB52 seedlings was identified by transcriptomic analysis under salt stress. How the physiological functions and mechanisms of the GsWRKY23 gene affect salt tolerance was investigated using transformations of soybean hairy roots and Arabidopsis, including wild-type (WT) and atwrky23-mutant plants. The results showed that GsWRKY23 in the roots, stems, and leaves of BB52, along with its promoter in the cotyledons and root tips of GsWRKY23pro::GUS Arabidopsis seedlings, displayed enhanced induction under salt stress. GsWRKY23 localises to the nucleus and shows transcriptional activation ability in yeast cells. Compared to GsWRKY23-RNAi wild soybean hairy-root composite plants under salt stress, obvious improvements, such as superior growth appearance, plant height and fresh weight (FW), and leaf chlorophyll and relative water content (RWC), were displayed by GsWRKY23-overexpressing (OE) composite plants. Moreover, their relative electrolytic leakage (REL) values and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the roots and leaves declined significantly. Most of the contents of Na+ and Cl- in the roots, stems, and leaves of GsWRKY23-OE plants decreased significantly, while the content of K+ in the roots increased, and the content of NO3- displayed no obvious change. Ultimately, the Na+/K+ ratios of roots, stems, and leaves, along with the Cl-/NO3- ratios of roots and stems, decreased significantly. In the transgenic WT-GsWRKY23 and atwrky23-GsWRKY23 Arabidopsis seedlings, the salt-induced reduction in seed germination rate and seedling growth was markedly ameliorated; plant FW, leaf chlorophyll content, and RWC increased, and the REL value and MDA content in shoots decreased significantly. In addition, the accumulation of Na+ and Cl- decreased, and the K+ and NO3- levels increased markedly to maintain lower Na+/K+ and Cl-/NO3- ratios in the roots and shoots. Taken together, these results highlight the role of GsWRKY23 in regulating ionic homeostasis in NaCl-stressed overexpressed soybean composite plants and Arabidopsis seedlings to maintain lower Na+/K+ and Cl-/NO3- ratios in the roots and shoots, thus conferring improved salt tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shile Sun
- Lab of Plant Stress Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xun Liu
- Lab of Plant Stress Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Tianlei Zhang
- Lab of Plant Stress Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Lab of Plant Stress Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Bingjun Yu
- Lab of Plant Stress Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lu L, Yang H, Xu Y, Zhang L, Wu J, Yi H. Laser capture microdissection-based spatiotemporal transcriptomes uncover regulatory networks during seed abortion in seedless Ponkan (Citrus reticulata). THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 115:642-661. [PMID: 37077034 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Seed abortion is an important process in the formation of seedless characteristics in citrus fruits. However, the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying citrus seed abortion is poorly understood. Laser capture microdissection-based RNA-seq combined with Pacbio-seq was used to profile seed development in the Ponkan cultivars 'Huagan No. 4' (seedless Ponkan) (Citrus reticulata) and 'E'gan No. 1' (seeded Ponkan) (C. reticulata) in two types of seed tissue across three developmental stages. Through comparative transcriptome and dynamic phytohormone analyses, plant hormone signal, cell division and nutrient metabolism-related processes were revealed to play critical roles in the seed abortion of 'Huagan No. 4'. Moreover, several genes may play indispensable roles in seed abortion of 'Huagan No. 4', such as CrWRKY74, CrWRKY48 and CrMYB3R4. Overexpression of CrWRKY74 in Arabidopsis resulted in severe seed abortion. By analyzing the downstream regulatory network, we further determined that CrWRKY74 participated in seed abortion regulation by inducing abnormal programmed cell death. Of particular importance is that a preliminary model was proposed to depict the regulatory networks underlying seed abortion in citrus. The results of this study provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism across citrus seed development, and reveal the master role of CrWRKY74 in seed abortion of 'Huagan No. 4'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Lu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China
| | - Haijian Yang
- Fruit Tree Research Institute of Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chongqing, 401329, P.R. China
| | - Yanhui Xu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China
| | - Juxun Wu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China
| | - Hualin Yi
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Leung HS, Chan LY, Law CH, Li MW, Lam HM. Twenty years of mining salt tolerance genes in soybean. MOLECULAR BREEDING : NEW STRATEGIES IN PLANT IMPROVEMENT 2023; 43:45. [PMID: 37313223 PMCID: PMC10248715 DOI: 10.1007/s11032-023-01383-3] [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: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Current combined challenges of rising food demand, climate change and farmland degradation exert enormous pressure on agricultural production. Worldwide soil salinization, in particular, necessitates the development of salt-tolerant crops. Soybean, being a globally important produce, has its genetic resources increasingly examined to facilitate crop improvement based on functional genomics. In response to the multifaceted physiological challenge that salt stress imposes, soybean has evolved an array of defences against salinity. These include maintaining cell homeostasis by ion transportation, osmoregulation, and restoring oxidative balance. Other adaptations include cell wall alterations, transcriptomic reprogramming, and efficient signal transduction for detecting and responding to salt stress. Here, we reviewed functionally verified genes that underly different salt tolerance mechanisms employed by soybean in the past two decades, and discussed the strategy in selecting salt tolerance genes for crop improvement. Future studies could adopt an integrated multi-omic approach in characterizing soybean salt tolerance adaptations and put our existing knowledge into practice via omic-assisted breeding and gene editing. This review serves as a guide and inspiration for crop developers in enhancing soybean tolerance against abiotic stresses, thereby fulfilling the role of science in solving real-life problems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01383-3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hoi-Sze Leung
- Center for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR People’s Republic of China
| | - Long-Yiu Chan
- Center for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheuk-Hin Law
- Center for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR People’s Republic of China
| | - Man-Wah Li
- Center for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR People’s Republic of China
| | - Hon-Ming Lam
- Center for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR People’s Republic of China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518000 People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen Z, Wang L, Cardoso JA, Zhu S, Liu G, Rao IM, Lin Y. Improving phosphorus acquisition efficiency through modification of root growth responses to phosphate starvation in legumes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1094157. [PMID: 36844096 PMCID: PMC9950756 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1094157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential macronutrients for plant growth and development, and it is an integral part of the major organic components, including nucleic acids, proteins and phospholipids. Although total P is abundant in most soils, a large amount of P is not easily absorbed by plants. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is the plant-available P, which is generally immobile and of low availability in soils. Hence, Pi starvation is a major constraint limiting plant growth and productivity. Enhancing plant P efficiency can be achieved by improving P acquisition efficiency (PAE) through modification of morpho-physiological and biochemical alteration in root traits that enable greater acquisition of external Pi from soils. Major advances have been made to dissect the mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to P deficiency, especially for legumes, which are considered important dietary sources for humans and livestock. This review aims to describe how legume root growth responds to Pi starvation, such as changes in the growth of primary root, lateral roots, root hairs and cluster roots. In particular, it summarizes the various strategies of legumes to confront P deficiency by regulating root traits that contribute towards improving PAE. Within these complex responses, a large number of Pi starvation-induced (PSI) genes and regulators involved in the developmental and biochemical alteration of root traits are highlighted. The involvement of key functional genes and regulators in remodeling root traits provides new opportunities for developing legume varieties with maximum PAE needed for regenerative agriculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhijian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, Institute of Tropical Crop Genetic Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Linjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, Institute of Tropical Crop Genetic Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | | | - Shengnan Zhu
- Life Science and Technology School, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Guodao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, Institute of Tropical Crop Genetic Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Idupulapati M. Rao
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Germplasm Resources Genetic Improvement and Innovation of Hainan Province, Institute of Tropical Crop Genetic Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
- Institute of Bioengineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Khan I, Asaf S, Jan R, Bilal S, Lubna, Khan AL, Kim KM, Al-Harrasi A. Genome-wide annotation and expression analysis of WRKY and bHLH transcriptional factor families reveal their involvement under cadmium stress in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1100895. [PMID: 36760632 PMCID: PMC9905835 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1100895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The WRKY and bHLH transcription factors have been implicated in the regulation of gene expression during various physiological processes in plants, especially in plant stress responses. However, little information about the heavy metal-responsive SlWRKY and SlbHLH in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is available. We performed a genome-wide investigation for these two TF families in S. lycopersicum and determined their role in cadmium (Cd) stress tolerance. Furthermore, ortholog analysis with the Arabidopsis genome led to classifying WRKY and bHLH ortholog genes into nine and 11 clusters, respectively. The comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed duplication events and gene loss in Arabidopsis and S. lycopersicum, which occurred during evolution both before and after the last common ancestor of the two species. Orthologous relationships are also supported by additional evidence, such as gene structure, conserved motif compositions, and protein-protein interaction networks for the majority of genes, suggesting their similar functions. A comprehensive transcriptomics analysis revealed that both WRKY and bHLH genes were differentially expressed in response to cadmium stress as compared with control plants. A gene ontology analysis revealed that most WRKYs and bHLHs are DNA-binding essential proteins that regulate gene expression positively and negatively. Analyses of interaction networks revealed that both WRKYs and bHLHs mediate networks implicated in several stress-signaling pathways. The findings of this work may help us to comprehend the intricate transcriptional control of WRKY and bHLH genes and identify potential stress-responsive genes relevant to tomato genetic improvement. Moreover, identifying heavy metal stress-responsive WRKY and bHLH genes in S. lycopersicum will provide fundamental insights for developing new heavy metal stress-tolerant varieties of tomato crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Khan
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Sajjad Asaf
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Rahmatullah Jan
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Saqib Bilal
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Lubna
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Abdul Latif Khan
- Department of Engineering Technology, University of Houston, Sugar Land, TX, United States
| | - Kyung-Min Kim
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Han Z, Wang J, Wang X, Zhang X, Cheng Y, Cai Z, Nian H, Ma Q. GmWRKY21, a Soybean WRKY Transcription Factor Gene, Enhances the Tolerance to Aluminum Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:833326. [PMID: 35958220 PMCID: PMC9359102 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.833326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest families of TFs in plants and play multiple roles in plant growth and development and stress response. In this study, GmWRKY21 encoding a WRKY transcription factor was functionally characterized in Arabidopsis and soybean. The GmWRKY21 protein containing a highly conserved WRKY domain and a C2H2 zinc-finger structure is located in the nucleus and has the characteristics of transcriptional activation ability. The GmWRKY21 gene presented a constitutive expression pattern rich in the roots, leaves, and flowers of soybean with over 6-fold of relative expression levels and could be substantially induced by aluminum stress. As compared to the control, overexpression of GmWRKY21 in Arabidopsis increased the root growth of seedlings in transgenic lines under the AlCl3 concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μM with higher proline and lower MDA accumulation. The results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the marker genes relative to aluminum stress including ALMT, ALS3, MATE, and STOP1 were induced in GmWRKY21 transgenic plants under AlCl3 treatment. The stress-related genes, such as KIN1, COR15A, COR15B, COR47, GLOS3, and RD29A, were also upregulated in GmWRKY21 transgenic Arabidopsis under aluminum stress. Similarly, stress-related genes, such as GmCOR47, GmDREB2A, GmMYB84, GmKIN1, GmGST1, and GmLEA, were upregulated in hair roots of GmWRKY21 transgenic plants. In summary, these results suggested that the GmWRKY21 transcription factor may promote the tolerance to aluminum stress mediated by the pathways regulating the expression of the acidic aluminum stress-responsive genes and abiotic stress-responsive genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Han
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinyu Wang
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xijia Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanbo Cheng
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, 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
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, 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
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qibin Ma
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Subcenter of the National Center for Soybean Improvement, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- The Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Zengcheng Teaching and Research Bases, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Li J, Wu F, He Y, He B, Gong Y, Yahaya BS, Xie Y, Xie W, Xu J, Wang Q, Feng X, Liu Y, Lu Y. Maize Transcription Factor ZmARF4 Confers Phosphorus Tolerance by Promoting Root Morphological Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042361. [PMID: 35216479 PMCID: PMC8880536 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant growth and development are closely related to phosphate (Pi) and auxin. However, data regarding auxin response factors (ARFs) and their response to phosphate in maize are limited. Here, we isolated ZmARF4 in maize and dissected its biological function response to Pi stress. Overexpression of ZmARF4 in Arabidopsis confers tolerance of Pi deficiency with better root morphology than wild-type. Overexpressed ZmARF4 can partially restore the absence of lateral roots in mutant arf7 arf19. The ZmARF4 overexpression promoted Pi remobilization and up-regulated AtRNS1, under Pi limitation while it down-regulated the expression of the anthocyanin biosynthesis genes AtDFR and AtANS. A continuous detection revealed higher activity of promoter in the Pi-tolerant maize P178 line than in the sensitive 9782 line under low-Pi conditions. Meanwhile, GUS activity was specifically detected in new leaves and the stele of roots in transgenic offspring. ZmARF4 was localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm of the mesophyll protoplast and interacted with ZmILL4 and ZmChc5, which mediate lateral root initiation and defense response, respectively. ZmARF4 overexpression also conferred salinity and osmotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. Overall, our findings suggest that ZmARF4, a pleiotropic gene, modulates multiple stress signaling pathways, and thus, could be a candidate gene for engineering plants with multiple stress adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Fengkai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Yafeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Bing He
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Ying Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Baba Salifu Yahaya
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Yuxin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Wubing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Qingjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Xuanjun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Yaxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Triticeae Research Institute and Key Lab for Major Crop Diseases, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
| | - Yanli Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China; (J.L.); (F.W.); (Y.H.); (B.H.); (Y.G.); (B.S.Y.); (Y.X.); (W.X.); (J.X.); (Q.W.); (X.F.); (Y.L.)
- Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Wenjiang 611130, China
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Liu X, Yang Y, Wang R, Cui R, Xu H, Sun C, Wang J, Zhang H, Chen H, Zhang D. GmWRKY46, a WRKY transcription factor, negatively regulates phosphorus tolerance primarily through modifying root morphology in soybean. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 315:111148. [PMID: 35067311 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2021.111148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) deficiency affects soybean growth and development, resulting in significant reduction of yields. However, the regulatory mechanism of P deficiency tolerance in soybean is still largely unclear. WRKY transcription factors are a family of regulators involved in a variety of abiotic stresses in plants while rarely reported in P deficiency. Here, we demonstrated that a soybean GmWRKY46 gene, belonging to group III of WRKY TF family, was involved in the regulation of P deficiency tolerance in soybean. The expression of GmWRKY46 in low P sensitive soybean varieties was significantly higher than that in tolerant soybean varieties. It was primarily expressed in roots and strongly induced by P deprivation. GmWRKY46 was localized in the nucleus. Compared with the control expressing the empty vector, overexpression of GmWRKY46 in soybean hairy roots exhibited more sensitive phenotypes to low P stress, while the RNA interfered GmWRKY46 significantly enhanced P deficiency tolerance by increasing the proliferation, elongation and P absorption efficiency of hairy roots. Expression patterns of a number of P-responsive genes (GmPht1;1, GmPht1;4, GmPTF1, GmACP1, GmPAP21 and GmExpansin-A7) were altered in both overexpression and gene silenced plants. The results provided a novel insight into how soybean responds to low P stress and new gene that may be used to improve soybean low P tolerance through gene editing approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Yuming Yang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Ruiyang Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Ruifan Cui
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Huanqing Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Chongyuan Sun
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Jinshe Wang
- Zhengzhou National Subcenter for Soybean Improvement, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Hengyou Zhang
- Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Huatao Chen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China.
| | - Dan Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Li C, Li K, Liu X, Ruan H, Zheng M, Yu Z, Gai J, Yang S. Transcription Factor GmWRKY46 Enhanced Phosphate Starvation Tolerance and Root Development in Transgenic Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:700651. [PMID: 34594347 PMCID: PMC8477037 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.700651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential macronutrients, whose deficiency limits the growth and development of plants. In this study, we investigated the possible role of GmWRKY46 in the phosphate (Pi) starvation stress tolerance of soybean. GmWRKY46 belonged to the group III subfamily of the WRKY transcription factor family, which was localized in the nucleus and had transcriptional activator activity. GmWRKY46 could be strongly induced by Pi starvation, especially in soybean roots. Overexpression of GmWRKY46 significantly enhanced tolerance to Pi starvation and lateral root development in transgenic Arabidopsis. RNA-seq analysis showed that overexpression of GmWRKY46 led to change in many genes related to energy metabolisms, stress responses, and plant hormone signal transduction in transgenic Arabidopsis. Among these differential expression genes, we found that overexpression of AtAED1 alone could enhance the tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis to Pi starvation. Y1H and ChIP-qPCR analyses showed that GmWRKY46 could directly bind to the W-box motif of the AtAED1 promoter in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, results from intact soybean composite plants with GmWRKY46 overexpression showed that GmWRKY46 was involved in hairy roots development and subsequently affected plant growth and Pi uptake. These results provide a basis for the molecular genetic breeding of soybean tolerant to Pi starvation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Li
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kangning Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Lower-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Ruan
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingming Zheng
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhijie Yu
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junyi Gai
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shouping Yang
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Li C, Li K, Zheng M, Liu X, Ding X, Gai J, Yang S. Gm6PGDH1, a Cytosolic 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase, Enhanced Tolerance to Phosphate Starvation by Improving Root System Development and Modifying the Antioxidant System in Soybean. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:704983. [PMID: 34484268 PMCID: PMC8414836 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.704983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus plays an important role in plant growth and development, and is an important limiting factor for crop yield. Although previous studies have shown that 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) plays an important role in plant resistance to adversity, its response to low phosphorus (P) stress remains unknown. In this study, we reported the cloning and characterization of a cytosolic 6PGDH gene, Gm6PGDH1, which enhanced the tolerance to phosphate (Pi) starvation by improving root system development and modifying the antioxidant system in transgenic plants. Gm6PGDH1 was highly expressed in the root at full bloom stage, and strongly induced by Pi starvation. The results from intact soybean composite plant and soybean plant, both containing a Gm6PGDH1-overexpressing construct, showed that Gm6PGDH1 was involved in root system development, and subsequently affected P uptake under Pi-deficient conditions. Meanwhile, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the root tip of transgenic soybean was reduced, and the activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes was enhanced compared with those of the wild type under Pi-deficient conditions. Interestingly, we found that the overexpression of Gm6PGDH1 weakened the response of several other important Pi-answer genes to Pi starvation, such as some purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) and redox-related genes. In addition, the results from a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) indicated that Gm6PGDH1 might have functional redundancy in soybean, and the results from a heterogeneous transformation system showed that overexpressing Gm6PGDH1 also enhanced tolerance to Pi starvation in transgenic Arabidopsis. Together, these results suggested the great potential of Gm6PGDH1 in crop breeding for low Pi tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kangning Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Lower-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingming Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianlong Ding
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junyi Gai
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shouping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhao X, Yang J, Li G, Sun Z, Hu S, Chen Y, Guo W, Hou H. Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of the WRKY gene family in aquatic plants and their response to abiotic stresses in giant duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza). Genomics 2021; 113:1761-1777. [PMID: 33862182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
WRKY is one of the largest transcription factor families across higher plant species and is involved in important biological processes and plant responses to various biotic/abiotic stresses. However, only a few investigations on WRKYs have been conducted in aquatic plants. This study first systematically analyzed the gene structure, protein properties, and phylogenetic relationship of 693 WRKYs in nine aquatic and two wetland plants at the genome-wide level. The pattern of WRKY groups in two aquatic ferns provided new evidence for the origin and evolution of WRKY genes. ARE cis-regulatory elements show an unusual high frequency in the promoter region of WRKY genes, indicating the adaptation to the aquatic habitat in aquatic plants. The WRKY gene family experienced a series of gene loss events in aquatic plants, especially group III. Further studies were conducted on the interaction network of SpWRKYs, their target genes, and non-coding RNAs. The expression profile of SpWRKYs under phosphate starvation, cold, and submergence conditions revealed that most SpWRKYs are involved in the response to abiotic stresses. Our investigations lay the foundation for further study on the mechanism of WRKYs responding to abiotic stresses in aquatic plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuyao Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; College of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Pingdingshan University, Pingdingshan 467000, Henan, China
| | - Jingjing Yang
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gaojie Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zuoliang Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shiqi Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yan Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenjun Guo
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongwei Hou
- The State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Song Y, Cui H, Shi Y, Xue J, Ji C, Zhang C, Yuan L, Li R. Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the Camelina sativa WRKY gene family in response to abiotic stress. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:786. [PMID: 33176698 PMCID: PMC7659147 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07189-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background WRKY transcription factors are a superfamily of regulators involved in diverse biological processes and stress responses in plants. However, there is limited knowledge about the WRKY family in camelina (Camelina sativa), an important Brassicaceae oil crop with strong tolerance for various stresses. Here, a genome-wide characterization of WRKY proteins is performed to examine their gene structures, phylogenetics, expression, conserved motif organizations, and functional annotation to identify candidate WRKYs that mediate stress resistance regulation in camelinas. Results A total of 242 CsWRKY proteins encoded by 224 gene loci distributed unevenly over the chromosomes were identified, and they were classified into three groups by phylogenetic analysis according to their WRKY domains and zinc finger motifs. The 15 CsWRKY gene loci generated 33 spliced variants. Orthologous WRKY gene pairs were identified, with 173 pairs in the C. sativa and Arabidopsis genomes as well as 282 pairs in the C. sativa and B. napus genomes, respectively. A total of 137 segmental duplication events were observed, but there was no tandem duplication in the camelina genome. Ten major conserved motifs were examined, with WRKYGQK being the most conserved, and several variants were present in many CsWRKYs. Expression analysis revealed that 50% more CsWRKY genes were expressed constitutively, and a set of them displayed tissue-specific expression. Notably, 11 CsWRKY genes exhibited significant expression changes in seedlings under cold, salt, and drought stresses, showing a preferentially inducible expression pattern in response to the stress. Conclusions The present article describes a detailed analysis of the CsWRKY gene family and its expression profiles in 12 tissues and under several stress conditions. Segmental duplication is the major force underlying the broad expansion of this gene family, and a strong purifying pressure occurred for CsWRKY proteins during their evolution. CsWRKY proteins play important roles in plant development, with differential functions in different tissues. Exceptionally, eleven CsWRKYs, particularly five alternative spliced isoforms, were found to be the possible key players in mediating plant responses to various stresses. Overall, our results provide a foundation for understanding the roles of CsWRKYs and the precise mechanism through which CsWRKYs regulate high stress resistance as well as the development of stress tolerance cultivars among Cruciferae crops. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-020-07189-3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Song
- Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Hongli Cui
- Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Jinai Xue
- Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Chunli Ji
- Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Chunhui Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Lixia Yuan
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Jinzhong University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
| | - Runzhi Li
- Institute of Molecular Agriculture and Bioenergy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wang L, Ding X, Gao Y, Yang S. Genome-wide identification and characterization of GRAS genes in soybean (Glycine max). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:415. [PMID: 32891114 PMCID: PMC7487615 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-02636-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND GRAS proteins are crucial transcription factors, which are plant-specific and participate in various plant biological processes. Thanks to the rapid progress of the whole genome sequencing technologies, the GRAS gene families in different plants have been broadly explored and studied. However, comprehensive research on the soybean (Glycine max) GRAS gene family is relatively lagging. RESULTS In this study, 117 Glycine max GRAS genes (GmGRAS) were identified. Further phylogenetic analyses showed that the GmGRAS genes could be categorized into nine gene subfamilies: DELLA, HAM, LAS, LISCL, PAT1, SCL3, SCL4/7, SCR and SHR. Gene structure analyses turned out that the GmGRAS genes lacked introns and were relatively conserved. Conserved domains and motif patterns of the GmGRAS members in the same subfamily or clade exhibited similarities. Notably, the expansion of the GmGRAS gene family was driven both by gene tandem and segmental duplication events. Whereas, segmental duplications took the major role in generating new GmGRAS genes. Moreover, the synteny and evolutionary constraints analyses of the GRAS proteins among soybean and distinct species (two monocots and four dicots) provided more detailed evidence for GmGRAS gene evolution. Cis-element analyses indicated that the GmGRAS genes may be responsive to diverse environmental stresses and regulate distinct biological processes. Besides, the expression patterns of the GmGRAS genes were varied in various tissues, during saline and dehydration stresses and during seed germination processes. CONCLUSIONS We conducted a systematic investigation of the GRAS genes in soybean, which may be valuable in paving the way for future GmGRAS gene studies and soybean breeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wang
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xianlong Ding
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yingqi Gao
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Shouping Yang
- Soybean Research Institute, National Center for Soybean Improvement, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean (General, Ministry of Agriculture), State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ding X, Guo Q, Li Q, Gai J, Yang S. Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis and Functional Study Reveal Important Role of High-Temperature Stress Response Gene GmHSFA2 During Flower Bud Development of CMS-Based F 1 in Soybean. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:600217. [PMID: 33384706 PMCID: PMC7770188 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.600217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
High-temperature (HT) is one of the most important environmental factors that negatively impact the yield of some soybean cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)-based hybrid (F1) combinations. The response of soybean to HT, especially at the male organ development stage, is poorly understood. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the response from soybean CMS-based F1 male organ to HT, a detailed transcriptomics analysis was performed during flower bud development of soybean HT-tolerant and HT-sensitive CMS-based F1 combinations (NF1 and YF1) under normal-temperature and HT conditions. Obvious HT damage was observed by subjecting YF1 with HT, such as indehiscent anthers and decreased pollen fertility, whereas the male fertility of NF1 was normal. In total, 8,784 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to respond to HT stress, which were mainly associated with anther/pollen wall development, carbohydrate metabolism and sugar transport, and auxin signaling. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and substance content detection also revealed that HT caused male fertility defects in YF1 by altering pectin metabolism, auxin, and sugar signaling pathways. Most importantly, the sugar signaling-PIF-auxin signaling pathway may underlie the instability of male fertility in YF1 under HT. Furthermore, HT induced the expression of heat shock factor (HSF) and heat shock protein (HSP) gene families. Overexpression of GmHSFA2 in Arabidopsis can promote the expression of HT protective genes (such as HSP20) by binding to the HSE motifs in their promoters, so as to improve the HT tolerance during flowering. Our results indicated that GmHSFA2 acted as a positive regulator, conferring HT tolerance improvement in soybean CMS-based F1. GmHSFA2 may be directly involved in the activation of male fertility protection mechanism in the soybean CMS-based F1 under HT stress.
Collapse
|