Expression of AtSAP5 in cotton up-regulates putative stress-responsive genes and improves the tolerance to rapidly developing water deficit and moderate heat stress

The regulation of gene expression is a key factor in plant acclimation to stress, and it is thought that manipulation of the expression of critical stress-responsive genes should ultimately provide increased protection against abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the ectopic expression of the AtSAP5 (AT3G12630) gene in transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, cv. Coker 312) will improve tolerance to drought and heat stress by up-regulating the expression of endogenous stress-responsive genes. The SAP5 gene is a member of the stress-associated family of genes that encode proteins containing A20/AN1 zinc finger domains. Under non-stressful conditions, cotton plants that expressed the AtSAP5 gene showed elevated expression of at least four genes normally induced during water deficit or heat stress. The rate of net CO(2) assimilation A for three of four transgenic lines tested was less sensitive to rapidly developing water deficit over 4d than untransformed wild-type plants, but the recovery of A following drought was not significantly affected. The enhanced protection of photosynthesis during drought was determined to be primarily at the biochemical level, since the extent of stomatal closure was not significantly different for all genotypes. Expression of AtSAP5 resulted in the complete protection of photosystem (PS) II complexes from photodamage at mid-day after 4d of drought, whereas wild-type plants experienced a 20% decline in active photosystem II (PSII) complexes. In addition, enhanced protection of seedling growth and leaf viability was associated with the expression of AtSAP5. Since A for the transgenic plants was significantly more heat tolerant than A for wild-type plants, we conclude that ectopic expression of SAP genes is a potentially viable approach to improving carbon gain and productivity for cotton grown in semi-arid regions with severe drought and heat stress.     

Identification of AtHD2C as a novel regulator of abscisic acid responses in Arabidopsis

HD2 proteins are plant-specific histone deacetylases. Little is known about the function of HD2 proteins in plants. In this paper, we report that an Arabidopsis HD2 protein, AtHD2C, is involved in abscisic acid and abiotic stress responses. Analysis of Arabidopsis plants containing the AtHD2C:beta-glucuronidase fusion gene revealed that AtHD2C was constitutive expressed in plants. Furthermore, expression of AtHD2C was repressed by abscisic acid. Over-expression of 35S:AtHD2C-GFP in transgenic Arabidopsis plants conferred an abscisic acid-insensitive phenotype. In addition, 35S:AtHD2C-GFP transgenic plants displayed reduced transpiration and enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses when compared with wild-type plants. The expression of several abscisic acid-responsive genes was affected in the 35S:AtHD2C-GFP plants. Our study provides evidence indicating that AtHD2C can modulate abscisic acid and stress responses.     

The Arabidopsis RING E3 ubiquitin ligase AtAIRP2 plays combinatory roles with AtAIRP1 in abscisic acid-mediated drought stress responses

The ubiquitin (Ub)-26S proteasome pathway is implicated in various cellular processes in higher plants. AtAIRP1, a C3H2C3-type RING (for Really Interesting New Gene) E3 Ub ligase, is a positive regulator in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent drought response. Here, the AtAIRP2 (for Arabidopsis ABA-insensitive RING protein 2) gene was identified and characterized. AtAIRP2 encodes a cytosolic C3HC4-type RING E3 Ub ligase whose expression was markedly induced by ABA and dehydration stress. Thus, AtAIRP2 belongs to a different RING subclass than AtAIRP1 with a limited sequence identity. AtAIRP2-overexpressing transgenic (35S:AtAIRP2-sGFP) and atairp2 loss-of-function mutant plants exhibited hypersensitive and hyposensitive phenotypes, respectively, to ABA in terms of seed germination, root growth, and stomatal movement. 35S:AtAIRP2-sGFP plants were highly tolerant to severe drought stress, and atairp2 alleles were more susceptible to water stress than were wild-type plants. Higher levels of drought-induced hydrogen peroxide production were detected in 35S:AtAIRP2-sGFP as compared with atairp2 plants. ABA-inducible drought-related genes were up-regulated in 35S:AtAIRP2-sGFP and down-regulated in atairp2 progeny. The positive effects of AtAIRP2 on ABA-induced stress genes were dependent on SNF1-related protein kinases, key components of the ABA signaling pathway. Therefore, AtAIRP2 is involved in positive regulation of ABA-dependent drought stress responses. To address the functional relationship between AtAIRP1 and AtAIRP2, FLAG-AtAIRP1 and AtAIRP2-sGFP genes were ectopically expressed in atairp2-2 and atairp1 plants, respectively. Constitutive expression of FLAG-AtAIRP1 and AtAIRP2-sGFP in atairp2-2 and atairp1 plants, respectively, reciprocally rescued the loss-of-function ABA-insensitive phenotypes during germination. Additionally, atairp1/35S:AtAIRP2-sGFP and atairp2-2/35S:FLAG-AtAIRP1 complementation lines were more tolerant to dehydration stress relative to atairp1 and atairp2-2 single knockout plants. Overall, these results suggest that AtAIRP2 plays combinatory roles with AtAIRP1 in Arabidopsis ABA-mediated drought stress responses.     

Constitutive expression of CaRma1H1, a hot pepper ER-localized RING E3 ubiquitin ligase, increases tolerance to drought and salt stresses in transgenic tomato plants

CaRma1H1, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized hot pepper really interesting new genes (RING) E3 Ub ligase, was previously reported to be a positive regulator of drought stress responses. To address the possibility that CaRma1H1 can be used to improve tolerance to abiotic stress in crop plants, CaRma1H1 was constitutively expressed in transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. CaRma1H1-overexpressing tomato plants (35S:CaRma1H1) exhibited greatly enhanced tolerance to high-salinity treatments compared with wild-type plants. Leaf chlorophyll and proline contents in CaRma1H1 overexpressors were 4.3- to 8.5-fold and 1.2- to 1.5-fold higher, respectively, than in wild-type plants after 300?mM NaCl treatment. Transgenic cotyledons developed and their roots elongated in the presence of NaCl up to 200?mM. In addition, 35S:CaRma1H1 lines were markedly more tolerant to severe drought stress than were wild-type plants. Detached leaves of CaRma1H1 overexpressors preserved water more efficiently than did wild-type leaves during a rapid dehydration process. The ER chaperone genes LePDIL1, LeBIP1, and LeCNX1 were markedly up-regulated in 35S:CaRma1H1 tomatoes compared with wild-type plants. Therefore, overexpression of CaRma1H1 may enhance tomato plant ER responses to drought stress by effectively removing nonfunctional ubiquitinated proteins. Collectively, constitutive expression of CaRma1H1 in tomatoes conferrred strongly enhanced tolerance to salt- and water-stress. This raises the possibility that CaRma1H1 may be useful for developing abiotic stress-tolerant tomato plants. Key message CaRma1H1 increases drought tolerance in transgenic tomato plants.     

Arabidopsis SDIR1 enhances drought tolerance in crop plants

Arabidopsis E3 ligase salt- and drought-induced RING-finger 1 (SDIR1) has been found to be involved in abscisic acid (ABA)-related stress signaling. SDIR1-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibit improved tolerance to drought. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and rice (Oryza sativa) are two important agronomic crop plants. To determine whether SDIR1 enhances drought resistance in crop plants, SDIR1 transgenic tobacco and rice plants were generated. Ectopic expression of SDIR1 in both plants conferred improved drought tolerance ability. These results suggest that SDIR1 can function as a drought-tolerance gene in both dicotyledons and monocotyledons, and that it can serve as a drought-tolerance engineering candidate gene in crop plants.     

A novel stress-associated protein 'AtSAP10' from Arabidopsis thaliana confers tolerance to nickel, manganese, zinc, and high temperature stress

We describe here the functional characterization of a novel AtSAP10, a member of the Stress Associated Protein (SAP) gene family, from Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia. AtSAP10 contains an A20 and AN1 zinc-finger domain at the N- and C-terminal, respectively. Arabidopsis SAP10 showed differential regulation by various abiotic stresses such as heavy metals and metalloids (Ni, Cd, Mn, Zn, and As), high and low temperatures, cold, and ABA. Overexpression of AtSAP10 in Arabidopsis conferred strong tolerance to heavy metals such as Ni, Mn, and Zn and to high temperature stress. AtSAP10 transgenic plants under these stress conditions grew green and healthy, attained several-fold more biomass, and had longer roots as compared to wild type plants. Further, while these transgenic plants accumulated significantly greater amounts of Ni and Mn in both shoots and root tissues, there was no significant difference in the accumulation of Zn. AtSAP10 promoter-GUS fusion studies revealed a root and floral organ-specific expression of AtSAP10. Overexpression of AtSAP10-GFP fusion protein showed the localization in both nucleus and cytoplasm. Taken together, these results showed that AtSAP10 is a potentially useful candidate gene for engineering tolerance to heavy metals and to abiotic stress in cultivated plants.     

转拟南芥P5CS1基因增强羽衣甘蓝的耐旱性

为提高羽衣甘蓝的耐旱性,本文将拟南芥Δ1-吡咯啉-5-羧酸合成酶（P5CS1）基因经农杆菌介导转入羽衣甘蓝植株中,检测转基因株系与野生型植株在干旱胁迫下P5CS1 mRNA表达量、幼苗脯氨酸含量、株系根系性状、整株干重、鲜重和整株存活率。结果表明,在15%PEG6000渗透胁迫下,转基因植株的P5CS1基因mRNA表达量明显增加,转基因植株脯氨酸含量是野生型的2.4倍;主根长、最长侧根长、侧根数目、整株干重和鲜重均高于野生型,干重/鲜重则低于野生型,转基因植株的平均存活率为78%,极显著高于野生型。数据显示,AtP5CS1基因在羽衣甘蓝中的表达明显改善了转基因植株的耐旱性。     

OsSDIR1 overexpression greatly improves drought tolerance in transgenic rice

Recent genomic and genetic analyses based on Arabidopsis suggest that ubiquitination plays crucial roles in the plant response to abiotic stress and the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). However, few such studies have been reported in rice as a monocotyledonous model plant. Taking advantage of strategies in biochemistry, molecular cell biology and genetics, the RING-finger containing E3 ligase OsSDIR1 (Oryza sativa SALT-AND DROUGHT-INDUCED RING FINGER 1) was found to be a candidate drought tolerance gene for engineering of crop plants. The expression of OsSDIR1 was detected in all tissues of rice and up-regulated by drought and NaCl, but not by ABA. In vitro ubiquitination assays demonstrated that OsSDIR1 is a functional E3 ubiquitin ligase and that the RING finger region is required for its activity. OsSDIR1 could complement the drought sensitive phenotype of the sdir1 mutant and overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis were more sensitive to ABA, indicating that the OsSDIR1 gene is a functional ortholog of SDIR1. Upon drought treatment, the OsSDIR1-transgenic rice showed strong drought tolerance compared to control plants. Analysis of the stomata aperture revealed that there were more closed stomatal pores in transgenic plants than those of control plants. This result was also confirmed by the water loss assay and leaf related water content (RWC) measurements during drought treatment. Thus, we demonstrated that monocot- and dicot- SDIR1s are conserved yet have diverse functions.     

Cloning of Gossypium hirsutum Sucrose Non-Fermenting 1-Related Protein Kinase 2 Gene (GhSnRK2) and Its Overexpression in Transgenic Arabidopsis Escalates Drought and Low Temperature Tolerance

The molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance and the use of modern genetics approaches for the improvement of drought stress tolerance have been major focuses of plant molecular biologists. In the present study, we cloned the Gossypium hirsutum sucrose non-fermenting 1-related protein kinase 2 (GhSnRK2) gene and investigated its functions in transgenic Arabidopsis. We further elucidated the function of this gene in transgenic cotton using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) techniques. We hypothesized that GhSnRK2 participates in the stress signaling pathway and elucidated its role in enhancing stress tolerance in plants via various stress-related pathways and stress-responsive genes. We determined that the subcellular localization of the GhSnRK2-green fluorescent protein (GFP) was localized in the nuclei and cytoplasm. In contrast to wild-type plants, transgenic plants overexpressing GhSnRK2 exhibited increased tolerance to drought, cold, abscisic acid and salt stresses, suggesting that GhSnRK2 acts as a positive regulator in response to cold and drought stresses. Plants overexpressing GhSnRK2 displayed evidence of reduced water loss, turgor regulation, elevated relative water content, biomass, and proline accumulation. qRT-PCR analysis of GhSnRK2 expression suggested that this gene may function in diverse tissues. Under normal and stress conditions, the expression levels of stress-inducible genes, such as AtRD29A, AtRD29B, AtP5CS1, AtABI3, AtCBF1, and AtABI5, were increased in the GhSnRK2-overexpressing plants compared to the wild-type plants. GhSnRK2 gene silencing alleviated drought tolerance in cotton plants, indicating that VIGS technique can certainly be used as an effective means to examine gene function by knocking down the expression of distinctly expressed genes. The results of this study suggested that the GhSnRK2 gene, when incorporated into Arabidopsis, functions in positive responses to drought stress and in low temperature tolerance.     

Expression of Bacillus subtilis proBA genes and reduction of feedback inhibition of proline synthesis increases proline production and confers osmotolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis

Proline accumulation has been shown to correlate with tolerance to drought and salt stresses in plants. We attempt to introduce the wild-type, mutant, and fusion proBA genes derived from Bacillus subtilis into Arabidopsis thaliana under the control of a strong promoter cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV35S). The transgenic plants produced higher level of free proline than control and the overproduction of proline resulted in the increased tolerance to osmotic stress in transgenic plants. Besides, the mutation in proBA genes, which were proved to lead gamma-glutamyl kinase (gamma-GK) reduces sensitivity to the end-product inhibition and the fusion of proB and proA also result in increasing proline production and confer osmotolerance in transgenic lines.     

Salinity and drought tolerance of mannitol-accumulating transgenic tobacco

Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) were transformed with a mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene resulting in mannitol accumulation. Experiments were conducted to determine whether mannitol provides salt and/or drought stress protection through osmotic adjustment. Non-stressed transgenic plants were 20–25% smaller than non-stressed, non-transformed (wild-type) plants in both salinity and drought experiments. However, salt stress reduced dry weight in wild-type plants by 44%, but did not reduce the dry weight of transgenic plants. Transgenic plants adjusted osmotically by 0.57 MPa, whereas wild-type plants did not adjust osmotically in response to salt stress. Calculations of solute contribution to osmotic adjustment showed that mannitol contributed only 0-003-0-004 MPa to the 0.2 MPa difference in full turgor osmotic potential (π_o) between salt-stressed transgenic and wild-type plants. Assuming a cytoplasmic location for mannitol and that the cytoplasm constituted 5% of the total water volume, mannitol accounted for only 30–40% of the change in π_o of the cytoplasm. Inositol, a naturally occurring polyol in tobacco, accumulated in response to salt stress in both transgenic and wild-type plants, and was 3-fold more abundant than mannitol in transgenic plants. Drought stress reduced the leaf relative water content, leaf expansion, and dry weight of transgenic and wild-type plants. However, π_o was not significantly reduced by drought stress in transgenic or wild-type plants, despite an increase in non-structural carbohydrates and mannitol in droughted plants. We conclude that (1) mannitol was a relatively minor osmolyte in transgenic tobacco, but may have indirectly enhanced osmotic adjustment and salt tolerance; (2) inositol cannot substitute for mannitol in this role; (3) slower growth of the transgenic plants, and not the presence of mannitol per se, may have been the cause of greater salt tolerance, and (4) mannitol accumulation was enhanced by drought stress but did not affect π_o or drought tolerance.     

Induction of enhanced disease resistance and oxidative stress tolerance by overexpression of pepper basic PR-1 gene in Arabidopsis

The pathogen- and ethylene-inducible pepper-basic pathogenesis-related (PR)-1 gene, CABPR1 , was strongly expressed in pepper leaves by osmotic and oxidative stresses. The pepper CABPR1 was introduced into the Arabidopsis plants under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Polymerase chain reaction-amplification with the Arabidopsis genomic DNA and Northern blot analyses confirmed that the pepper CABPR1 gene was integrated into the Arabidopsis genome, where it was overexpressed in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants under normal growth conditions. The constitutive overexpression of CABPR1 induced the expression of the Arabidopsis PR-genes including PR-4 , PR-5 and PDF1.2 . Enhanced resistance to phytopathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, was also observed in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants. CABPR1 overexpression in the transgenic Arabidopsis caused enhanced seed germination under NaCl (ionic) and mannitol (non-ionic) osmotic stresses. Enhanced tolerances to high salinity and dehydration stresses during seed germination of the transgenic plants were not found at the early seedling stage. The transgenic Arabidopsis plants exhibited a higher tolerance to oxidative stress by methyl viologen at the seed germination, seedling and adult plant stages. These results suggest that the CABPR1 gene may function in the enhanced disease resistance and oxidative stress tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis plants.     

Transgenic Agrostis mongolica Roshev. with enhanced tolerance to drought and heat stresses obtained from Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Efficient procedures for regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation were established for Agrostis mongolica Roshev. and generated transgenic plants tolerant to drought and heat stresses using a regulatory gene from Arabidopsis, ABF3, which controls the ABA-dependent adaptive responses. The identification and selection of regenerable and reproducible callus type was a key factor for successful transformation. The transformation efficiency was 49.2% and gfp expression was detected in hygromycin-resistant calli and stem of putative transgenic plants. The result of Southern blot analysis showed that the ABF3 transgene was stably integrated into the genome of transgenic plants. Of the five transgenic lines analyzed, single transgene integration was observed in two lines and two copy integration was observed in three transgenic lines. Northern blot analysis confirmed that ubi::ABF3 was expressed in all transgenic lines. Transgenic plants exhibited neither growth inhibition nor visible vegetative phenotypic alternations. However, both transgenic and wild-type plants were highly sterile and did not flower during 3 years of growth period in the open field under subtropical Jeju Island climate. The stomata of the transgenic plants opened less than did stomata of the wild-type plants, and water content of the transgenic leaves remained about 3–4 fold higher than observed for wild-type leaves under drought stress. The transgenic plants showed about 2 fold higher survival rates under drought stress and about 3 fold higher survival rates under heat stress when compared to wild-type plants. Thus, overexpression of the Arabidopsis ABF3 gene results in enhancement of both drought and heat stress tolerance in Agrostis mongolica Roshev.