Overexpression of a peroxiredoxin Q gene,SsPrxQ, in Eustoma grandiflorum Shinn enhances its tolerance to salt and high light intensity

Abiotic stress, such as salt, high light intensity and extreme temperature, can result in enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). One of the major ROS-scavenging enzymes of plants is peroxiredoxin (Prx). Peroxiredoxin Q (PrxQ), a member of the Prx gene family, was recently cloned from plants. To investigate the protective role of PrxQ during abiotic stress, we increased the capacity for its biosynthesis in Eustoma grandiflorum Shinn by overexpression of the PrxQ gene (SsPrxQ) from Suaeda salsa. The SsPrxQ gene driven by CaMV 35S promoter was expressed via E. grandiflorum. The rPrxQ protein shows antioxidant activity and thioredoxin-dependent peroxidase activity in vitro. Additionally, overexpression of SsPrxQ in E. grandiflorum leads to an increase in salt and high light intensity tolerance. These results indicate that SsPrxQ might act as an oxidative stress defensive gene in plants and could be useful for engineering stress-resistant plants.