Overexpression of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene from Caragana korshinskii decreases stomatal density and enhances drought tolerance

BMC Plant Biology

Chunmei Gong¹  Juan Bai¹  Baiyan Lu²  Xinjuan Luo³ 

[1] College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China;College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China;College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China;School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, 200241, Shanghai, China;College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China;

关键词: Drought stress;    Auxin signaling;    Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase;    Stomatal development;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12870-021-03226-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundGamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS) is a rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione biosynthesis and plays a key role in plant stress responses. In this study, the endogenous expression of the Caragana korshinskiiγ-ECS (Ckγ-ECS) gene was induced by PEG 6000-mediated drought stress in the leaves of C. korshinskii. and the Ckγ-ECS overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants was constructed using the C. korshinskii. isolated γ-ECS.ResultsCompared with the wildtype, the Ckγ-ECS overexpressing plants enhanced the γ-ECS activity, reduced the stomatal density and aperture sizes; they also had higher relative water content, lower water loss, and lower malondialdehyde content. At the same time, the mRNA expression of stomatal development-related gene EPF1 was increased and FAMA and STOMAGEN were decreased. Besides, the expression of auxin-relative signaling genes AXR3 and ARF5 were upregulated.ConclusionsThese changes suggest that transgenic Arabidopsis improved drought tolerance, and Ckγ-ECS may act as a negative regulator in stomatal development by regulating the mRNA expression of EPF1 and STOMAGEN through auxin signaling.

【 授权许可】

CC BY