Genome-wide characterization of NAC transcription factors in Camellia sinensis and the involvement of CsNAC28 in drought tolerance

Frontiers in Plant Science

Plant Science

Qingsheng Li¹  Jiqian Wei²  Da Li³  Yuqing He⁴  Linying Li⁴  Xueying Zhang⁴  Gaojie Hong⁴  Han Tao⁴  Yao Zhao⁴  Zhuoliang Lang⁵ 

[1] College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China;Ecology and Energy Section, Hangzhou Agricultural Technology Extension Center, Hangzhou, China;Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China;Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China;College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China;

关键词: Camellia sinensis;    expression pattern;    NAC transcription factor;    drought stress;    abscisic acid;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpls.2022.1065261

 received in 2022-10-09, accepted in 2022-11-07,  发布年份 2022

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2 (NAC) transcription factors, which are members of a plant-specific gene family, play critical roles during the growth and development of plants and in their adaption to environmental stress. Few NAC transcription factors have been functionally characterized in tea plants (Camellia sinensis). Based on the analysis of the gene structure, motif pattern, and evolutionary relationship, we identified 104 NAC genes in C. sinensis. Among them, CsNAC28 is constitutively expressed in all organs, and most significantly, exhibiting remarkable responsiveness to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment and drought stress. ABA is a primary stress-related hormone. Recently, ABA-responsive element binding factor 2 (CsABF2) was identified in the ABA pathway of C. sinensis. However, the involvement of the CsABF2-mediated ABA pathway in regulating CsNACs was not known. Herein, a series of biochemical and genetic approaches supported the fact that CsNAC28 could potentially act as a transcription factor in the downstream of CsABF2. Furthermore, we investigated the function of CsNAC28 in the adapting of a plant to drought stress. The results showed that overexpression of CsNAC28 in Arabidopsis conferred hypersensitivity to ABA treatment and decreased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in improved dehydration tolerance. Under conditions of drought, the expression levels of ABA pathway-related genes and drought stress‒inducible genes were greater in CsNAC28 overexpression lines than in the wild type. Our study’s comprehensive characterization of NAC genes in C. sinensis could serve as a foundation for exploring the molecular mechanism of CsNAC-mediated drought responsiveness.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2022 Zhang, Li, Lang, Li, He, Zhao, Tao, Wei, Li and Hong