Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds
IntroductionCadmium (Cd) stress is a significant threat to soybean production, and enhancing Cd tolerance in soybean is the focus of this study. The WRKY transcription factor family is associated with abiotic stress response processes. In this study, we aimed to identify a Cd-responsive WRKY transcr...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1133892/full |
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| author | Peiqi Xian Peiqi Xian Peiqi Xian Yuan Yang Yuan Yang Yuan Yang Chuwen Xiong Chuwen Xiong Chuwen Xiong Zhibin Guo Zhibin Guo Zhibin Guo Intikhab Alam Zihang He Zihang He Zihang He Yakun Zhang Yakun Zhang Yakun Zhang Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Hai Nian Hai Nian Hai Nian Hai Nian |
| author_facet | Peiqi Xian Peiqi Xian Peiqi Xian Yuan Yang Yuan Yang Yuan Yang Chuwen Xiong Chuwen Xiong Chuwen Xiong Zhibin Guo Zhibin Guo Zhibin Guo Intikhab Alam Zihang He Zihang He Zihang He Yakun Zhang Yakun Zhang Yakun Zhang Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Hai Nian Hai Nian Hai Nian Hai Nian |
| author_sort | Peiqi Xian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCadmium (Cd) stress is a significant threat to soybean production, and enhancing Cd tolerance in soybean is the focus of this study. The WRKY transcription factor family is associated with abiotic stress response processes. In this study, we aimed to identify a Cd-responsive WRKY transcription factor GmWRKY172 from soybean and investigate its potential for enhancing Cd tolerance in soybean.MethodsThe characterization of GmWRKY172 involved analyzing its expression pattern, subcellular localization, and transcriptional activity. To assess the impact of GmWRKY172, transgenic Arabidopsis and soybean plants were generated and examined for their tolerance to Cd and Cd content in shoots. Additionally, transgenic soybean plants were evaluated for Cd translocation and various physiological stress indicators. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the potential biological pathways regulated by GmWRKY172.ResultsGmWRKY172 was significantly upregulated by Cd stress, highly expressed in leaves and flowers, and localized to the nucleus with transcriptional activity. Transgenic plants overexpressing GmWRKY172 showed enhanced Cd tolerance and reduced Cd content in shoots compared to WT. Lower Cd translocation from roots to shoots and seeds was also observed in transgenic soybean. Under Cd stress, transgenic soybean accumulated less malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) than WT plants, with higher flavonoid and lignin contents, and peroxidase (POD) activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that many stress-related pathways were regulated by GmWRKY172 in transgenic soybean, including flavonoid biosynthesis, cell wall synthesis, and peroxidase activity.DiscussionOur findings demonstrated that GmWRKY172 enhances Cd tolerance and reduces seed Cd accumulation in soybean by regulating multiple stress-related pathways, and could be a promising candidate for breeding Cd-tolerant and low Cd soybean varieties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:13:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13a3eba55c9d40909b764f49ac88446a |
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| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T05:13:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-13a3eba55c9d40909b764f49ac88446a2023-03-09T05:33:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2023-03-011410.3389/fpls.2023.11338921133892Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seedsPeiqi Xian0Peiqi Xian1Peiqi Xian2Yuan Yang3Yuan Yang4Yuan Yang5Chuwen Xiong6Chuwen Xiong7Chuwen Xiong8Zhibin Guo9Zhibin Guo10Zhibin Guo11Intikhab Alam12Zihang He13Zihang He14Zihang He15Yakun Zhang16Yakun Zhang17Yakun Zhang18Zhandong Cai19Zhandong Cai20Zhandong Cai21Zhandong Cai22Hai Nian23Hai Nian24Hai Nian25Hai Nian26The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Grassland Science, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Grassland Science, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaHainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Hainan, ChinaIntroductionCadmium (Cd) stress is a significant threat to soybean production, and enhancing Cd tolerance in soybean is the focus of this study. The WRKY transcription factor family is associated with abiotic stress response processes. In this study, we aimed to identify a Cd-responsive WRKY transcription factor GmWRKY172 from soybean and investigate its potential for enhancing Cd tolerance in soybean.MethodsThe characterization of GmWRKY172 involved analyzing its expression pattern, subcellular localization, and transcriptional activity. To assess the impact of GmWRKY172, transgenic Arabidopsis and soybean plants were generated and examined for their tolerance to Cd and Cd content in shoots. Additionally, transgenic soybean plants were evaluated for Cd translocation and various physiological stress indicators. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the potential biological pathways regulated by GmWRKY172.ResultsGmWRKY172 was significantly upregulated by Cd stress, highly expressed in leaves and flowers, and localized to the nucleus with transcriptional activity. Transgenic plants overexpressing GmWRKY172 showed enhanced Cd tolerance and reduced Cd content in shoots compared to WT. Lower Cd translocation from roots to shoots and seeds was also observed in transgenic soybean. Under Cd stress, transgenic soybean accumulated less malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) than WT plants, with higher flavonoid and lignin contents, and peroxidase (POD) activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that many stress-related pathways were regulated by GmWRKY172 in transgenic soybean, including flavonoid biosynthesis, cell wall synthesis, and peroxidase activity.DiscussionOur findings demonstrated that GmWRKY172 enhances Cd tolerance and reduces seed Cd accumulation in soybean by regulating multiple stress-related pathways, and could be a promising candidate for breeding Cd-tolerant and low Cd soybean varieties.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1133892/fullWRKY transcription factorheavy metal stressCd toleranceCd translocationRNA-sequencingsoybean |
| spellingShingle | Peiqi Xian Peiqi Xian Peiqi Xian Yuan Yang Yuan Yang Yuan Yang Chuwen Xiong Chuwen Xiong Chuwen Xiong Zhibin Guo Zhibin Guo Zhibin Guo Intikhab Alam Zihang He Zihang He Zihang He Yakun Zhang Yakun Zhang Yakun Zhang Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Zhandong Cai Hai Nian Hai Nian Hai Nian Hai Nian Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds Frontiers in Plant Science WRKY transcription factor heavy metal stress Cd tolerance Cd translocation RNA-sequencing soybean |
| title | Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds |
| title_full | Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds |
| title_fullStr | Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds |
| title_short | Overexpression of GmWRKY172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds |
| title_sort | overexpression of gmwrky172 enhances cadmium tolerance in plants and reduces cadmium accumulation in soybean seeds |
| topic | WRKY transcription factor heavy metal stress Cd tolerance Cd translocation RNA-sequencing soybean |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1133892/full |
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