Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in Jujube
Triterpenoids are important, pharmacologically active substances in jujube (<i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> Mill.), and play an important role in the plant’s resistance to abiotic stress. However, regulation of their biosynthesis, and the underlying mechanism of their balance with stress resistan...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/4/3899 |
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| author | Cuiping Wen Zhong Zhang Qianqian Shi Xiaoshan Duan Jiangtao Du Cuiyun Wu Xingang Li |
| author_facet | Cuiping Wen Zhong Zhang Qianqian Shi Xiaoshan Duan Jiangtao Du Cuiyun Wu Xingang Li |
| author_sort | Cuiping Wen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Triterpenoids are important, pharmacologically active substances in jujube (<i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> Mill.), and play an important role in the plant’s resistance to abiotic stress. However, regulation of their biosynthesis, and the underlying mechanism of their balance with stress resistance, remain poorly understood. In this study, we screened and functionally characterized the <i>ZjWRKY18</i> transcription factor, which is associated with triterpenoid accumulation. The transcription factor is induced by methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid, and its activity was observed by gene overexpression and silencing experiments, combined with analyses of transcripts and metabolites. <i>ZjWRKY18</i> gene silencing decreased the transcription of triterpenoid synthesis pathway genes and the corresponding triterpenoid content. Overexpression of the gene promoted the biosynthesis of jujube triterpenoids, as well as triterpenoids in tobacco and <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>. In addition, <i>ZjWRKY18</i> binds to W-box sequences to activate promoters of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase and farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, suggesting that <i>ZjWRKY18</i> positively regulates the triterpenoid synthesis pathway. Overexpression of <i>ZjWRKY18</i> also increased tolerance to salt stress in tobacco and <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>. These results highlight the potential use of <i>ZjWRKY18</i> to improve triterpenoid biosynthesis and salt stress tolerance in plants, and provide a strong basis for metabolic engineering to improve the content of triterpenoids and breeding of jujube varieties that are resistant to stress. |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:41:41Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-3b2c244665ed49e7b8838b7605ab2cf42023-11-16T21:06:45ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-02-01244389910.3390/ijms24043899Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in JujubeCuiping Wen0Zhong Zhang1Qianqian Shi2Xiaoshan Duan3Jiangtao Du4Cuiyun Wu5Xingang Li6College of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Forestry, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaTriterpenoids are important, pharmacologically active substances in jujube (<i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> Mill.), and play an important role in the plant’s resistance to abiotic stress. However, regulation of their biosynthesis, and the underlying mechanism of their balance with stress resistance, remain poorly understood. In this study, we screened and functionally characterized the <i>ZjWRKY18</i> transcription factor, which is associated with triterpenoid accumulation. The transcription factor is induced by methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid, and its activity was observed by gene overexpression and silencing experiments, combined with analyses of transcripts and metabolites. <i>ZjWRKY18</i> gene silencing decreased the transcription of triterpenoid synthesis pathway genes and the corresponding triterpenoid content. Overexpression of the gene promoted the biosynthesis of jujube triterpenoids, as well as triterpenoids in tobacco and <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>. In addition, <i>ZjWRKY18</i> binds to W-box sequences to activate promoters of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase and farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, suggesting that <i>ZjWRKY18</i> positively regulates the triterpenoid synthesis pathway. Overexpression of <i>ZjWRKY18</i> also increased tolerance to salt stress in tobacco and <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>. These results highlight the potential use of <i>ZjWRKY18</i> to improve triterpenoid biosynthesis and salt stress tolerance in plants, and provide a strong basis for metabolic engineering to improve the content of triterpenoids and breeding of jujube varieties that are resistant to stress.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/4/3899triterpenoid biosynthesisjujube (<i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> Mill.)<i>ZjWRKY18</i>silencingoverexpressionsalt tolerance |
| spellingShingle | Cuiping Wen Zhong Zhang Qianqian Shi Xiaoshan Duan Jiangtao Du Cuiyun Wu Xingang Li Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in Jujube International Journal of Molecular Sciences triterpenoid biosynthesis jujube (<i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> Mill.) <i>ZjWRKY18</i> silencing overexpression salt tolerance |
| title | Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in Jujube |
| title_full | Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in Jujube |
| title_fullStr | Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in Jujube |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in Jujube |
| title_short | Methyl Jasmonate- and Salicylic Acid-Induced Transcription Factor <i>ZjWRKY18</i> Regulates Triterpenoid Accumulation and Salt Stress Tolerance in Jujube |
| title_sort | methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid induced transcription factor i zjwrky18 i regulates triterpenoid accumulation and salt stress tolerance in jujube |
| topic | triterpenoid biosynthesis jujube (<i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> Mill.) <i>ZjWRKY18</i> silencing overexpression salt tolerance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/4/3899 |
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