Isolation and functional analysis of the Larix olgensis LoNAC3 transcription factor gene

• Published in: BMC plant biology 2024-09, Vol.24 (1), p.881-12, Article 881
• Main Authors: Cao, Qing, Hao, Junfei, Zhang, Tiantian, Liu, Lu, Xu, Daixi, Wang, Chen, Zhao, Qingrong, Zhang, Hanguo, Zhang, Lei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscisic acid; Abscisic Acid - metabolism; Acetates; Amino acids; Bioinformatics; Bioinformatics analysis; Botanical research; Breeding; Cellular stress response; Cloning; Cyclopentanes; Drought; Droughts; Enzymes; Expression pattern; Function analysis; Functional analysis; Functional validation; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes; Genes, Plant; Genetic analysis; Genetic aspects; Genetic improvement; Genetic modification; Genomes; Germination; Identification and classification; Larch; Larix - genetics; Larix - metabolism; Larix olgensis; Localization; LoNAC3; Methyl jasmonate; Morphogenesis; N-Terminus; Nicotiana - genetics; Oxylipins; Pattern analysis; Peroxidase; Phenotypes; Phylogeny; Physiology; Pine needles; Plant breeding; Plant growth; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant species; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Proteins; Reactive oxygen species; Real time; Respiration; Salinity tolerance; Salts; Software; Stress, Physiological - genetics; Tobacco; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcriptomes; Transgenic plants
• ISSN: 1471-2229; 1471-2229
• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05619-y

Larch is an important timber tree species. The traditional methods of tree genetic breeding have been progressing slowly. It is necessary to carry out gene function analysis and genetically modified breeding research. The NAC transcription factor family is a plant-specific transcription factor family with various biological functions, as shown in recent research. However, there are few studies on the NAC gene among gymnosperm coniferous species. LoNAC3 with complete cds was identified and isolated from the cDNA of Larix olgensis based on transcriptome data. The cDNA length of LoNAC3 is 1185 bp, encoding 394 amino acids, with a conserved NAM domain located at the N-terminus, and subcellular localization in the nucleus. The results of real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that at different growth stages and in different tissues of L. olgensis, the relative expression level of LoNAC3 was highest in the needles. After drought, salt, alkali stress and hormone treatment, expression was induced to different degrees. The expression level of LoNAC3 was significantly increased under drought and salt conditions. The relative expression level changed under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. By observing the phenotype of overexpressed LoNAC3 tobacco, it was found that overexpressed tobacco is shorter and blooms earlier than wild-type tobacco. Under abiotic stress, LoNAC3 overexpressed tobacco has lower germination rates and poorer growth status. Transgenic tobacco under stress treatment has a higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content than wild-type tobacco, while peroxidase (POD) activity is lower than wild-type tobacco. Through the analysis of LoNAC3 sequence and promoter expression, it can be concluded that LoNAC3 is involved in the drought and salt stress response processes of L. olgensis, and is induced by ABA and MeJA expression. Overexpression of LoNAC3 leads to stunted tobacco growth and negatively regulates its tolerance to drought and salt stress through the reactive oxygen species pathway. The preliminary analysis of the expression pattern and function of the LoNAC3 can provide a theoretical basis and high-quality materials for genetic improvement of larch in later stages.