A wheat lipid transfer protein (TdLTP4) promotes tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry 2015-04, Vol.89, p.64-75
• Main Authors: Safi, Hela, Saibi, Walid, Alaoui, Meryem Mrani, Hmyene, Abdelaziz, Masmoudi, Khaled, Hanin, Moez, Brini, Faïçal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abiotic and biotic stresses; Abscisic Acid - metabolism; Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Antigens, Plant - genetics; Antigens, Plant - metabolism; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cyclopentanes - metabolism; Disease Resistance - genetics; Droughts; Fungi; Gene expression; Genes, Plant; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Jasmonic acid; Lipid transfer protein; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Oxylipins - metabolism; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - growth & development; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Salt-Tolerance; Sodium Chloride - metabolism; Stress, Physiological - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; Transgenic Arabidopsis plants; Triticum - genetics; Wheat
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.02.008

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are members of the family of pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-14) that are believed to be involved in plant defense responses. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of a novel gene TdLTP4 encoding an LTP protein from durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. subsp. Durum Desf.]. Molecular Phylogeny analyses of wheat TdLTP4 gene showed a high identity to other plant LTPs. Predicted three-dimensional structural model revealed the presence of six helices and nine loop turns. Expression analysis in two local durum wheat varieties with marked differences in salt and drought tolerance, revealed a higher transcript accumulation of TdLTP4 under different stress conditions in the tolerant variety, compared to the sensitive one. The overexpression of TdLTP4 in Arabidopsis resulted in a promoted plant growth under various stress conditions including NaCl, ABA, JA and H2O2 treatments. Moreover, the LTP-overexpressing lines exhibit less sensitivity to jasmonate than wild-type plants. Furthermore, detached leaves from transgenic Arabidopsis expressing TdLTP4 gene showed enhanced fungal resistance against Alternaria solani and Botrytis cinerea. Together, these data provide the evidence for the involvement of TdLTP4 gene in the tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stresses in crop plants. •In this work, we have isolated a TdLTP4 encoding an LTP protein from durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. Durum Desf).•Expression analysis in two local durum wheat varieties with marked differences in salt and drought tolerance revealed a higher transcript accumulation of TdLTP4 under different stress conditions in the tolerant variety.•Overexpression of TdLTP4 in Arabidopsis resulted in promoted plant growth under various stress, Moreover, the LTP-overexpressing lines exhibit less sensitivity to jasmonate than wild-type plants.•Detached leaves from transgenic Arabidopsis expressing TdLTP4 gene showed enhanced fungal resistance against Alternaria solani and Botrytis cinerea.•Together, these data provide the evidence for the involvement of TdLTP4 gene in the tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stresses in crop plants.