Ectopic expression of GmHP08 enhances resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis toward drought stress

• Published in: Plant cell reports 2021-05, Vol.40 (5), p.819-834
• Main Authors: Chuong, Nguyen Nguyen, Hoang, Xuan Lan Thi, Nghia, Duong Hoang Trong, Nguyen, Nguyen Cao, Thao, Dau Thi Thanh, Tran, Tram Bao, Ngoc, Tran Thi My, Thu, Nguyen Binh Anh, Nguyen, Quang Thien, Thao, Nguyen Phuong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscisic acid; Abscisic Acid - pharmacology; Antioxidants; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; Developmental stages; Drought; Drought resistance; Droughts; Ectopic expression; Ectopic Gene Expression - genetics; Ectopic Gene Expression - physiology; Environmental effects; Enzymatic activity; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - physiology; Genes; Germination; Glycine max; Hydrogen peroxide; Life Sciences; Original Article; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Sciences; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Seedlings; Senescence; Signal transduction; Soybeans; Survival; Transgenic plants
• ISSN: 0721-7714; 1432-203X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02677-6

Key message Ectopic expression of Glycine max two-component system member GmHP08 in Arabidopsis enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic plants, possibly via ABA-dependent pathways. Phosphorelay by two-component system (TCS) is a signal transduction mechanism which has been evolutionarily conserved in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Previous studies have provided lines of evidence on the involvement of TCS genes in plant perception and responses to environmental stimuli. In this research, drought-associated functions of GmHP08, a TCS member from soybean ( Glycine max L.), were investigated via its ectopic expression in Arabidopsis system. Results from the drought survival assay showed that GmHP08 -transgenic plants exhibited higher survival rates compared with their wild-type (WT) counterparts, indicating better drought resistance of the former group. Analyses revealed that the transgenic plants outperformed the WT in various regards, i.e. capability of water retention, prevention of hydrogen peroxide accumulation and enhancement of antioxidant enzymatic activities under water-deficit conditions. Additionally, the expression of stress-marker genes, especially antioxidant enzyme-encoding genes, in the transgenic plants were found greater than that of the WT plants. In contrary, the expression of SAG13 gene, one of the senescence-associated genes, and of several abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes was repressed. Data from this study also revealed that the ectopic expression lines at germination and early seedling development stages were hypersensitive to exogenous ABA treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GmHP08 could play an important role in mediating plant response to drought, possibly via an ABA-dependent manner.