OsPUB41, a U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase, acts as a negative regulator of drought stress response in rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

• Published in: Plant molecular biology 2021-07, Vol.106 (4-5), p.463-477
• Main Authors: Seo, Dong Hye, Lee, Andosung, Yu, Seong Gwan, Cui, Li Hua, Min, Hye Jo, Lee, Seung Eun, Cho, Na Hyun, Kim, Sojung, Bae, Hansol, Kim, Woo Taek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Abscisic acid; Abscisic Acid - pharmacology; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell walls; Chloride; Chloride Channels - metabolism; Chlorophyll; Cytosol - metabolism; Dehydration; Down-regulation; Drought; Droughts; Enzymes; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Immune response; Immunological tolerance; Innate immunity; Life Sciences; Mammals; Molecular biology; Mutation; Oryza - drug effects; Oryza - enzymology; Oryza - genetics; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Plants, Genetically Modified; Proteins; Rice; RNA-mediated interference; Short Communication; Stress, Physiological; Transpiration; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin-protein ligase; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - genetics; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases - metabolism; Water loss; Yeasts
• ISSN: 0167-4412; 1573-5028
• DOI: 10.1007/s11103-021-01158-4

Key message OsPUB41 plays a negative role in drought stress response through the mediation of OsUBC25 and interacts with OsCLC6, suggesting a putative substrate. The notable expansion of P lant U - B ox E3 ligases (PUB), compared with those in mammals, implies that PUB proteins have evolved to perform plant-specific functions. OsPUB41, a potential ortholog of CMPG1, was recently reported to regulate the cell wall degrading enzyme (CWDE)-induced innate immune response in rice. Here, we characterized the OsPUB41 gene, which encodes a dual-localized cytosolic and nuclear U-box E3 ligase in rice. OsPUB41 expression was specifically induced by dehydration among various abiotic stresses and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Furthermore, we revealed that the core U-box motif of OsPUB41 possesses the E3 ligase activity that can be activated by OsUBC25 in rice. The Ubi:RNAi-OsPUB41 knock-down and ospub41 suppression mutant plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to drought stress compared with the wild-type rice plants in terms of transpirational water loss, long-term dehydration response, and chlorophyll content. Moreover, the knock-down or suppression of the OsPUB41 gene did not cause adverse effect on rice yield-related traits. Yeast two-hybrid and an in vitro pull-down analyses revealed that OsCLC6, a chloride channel, is a putative substrate of OsPUB41. Overall, these results suggest that OsPUB41 acts as a negative regulator of dehydration conditions and interacts with OsCLC6, implying that it is a substrate of OsPUB41.