AtSIZ1 improves salt tolerance by maintaining ionic homeostasis and osmotic balance in Arabidopsis. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Guoliang; Yuan, Fang; Guo, Jianrong; Zhang, Yi; Sui, Na; Wang, Baoshan
• Is Part Of: Plant science. Volume 285(2019)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Arabidopsis -- Salt tolerance -- Salt induced zinc finger protein1 -- Na+ -- K+ content; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.05.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-9452

Abstract

Highlights: AtSIZ1 is a salt-induced C2H2 type zinc finger protein. AtSIZ1 positively improves salt tolerance of Arabidopsis. AtSIZ1 enhances salt tolerance in Arabidopsis by maintaining ionic and osmotic homeostasis. Abstract: C2H2-type zinc finger proteins play important roles in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress tolerance. Here, we explored the role of the C2H2-type zinc finger protein SALT INDUCED ZINC FINGER PROTEIN1 (AtSIZ1; At3G25910) in Arabidopsis thaliana under salt stress. AtSIZ1 expression was induced by salt treatment. During the germination stage, the germination rate, germination energy, germination index, cotyledon growth rate, and root length were significantly higher in AtSIZ1 overexpression lines than in the wild type under various stress treatments, whereas these indices were significantly reduced in AtSIZ1 loss-of-function mutants. At the mature seedling stage, the overexpression lines maintained higher levels of K +, proline, and soluble sugar, lower levels of Na + and MDA, and lower Na + /K + ratios than the wild type. Stress-related marker genes such as SOS1, AtP5CS1, AtGSTU5, COR15A, RD29A, and RD29B were expressed at higher levels in the overexpression lines than the wild type and loss-of-function mutants under salt treatment. These results indicate that AtSIZ1 improves salt tolerance in Arabidopsis by helping plants maintain ionic homeostasis and osmotic balance.