Genome-wide analysis of ZAT gene family revealed GhZAT6 regulates salt stress tolerance in G. hirsutum. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Guoquan; Liu, Zhao; Li, Shengdong; Qanmber, Ghulam; Liu, Le; Guo, Mengzhen; Lu, Lili; Ma, Shuya; Li, Fuguang; Yang, Zuoren
• Is Part Of: Plant science. Volume 312(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: ZFPs zinc-finger proteins -- Gr G. raimondii -- Ga G. arboreum -- Gh G. hirsutum -- ABA Abscisic Acid -- ROS reactive oxygen species -- TRV Tobacco Rattle Virus -- H2O2 hydrogen peroxide -- WT wild-type -- VIGS virus induced gene silencing; Zinc-finger -- ZAT -- Phylogenetic analysis -- Transactivation activity -- Salt stress tolerance; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2021.111055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-9452

Abstract

Highlights: GhZAT family genes play an important role in cotton stress resistance. 44 GhZAT genes were identified in G. hirsutum . 16 GhZAT genes generally responded to NaCl and ABA stress. GhZAT6 play an important role in salt resistance of cotton. Abstract: High salt environments can induce stress in different plants. The genes containing the ZAT domain constitute a family that belongs to a branch of the C2 H2 family, which plays a vital role in responding to abiotic stresses. In this study, we identified 169 ZAT genes from seven plant species, including 44 ZAT genes from G. hirsutum . Phylogenetic tree analysis divided ZAT genes in six groups with conserved gene structure, protein motifs. Two C2 H2 domains and an EAR domain and even chromosomal distribution on At and Dt sub-genome chromosomes of G. hirsutum was observed. GhZAT6 was primarily expressed in the root tissue and responded to NaCl and ABA treatments. Subcellular localization found that GhZAT6 was located in the nucleus and demonstrated transactivation activity during a transactivation activity assay. Arabidopsis transgenic lines overexpressing the GhZAT6 gene showed salt tolerance and grew more vigorously than WT on MS medium supplemented with 100 mmol NaCl. Additionally, the silencing of the GhZAT6 gene in cotton plants showed more obvious leaf wilting than the control plants, which were subjected to 400 mmol NaCl treatment. Next, the expressions of GhAPX1, GhFSD1, GhFSD2, and GhSOS3 were significantly lower in the GhZAT6- silenced plants treated with NaCl than the control. Based on these findings, GhZAT6 may be involved in the ABA pathway and mediate salt stress tolerance by regulating ROS-related gene expression.