Overexpression of ZmPP2C55 positively enhances tolerance to drought stress in transgenic maize plants. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Pengyu; Yuan, Zhen; Wei, Li; Qiu, Xiao; Wang, Guorui; Liu, Zhixue; Fu, Jiaxu; Cao, Liru; Wang, Tongchao
• Is Part Of: Plant science. Volume 314(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Maize -- Drought tolerance -- PP2C protein -- Overexpression -- Transgenic plants; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2021.111127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-9452

Abstract

Highlights: A unique Serine/threonine protein phosphatases from Zea may was characterized. The overexpression of ZmPP2C55 can significantly strengthen the tolerance to drought stress. ZmPP2C55 interacted with ZmSnRK2.3 and upregulated its expression. Abstract: Serine/threonine protein phosphatases play essential roles in plants. PP2C has diverse functions related to development and stress response, while little is known about the functions of PP2C genes with respect to a variety of stresses in maize. In the present study, three ZmPP2C genes, ZmPP2C55, ZmPP2C28, and ZmPP2C71, were identified. Subcellular localization demonstrated that ZmPP2C28 and ZmPP2C71 were nuclear proteins, and ZmPP2C55 was located in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. qRT–PCR analysis showed that ZmPP2C55, ZmPP2C28, and ZmPP2C71 were expressed in roots, leaves and stems, and the three genes were responsive to drought, salt, high-temperature stress and exogenous ABA treatment. To explore the function of the ZmPP2C gene, ZmPP2C55- overexpressing transgenic lines were generated. The transgenic plants exhibited higher RWC, proline content, POD and SOD activities, GSH content and GSH/GSSG ratio and lower MDA content, electrolyte leakage and GSSG content compared with WT plants under natural stress treatment when seedlings were at the three-leaf. Our results illustrated that the overexpression of ZmPP2C55 positively enhanced tolerance to drought stress.