Genome-Wide Analysis of the GRAS Gene Family and Functional Identification of GmGRAS37 in Drought and Salt Tolerance

Abstract

GRAS genes, which form a plant-specific transcription factor family, play an important role in plant growth and development and stress responses. However, the functions of GRAS genes in soybean (Glycine max) remain largely unknown. Here, 117 GRAS genes distributed on 20 chromosomes were identified in the soybean genome and were classified into 11 subfamilies. Of the soybean GRAS genes, 80.34% did not have intron insertions, and 54 pairs of genes accounted for 88.52% of duplication events (61 pairs). RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that most GmGRASs were expressed in 14 different soybean tissues examined and responded to multiple abiotic stresses. Results from quantitative real-time PCR analysis of six selected GmGRASs suggested that GmGRAS37 was significantly upregulated under drought and salt stress conditions and abscisic acid and brassinosteroid treatment; therefore, this gene was selected for further study. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that the GmGRAS37 protein was located in the plasma membrane, nucleus, and cytosol. Soybean hairy roots overexpressing GmGRAS37 had improved resistance to drought and salt stresses. In addition, these roots showed increased transcript levels of several drought‐ and salt-related genes. The results of this study provide the basis for comprehensive analysis of GRAS genes and insight into the abiotic stress response mechanism in soybean.

Genome-Wide Analysis of DEAD-box RNA Helicase Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Functional Identification of TaDEAD-box57 in Abiotic Stress Responses

“…Under drought or salt stress, TaDEAD-box57-3B transgenic Arabidopsis plants showed higher germination rates, root lengths, fresh weights and survival rates; moreover, transgenic lines had significantly better growth and higher survival rates than the WT after cold treatment. Chlorophyll content was measured as a proxy for the degree of cellular injury, and MDA content was quantified as a measure of membrane lipid peroxidation ( Gunes et al, 2011 ; Hong et al, 2016 ; Wang T. T. et al, 2020 ; Chen et al, 2021 ). Proline, a common osmoprotectant, is a regulator of osmotic pressure to maintain plant homeostasis in responses to adverse conditions, and generally increases in response to abiotic stress ( Szekely et al, 2008 ; Su et al, 2020 ; Wang et al, 2021 ; Zhao et al, 2021 ).…”

The GRAS gene family in watermelons: identification, characterization and expression analysis of different tissues and root-knot nematode infestations

“…This phenomenon was also found in soybean root GRAS genes; most GmGRAS genes in the PAT1 subfamily were at relatively high expression levels under saline and dehydration stresses while GmGRAS genes in the SCL3 subfamilies displayed distinct correlation patterns ( Wang et al, 2020a ). What’s more, functional identification of GmGRAS37 in the PAT1 subfamily indicated that GmGRAS37 can enhance drought and salt tolerance in transgenic plants by activating the expression of genes involved in abiotic stress responses ( Wang et al, 2020b ). Recent research reported cucumber GRAS genes in the five subfamilies were diversely expressed during low and high temperature, salinity, and exogenous phytohormone treatment.…”

5-Aminolevulinic Acid Improves Morphogenesis and Na+ Subcellular Distribution in the Apical Cells of Cucumis sativus L. Under Salinity Stress

“…In addition, in transgenic tomato plants expressing SbNHX of Sorghum bicolor, the tonoplast Na + /H + antiporter was found to have an interactive relationship with the gene family of the cation/proton antiporter (CPA), such as SOS. This suggests that NHX proteins might assist the cation antiporters on the plasma membrane to excrete Na + from cells and, thus, enhance the salt resistance of plants; however, the mechanism of their interaction remains unclear (Palavalasa et al, 2017). Besides, decrease of Na + in cytoplasm could lead to cut down of ROS and alleviate of stress damages.…”