Isolation and functional characterization of a cold responsive phosphatidylinositol transfer-associated protein, ZmSEC14p, from maize (Zea may L.)

Abstract

A Sec14-like protein, ZmSEC14p , from maize was structurally analyzed and functionally tested. Overexpression of ZmSEC14p in transgenic Arabidopsis conferred tolerance to cold stress. Sec14-like proteins are involved in essential biological processes, such as phospholipid metabolism, signal transduction, membrane trafficking, and stress response. Here, we reported a phosphatidylinositol transfer-associated protein, ZmSEC14p (accession no. KT932998), isolated from a cold-tolerant maize inbred line using the cDNA-AFLP approach and RACE-PCR method. Full-length cDNA that consisted of a single open reading frame (ORF) encoded a putative polypeptide of 295 amino acids. The ZmSEC14p protein was mainly localized in the nucleus, and its transcript was induced by cold, salt stresses, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment in maize leaves and roots. Overexpression of ZmSEC14p in transgenic Arabidopsis conferred tolerance to cold stress. This tolerance was primarily displayed by the increased germination rate, root length, plant survival rate, accumulation of proline, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and the reduction of oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). ZmSEC14p overexpression regulated the expression of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C, which cleaves phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and generates second messengers (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol) in the phosphoinositide signal transduction pathways. Moreover, up-regulation of some stress-responsive genes such as CBF3, COR6.6, and RD29B in transgenic plants under cold stress could be a possible mechanism for enhancing cold tolerance. Taken together, this study strongly suggests that ZmSEC14p plays an important role in plant tolerance to cold stress.

Impacts of Paraburkholderia phytofirmans Strain PsJN on Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Under High Temperature

“…The total amino acids of bacterized tomato plants reached the highest level during the flowering phase and the first stage of fruit. Similar results were reported in perennial ryegrass treated with exogenous amino acids ( Botta, 2012 ). In addition, in A. thaliana plants exposed to heat stress (40°C), amino acids, fructose, and sucrose with 58 metabolites (including malate) increased during the first half hour of heat stress ( Kaplan et al, 2004 ).…”

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis reveals new metabolic pathways responding to chilling stress in maize seedlings

“…Although extensive researches have been focus on maize chilling stress using segregating populations [29], epigenetics [30], transcriptomics [31], molecular biology [32], however, the molecular mechanism of chilling stress in maize remains to be further elucidated.…”

Biostimulant Action of Protein Hydrolysates: Unraveling Their Effects on Plant Physiology and Microbiome

“…The potential for PH application to minimize the negative effects of thermal stress in several vegetable crops and perennial ryegrass have also been highlighted by several authors ( Marfà et al, 2009 ; Botta, 2013 ). In the first experiment to investigate this potential benefit, the application of hydrolysates coming from animal hemoglobin did not improve strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)…”

“…In many cases, PHs have been demonstrated to play key roles as biostimulants through the modulation of plant molecular and physiological processes that trigger growth, increase yield and alleviate the impact of abiotic stress on crops ( Calvo et al, 2014 ; Yakhin et al, 2017 ). These include salinity, heavy metal, thermal, nutrient stress, and water stress ( Botta, 2013 ; Cerdán et al, 2013 ; Colla et al, 2013 , 2014 ; Ertani et al, 2013 ; Lucini et al, 2015 ; Rouphael et al, 2017a ). Direct effects of PHs on plants include stimulation of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, as well as regulation of N uptake mediated by key enzymes involved in the N assimilation process and regulation of the activity of three enzymes involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase) ( Colla et al, 2015a ; du Jardin, 2015 ; Nardi et al, 2016 ).…”