LcSAIN1, a Novel Salt-Induced Gene from SheepGrass, Confers Salt Stress Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis and Rice

Abstract

Previously, we identified >1,500 genes that were induced by high salt stress in sheepgrass (Leymus chinensis, Gramineae: Triticeae) when comparing the changes in their transcription levels in response to high salt stress by next-generation sequencing. Among the identified genes, a gene of unknown function (designated as Leymus chinensis salt-induced 1, LcSAIN1) showed a high sequence identity to its homologs from wheat, Hordeum vulgare and Oryza sativa, but LcSAIN1 and its homologs produce hypothetical proteins with no conserved functional domains. Transcription of the LcSAIN1 gene was up-regulated by various stresses. The overexpression of LcSAIN1 in Arabidopsis and rice increased the greening rate of cotyledons, the fresh weight, root elongation, plant height and the plant survival rate when compared with control plants and conferred a tolerance against salt stress. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that LcSAIN1 is localized predominantly in the nucleus. Our results show that the LcSAIN1 gene might play an important positive modulation role in increasing the expression of transcription factors (MYB2 and DREB2A) and functional genes (P5CS and RAB18) in transgenic plants under salt stress and that it augments stress tolerance through the accumulation of compatible solutes (proline and soluble sugar) and the alleviation of changes in reactive oxygen species. The LcSAIN1 gene could be a potential resource for engineering salinity tolerance in important crop species.

A novel transcription factor-like gene SbSDR1 acts as a molecular switch and confers salt and osmotic endurance to transgenic tobacco

“…Although several abiotic stress-responsive genes have been characterised, research has focused on identifying novel gene functions for deciphering the salt stress tolerance mechanism and identifying candidate genes for developing resistant crops833. To explore potential novel genes for developing salinity tolerance in crops, here, we identify a s alt- and d rought- r esponsive gene, SbSDR1 , from Salicornia and functionally characterised it in tobacco for the first time.…”

“…In silico analysis, subcellular localisation and the binding of Sb SDR1 to the genomic DNA of Salicornia and tobacco genomic DNA suggest that Sb SDR1 might functions as a transcription factor. A novel salt-induced gene, LcSAIN1 , cloned from Sheepgrass ( Leymus chinensis ), conferred salt stress tolerance by activating the expression of transcription factors and functional genes in transgenic plants under salt stress33. Similarly, Sb ASR-1 protects the plant from salinity and drought stress and functions as a transcription factor in transgenic groundnut26.…”

“…The SbpAPX gene confers salinity and drought tolerance to tobacco plants at different developmental stages5. Similarly, the overexpression of the novel gene(s) LcSAIN1, MsZEP and the TF, Zmhdz10 in plants leads to the improved tolerance to oxidative stress that is caused by drought and salt stresses161733.…”

Overexpression of a novel cold‐responsive transcript factor LcFIN1 from sheepgrass enhances tolerance to low temperature stress in transgenic plants

“…Among them, LcDREB3a and LcMYB1 improved salt tolerance in transgenic plants; overexpressing LcWRKY5 increased the rates of cotyledon greening and plant survival in Arabidopsis under drought stress (Cheng et al ., ; Ma et al ., ; Peng et al ., ). Using next‐generation sequencing, more than 1500 genes related to high salt stress were identified (Li et al ., ,b). Two of them LcSAIN1 and LcSAIN2 , which were induced by salt and other various abiotic stresses, have been characterized (Li et al ., ,b).…”

“…Using next‐generation sequencing, more than 1500 genes related to high salt stress were identified (Li et al ., ,b). Two of them LcSAIN1 and LcSAIN2 , which were induced by salt and other various abiotic stresses, have been characterized (Li et al ., ,b). Overexpressing LcSAIN1 in rice improves the greening rate of cotyledons, the fresh weight, root elongation, plant height and survival rate in a salinity condition (Li et al ., ).…”