Nuclear transport factor GmNTF2B‐1 enhances soybean drought tolerance by interacting with oxidoreductase GmOXR17 to reduce reactive oxygen species content

Abstract

SUMMARY Drought is a critical abiotic stressor that modulates soybean yield. Drought stress drastically enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and maintaining ROS content above a cytostatic level but below a cytotoxic level is essential for normal biology processes in plants. At present, most of the known ROS‐scavenging systems are in the cytoplasm, and the mechanism of ROS regulation in the nucleus remains unclear. GmNTF2B‐1 is a member of the IV subgroup in the nucleus transporter family. Its expression is localized to the roots and is stimulated by drought stress. In this study, the overexpression of GmNTF2B‐1 was found to improve the drought tolerance of transgenic soybean by influencing the ROS content in plants. An oxidoreductase, GmOXR17, was identified to interact with GmNTF2B‐1 in the nucleus through the yeast two‐hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. The drought tolerance of GmOXR17 transgenic soybean was similar to that of GmNTF2B‐1. GmNTF2B‐1 was expressed in both cytoplasm and nucleus, and GmOXR17 transferred from the cytoplasm to the nucleus under drought stress. The overexpression of GmNTF2B‐1 enhanced the nuclear entry of GmOXR17, and the overexpression of GmNTF2B‐1 or GmOXR17 could decrease the H2O2 content and oxidation level in the nucleus. In conclusion, the interaction between GmNTF2B‐1 and GmOXR17 may enhance the nuclear entry of GmOXR17, thereby enhancing nuclear ROS scavenging to improve the drought resistance of soybean.

NUCLEAR TRANSPORT FACTOR 2‐LIKE improves drought tolerance by modulating leaf water loss in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

“…Previous studies indicated that Arabidopsis AtNTF2a/b , soybean GmNTF2B‐1 , and wheat TaNTF2 , members of the NTF2L superfamily, were generally localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm (Chen et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2018; Zhao et al., 2006). In addition to the nuclear localization, the NTF2 domain is also essential for autoaggregation, which facilitates the recruitment of the protein to stress granules (SGs) in response to adverse conditions (Abulfaraj et al., 2021).…”

“…These findings substantiate that a more active antioxidant defense system prevails in alfalfa OE plants than in WT or RNAi plants under drought stress. Interestingly, a recent study on soybean showed that GmNTF2B‐1 could interact with the oxidoreductase GmOXR17, which decreases the H 2 O 2 content and oxidation levels in the nucleus to improve the drought tolerance of soybean (Chen et al., 2021). This implies that NTF2L family members might have conserved roles in the activation of the antioxidant defense system under drought stress.…”

“…In contrast, GhMKK3 in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) has an unusual C-terminal extension that encodes an NTF2L domain, and overexpression of GhMKK3 in tobacco enhanced tolerance to drought stress by controlling root growth and ABA-induced stomatal closure (Wang et al, 2016). A recent study also reported that the nucleus-and cytoplasm-localized soybean GmNTF2B-1 interacts with the oxidoreductase GmOXR17, and overexpression of GmNTF2B-1 could improve soybean drought tolerance through enhancing the nuclear entry of GmOXR17 and nuclear ROS scavenging (Chen et al, 2021). However, pioneering research mostly focused on the biological function of NTF2 itself, while the functional roles of many other members of the NTF2L superfamily remain largely uncharacterized so far.…”

Towards Developing Drought-smart Soybeans

“…GmNTF2B-1 improves ROS scavenging under drought stress Chen, K et al, 2021 GmDUFF428-70 Transgenic hairy root assay to over-express GmDUFF428-70…”

ZmLBD2 a maize (Zea mays L.) lateral organ boundaries domain (LBD) transcription factor enhances drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

“…Agricultural economic losses increase year on year as drought rages worldwide. In recent years, a series of genes crucial to combat drought stress has been described in plants ( Sahebi et al., 2018 ; Liu et al., 2020 ; Wei et al., 2021 ; Chen et al., 2021 ; Wang B. et al., 2022 ). Reactive oxygen species (ROS), mainly including superoxide anion radicals ( ), hydroxyl ions (OH - ), hydroxyl radicals (·OH), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), accumulate under drought stress and work in various ways to influence the growth of plants and their responses to environmental stresses ( Wang et al., 2018 ; Xiong et al., 2022 ).…”