Overexpression of the Zygophyllum xanthoxylum Aquaporin, ZxPIP1;3, Promotes Plant Growth and Stress Tolerance

Abstract

Drought and salinity can result in cell dehydration and water unbalance in plants, which seriously diminish plant growth and development. Cellular water homeostasis maintained by aquaporin is one of the important strategies for plants to cope with these two stresses. In this study, a stress-induced aquaporin, ZxPIP1;3, belonging to the PIP1 subgroup, was identified from the succulent xerophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum. The subcellular localization showed that ZxPIP1;3-GFP was located in the plasma membrane. The overexpression of ZxPIP1;3 in Arabidopsis prompted plant growth under favorable condition. In addition, it also conferred salt and drought tolerance with better water status as well as less ion toxicity and membrane injury, which led to more efficient photosynthesis and improved growth vigor via inducing stress-related responsive genes. This study reveals the molecular mechanisms of xerophytes’ stress tolerance and provides a valuable candidate that could be used in genetic engineering to improve crop growth and stress tolerance.

EuPIP1;2, a Plasma Membrane Aquaporin Gene from Eucommia ulmoides, Enhances Drought and Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco

“…In addition, overexpression of PIP genes improves the salt resistance of plants. For example, overexpression of ScPIP1 [35], ZxPIP1;3 [29], CfPIP1-1, CfPIP1-2, and CfPIP1-4 [36], and MdPIP1;3 [37] improve the salt and drought resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis. Similarly, the current study also showed that EuPIP1;2 improved the salt resistance of transgenic tobacco.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that PIP genes reduce the MDA content and membrane damage under stress in transgenic plants, and assist transgenic plants to maintain a relatively healthy physiological state under stress, thereby improving stress resistance. Under drought or salt stress, transgenic plants that overexpress ScPIP [35], ZxPIP1;3 [29], MSPIP2;2 [32], CmPIP1 [17], or ScPIP2-1 [40] have a lower MDA content than WT plants. The present study showed that under drought stress, the MDA content of transgenic plants was significantly lower than that of WT plants, indicating that the membrane damage suffered by EuPIP1;2-overexpressing plants was not as severe as that experienced by WT type.…”

“…To determine the subcellular localization of EuPIP1;2, the pCambia-35S-EuPIP1;2::GFP vector was constructed. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring this vector was introduced into N. benthamiana leaves for transient expression following the method of Li, et al [29]. The A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the pCambia-35S::GFP vector was used as a control.…”

Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals a role for adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporters and cell wall remodeling in response to salt stress in strawberry

“…In wheat, TaTIP4;1 serves as a positive regulator of salt tolerance by modulating water relations and the accumulation of Na + ( Wang et al, 2022 ). ZxPIP1;3 conferred transgenic plants with salt tolerance by regulating water status and reducing ion toxicity ( Li et al, 2021 ). MaPIP1;1 enhanced banana salt tolerance via affecting the contents of Na + and K + ( Xu et al, 2021 ).…”

Molecular Aspects of Plant Salinity Stress and Tolerance

“…The authors suggested that MpCML40 contributed to the proline accumulation for reducing the damage caused by reactive oxygen species. A stress-induced aquaporin, ZxPIP1;3 , was identified by Li et al from succulent xerophyte, is belonging to the PIP1 subgroup of plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) [ 7 ]. The overexpression of ZxPIP1;3 in Arabidopsis showed certain improvements in growth and physiological attributes which lead to more efficient photosynthesis under salinity and drought stresses.…”