The multilayered hierarchical gene regulatory network reveals interaction of transcription factors in response to cadmium inTamarix hispidaroots

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that affects the normal growth and development of plants. Roots may directly contact Cd are thus serve as the first barrier in the defense responses of plants. In this study, Tamarix hispida roots treated with 150 μM CdCl2 were collected for RNA-seq. A total of 2,004 DEGs were identified at different time points. KEGG enrichment revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and other metabolic pathways. To explore the regulatory role of transcription factors (TFs) involved in the Cd stress response, a multilayer hierarchical gene regulatory network (ML-hGRN) was constructed, including 53 TFs and 54 structural genes in ML-hGRN, with 341 predicted regulatory relationships. Binding of DRE1A, MYC1, FEZ, ERF4, and ERF17 to predicted target genes was detected by ChIP-PCR, and DRE1A, MYC1 and FEZ were transiently overexpressed in T. hispida. The results suggest that these TFs play a key role in the Cd stress response by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). In conclusion, this study predicts some Cd-responsive TFs that may have an important function under Cd stress and provides useful information for molecular breeding.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics association analysis revealed the responses of Gynostemma pentaphyllum to cadmium

“…As crucial transcriptional regulators, WRKY, MYB, and bZIP must play a significant role in the Cd response of plants ( Yuan et al., 2018 ; Li et al., 2023a ). Overexpression of ThDRE1A , ThMYC1 , and ThFEZ in T. hispida decreased the ROS content after Cd treatment by changes in the enzymatic activities of SOD, CAT, and POD ( Xie et al., 2023 ). Overexpression of PyWRKY75 promoted the absorption and accumulation of Cd, and activated the antioxidant enzymes under Cd stress in poplar ( Wu et al., 2022 ).…”

“…Transcription factors (TFs) have crucial roles in regulating transcription and are important for plants to respond to Cd stress. Recent studies in Tamarix hispida have revealed multi-layered transcriptional networks comprising 53 TFs and 54 structural genes, with 341 regulatory relationships predicted, as well as ThDRE1A , ThMYC1 and ThFEZ , and modulation of the SOD, CAT and POD activities to scavenge ROS after Cd treatment ( Xie et al., 2023 ). PvERF15 and GmWRKY142 were specifically demonstrated to decrease Cd uptake and enhance plant Cd tolerance ( Lin et al., 2017 ; Cai et al., 2020 ).…”

Transcriptome & Metabolic Profiling: An Insight Into the Abiotic Stress Response Crosstalk in Plants

“…As crucial transcriptional regulators, WRKY, MYB, and bZIP must play a significant role in the Cd response of plants (Yuan et al, 2018;Li et al, 2023a). Overexpression of ThDRE1A, ThMYC1, and ThFEZ in T. hispida decreased the ROS content after Cd treatment by changes in the enzymatic activities of SOD, CAT, and POD (Xie et al, 2023). Overexpression of PyWRKY75 promoted the absorption and accumulation of Cd, and activated the antioxidant enzymes under Cd stress in poplar .…”

“…Transcription factors (TFs) have crucial roles in regulating transcription and are important for plants to respond to Cd stress. Recent studies in Tamarix hispida have revealed multilayered transcriptional networks comprising 53 TFs and 54 structural genes, with 341 regulatory relationships predicted, as well as ThDRE1A, ThMYC1 and ThFEZ, and modulation of the SOD, CAT and POD activities to scavenge ROS after Cd treatment (Xie et al, 2023). PvERF15 and GmWRKY142 were specifically demonstrated to decrease Cd uptake and enhance plant Cd tolerance (Lin et al, 2017;Cai et al, 2020).…”