Plant Science最新文献_第10页

SiGSTU18 positively regulates saline-alkali tolerance in foxtail millet through glutathione metabolism and glutamic acid-mediated alleviation of oxidative stress and ion toxicity SiGSTU18通过谷胱甘肽代谢和谷氨酸介导的氧化应激和离子毒性的缓解正向调节谷子的耐盐碱性。

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112933

Yun Li , Yuxue Zhao , Fuxing Xiang , Fangying Chen , Yanrui Xu , Xiaohu Lin , Jihan Cui , Yucui Han

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying saline-alkali tolerance in foxtail millet, a comparative proteomic analysis was conducted using two varieties with contrasting tolerance levels: JK3 (tolerant) and B175 (sensitive). Leaf samples were collected at 0 h, 12 h, and 24 h after saline-alkali stress treatment. The differentially expressed proteins unique to JK3 were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways such as glutathione, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. Integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analysis revealed 17 co-upregulated differentially expressed genes exclusive to JK3. Among these, SiGSTU18 (Seita.9G347000), involved in glutathione metabolism, was identified as a key candidate gene for saline-alkali tolerance. Functional studies demonstrated that under saline-alkali stress, SiGSTU18-silenced plants exhibited significantly reduced plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight compared to non-silenced controls. Physiologically, silencing SiGSTU18 disrupted ion homeostasis and resulted in decreased catalase (CAT) activity and proline (Pro) content, leading to elevated hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels. This oxidative stress increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, ultimately inhibiting plant growth. To further validate the role of SiGSTU18, glutamic acid—a downstream metabolite—was exogenously applied. The addition of glutamic acid significantly alleviated growth inhibition under saline-alkali stress compared to untreated plants. These results indicate that SiGSTU18 positively regulates saline-alkali tolerance in foxtail millet. This study provides important theoretical insights into the molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance in foxtail millet and offers valuable genetic resources for breeding saline-alkali tolerant varieties.

为阐明谷子耐盐碱的机制，对JK3（耐盐碱）和B175（敏感盐碱）两个不同耐盐碱水平的谷子品种进行了比较蛋白质组学分析。分别于盐碱胁迫处理后0h、12h和24h采集叶片样品。JK3特有的差异表达蛋白在谷胱甘肽、丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢等代谢途径中显著富集。综合蛋白质组学和转录组学分析显示，JK3独有的17个共同上调的差异表达基因。其中，参与谷胱甘肽代谢的SiGSTU18 （Seita.9G347000）被确定为盐碱耐受的关键候选基因。功能研究表明，在盐碱胁迫下，sigstu18沉默植株的株高、鲜重和干重明显低于未沉默植株。生理上，沉默SiGSTU18破坏了离子稳态，导致过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性和脯氨酸（Pro）含量降低，导致过氧化氢（h2o2）水平升高。这种氧化胁迫增加丙二醛（MDA）含量，最终抑制植物生长。为了进一步验证SiGSTU18的作用，我们外源应用谷氨酸——一种下游代谢物。与未处理植株相比，添加谷氨酸显著缓解了盐碱胁迫下的生长抑制。上述结果表明，SiGSTU18正调控谷子耐盐碱能力。该研究为谷子耐盐碱分子机制的研究提供了重要的理论依据，并为选育耐盐碱品种提供了宝贵的遗传资源。

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引用次数: 0

The hidden role of amino acids and secondary metabolites in plant drought tolerance 氨基酸和次生代谢物在植物抗旱性中的隐藏作用。

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-29 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112919

Ali Raza , Hajar Salehi , Maryam Madadkar Haghjou , Md Atikur Rahman , Yuqi Peng , Yiran Li , Sidra Charagh , M. Iqbal R. Khan , Yinglong Chen , Kadambot H.M. Siddique , Zhangli Hu

Drought stress (DS) severely threatens global crop productivity by disrupting key physiological, biochemical, and metabolic processes during plant development, ultimately leading to substantial yield losses. Though plants have evolved various adaptive mechanisms, their effectiveness remains species- and environment-dependent. Recent research increasingly explores green chemical interventions, particularly the roles of amino acids (AAs) and secondary metabolites (SMs) in enhancing DS tolerance. These bioactive compounds, including proline, glycine betaine, alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, phenylalanine, phenolics, terpenes, and nitrogen-containing compounds, play critical roles in osmoprotection, antioxidative defense, cellular homeostasis, transcriptional regulation, and stress-responsive gene expression. Nevertheless, undetermined paradoxes persist (e.g., proline/lignin accumulation can be shielding or growth-limiting depending on species and stress context), along with species-specific AA/SM responses, and the lack of integrated AA-SM flux examinations. This also features that AAs and SMs act as context-specific rather than universally beneficial compounds. To address these gaps, we propose specific, verifiable postulates (e.g., isotope tracking of AA-derived carbon into SM pathways and conditional genetic perturbations of biosynthetic nodes under field DS). We also highlight advances in genetic engineering tools to optimize AA and SM biosynthesis and regulation. Overall, this review synthesizes conceptual innovations and proposes future directions for developing drought-smart crop plants that can drive targeted metabolic interventions for future food security. We anticipate that integrating metabolic flux testing, omics-driven gene-metabolite mapping, and field validation will help bridge the gap between mechanistic insights and field applications.

干旱胁迫通过破坏植物发育过程中的关键生理、生化和代谢过程，严重威胁全球作物生产力，最终导致大量产量损失。虽然植物已经进化出各种适应机制，但它们的有效性仍然依赖于物种和环境。最近的研究越来越多地探索绿色化学干预，特别是氨基酸（AAs）和次生代谢物（SMs）在增强DS耐受性中的作用。这些生物活性化合物，包括脯氨酸、甘氨酸甜菜碱、丙氨酸、γ-氨基丁酸、苯丙氨酸、酚类物质、萜烯和含氮化合物，在渗透保护、抗氧化防御、细胞稳态、转录调节和应激反应性基因表达中发挥重要作用。然而，不确定的悖论仍然存在（例如，脯氨酸/木质素积累可以屏蔽或生长限制取决于物种和胁迫环境），以及物种特异性AA/SM反应，以及缺乏综合AA-SM通量检查。这也表明，AAs和SMs是特定于环境的，而不是普遍有益的化合物。为了解决这些差距，我们提出了具体的、可验证的假设（例如，aa衍生碳进入SM途径的同位素跟踪和野外DS下生物合成节点的条件遗传扰动）。我们还重点介绍了基因工程工具在优化AA和SM生物合成和调控方面的进展。总的来说，这篇综述综合了概念创新，并提出了未来发展干旱智能作物的方向，这些作物可以驱动有针对性的代谢干预，以保障未来的粮食安全。我们预计，整合代谢通量测试、组学驱动的基因代谢物图谱和现场验证将有助于弥合机制见解和现场应用之间的差距。

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引用次数: 0

ZoERF60 enhances antioxidant defense and osmotic homeostasis for heat and humidity resilience in ginger ZoERF60增强生姜抗氧化防御和渗透平衡，增强生姜热湿恢复能力

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-11 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112935

Deqi Liu , Lihui Jiang , Lang Jiang , Tingting Zhou , Yanbi Wu , JiaWei Ma , Yiqing Liu , Xuemei Zhang

The ERF transcription factor (TF) family performs a central function in plant adaptation to abiotic stress. This study identified 66 ZoERF genes in the ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), phylogenetically classified into six subgroups. Collinearity analysis showed that segmental duplication is the primary driver in ZoERF expansion and demonstrated ginger’s closer evolutionary affinity to monocots than dicots. Promoter analysis indicated 43 TF binding sites across the family, highlighting complex transcriptional networks governing stress responses. Under high temperature and high humidity (HTHH) stress, ZoERF60 showed significant tissue-wide upregulation (roots/stems/leaves), corroborated by HTHH-inducible GUS activity. While also responsive to individual high-temperature (HT) or high-humidity (HH) treatments, ZoERF60 expression was highest under combined HTHH stress. Functional characterization demonstrated that ZoERF60 has nuclear localization and transcriptional self-activation capacity. Yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed that ZoERF60 specifically binds to the GCC-box element, implicating it in the regulation of downstream stress-related genes. Heterologous overexpression of ZoERF60 in tobacco significantly enhanced tolerance to both HT and HTHH stresses through reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, elevated antioxidant enzyme activities, increased proline (Pro) biosynthesis, and decreased malondialdehyde content. Conversely, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of ZoERF60 in ginger compromised reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and amplified oxidative damage. This study elucidates ZoERF60’s role as a master regulator of HTHH resilience and provides a genetic resource for climate-resilient crop development.

ERF转录因子（TF）家族在植物适应非生物胁迫中起着核心作用。本研究鉴定了生姜（Zingiber officinale Roscoe）中66个ZoERF基因，并将其系统发育分为6个亚群。共线性分析表明，片段重复是ZoERF扩增的主要驱动因素，表明生姜与单子叶的亲缘性比双子叶的亲缘性更强。启动子分析表明，整个家族中有43个TF结合位点，突出了控制应激反应的复杂转录网络。在高温高湿（HTHH）胁迫下，ZoERF60在组织范围内（根/茎/叶）表现出显著的上调，这与HTHH诱导的GUS活性证实了这一点。虽然ZoERF60也对高温或高湿处理有响应，但在高温和高湿联合胁迫下表达量最高。功能表征表明ZoERF60具有核定位和转录自激活能力。酵母单杂交实验证实，ZoERF60特异性结合GCC-box元件，暗示其参与下游应激相关基因的调控。异源过表达ZoERF60通过减少活性氧积累、提高抗氧化酶活性、增加脯氨酸（Pro）生物合成和降低丙二醛含量，显著增强烟草对HT和HTHH胁迫的耐受性。相反，姜中病毒诱导的ZoERF60基因沉默（VIGS）损害了活性氧（ROS）的清除和氧化损伤的放大。这项研究阐明了ZoERF60作为HTHH抗逆性的主要调控因子的作用，并为气候抗逆性作物的发展提供了遗传资源。

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引用次数: 0

CRISPR/Cas-mediated polyphenol oxidase gene knockout in potato reveals divergent roles in resistance to bacterial wilt and late blight CRISPR/ cas介导的马铃薯多酚氧化酶基因敲除揭示了马铃薯抗青枯病和晚疫病的不同作用。

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112944

Jeny Jose , Kamirán Áron Hamow , Csaba Éva , Blanka Moncsek , Tetiana Kyrpa , Liesel Gamarra Reinoso , Zoltán Bozsó , József Bakonyi , Ervin Balázs , László Sági

Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) play a pivotal role in plant immune responses by catalysing the oxidation of phenolic compounds into cytotoxic quinones and melanin and contributing to the fortification of cell walls. Despite their biological significance, the high expression of PPOs in potatoes is not desirable due to their promotion of tuber browning. This study elucidates the relationship between PPO activity and defense mechanisms against the diverse pathogens Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) and Phytophthora infestans (Pi) while mitigating enzymatic browning. CRISPR/Cas-mediated editing of the tuber- and root-specific PPO genes in the ‘Désirée’ and ‘Balatoni Rózsa’ potato cultivars considerably reduced enzymatic activity and browning. Among four PPO-edited mutant lines, three exhibited increased susceptibility to Rs while responses to Pi remained unchanged, underscoring the importance of PPOs in resistance to Rs. The PPO knockouts resulted in significant shifts in metabolite and hormone profiles characterized by elevated levels of dihydrokaempferol, coniferyl alcohol and taxifolin among other metabolites in the roots of Rs-susceptible mutants. Additionally, reduced PPO activity in these lines correlated with increased concentrations of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and several antimicrobial compounds and alterations in flavonoid regulation. These findings highlight the complex role of PPOs in plant defense, establishing a positive correlation between PPO activity and resistance to Rs, while offering insights into the trade-offs associated with PPO gene editing in potatoes.

多酚氧化酶（PPOs）通过催化酚类化合物氧化成细胞毒性醌和黑色素，并有助于细胞壁的强化，在植物免疫应答中发挥关键作用。尽管具有重要的生物学意义，但PPOs在马铃薯中的高表达是不可取的，因为它们会促进块茎褐变。本研究阐明了PPO活性与抗多种病原菌番茄枯萎病菌（Ralstonia solanacearum, Rs）和疫霉（Phytophthora infestans, Pi）的防御机制之间的关系，同时减轻酶促褐变。CRISPR/ cas介导的马铃薯品种“dsamsipras”和“Balatoni Rózsa”中块茎和根特异性PPO基因的编辑显著降低了酶活性和褐变。在4个经过PPO编辑的突变系中，3个突变系对Rs的敏感性增加，而对Pi的反应保持不变，这强调了PPO在Rs抗性中的重要性。PPO敲除导致Rs易感突变体根部代谢物和激素谱发生显著变化，其特征是双氢山酚、松柏醇和杉木素等代谢物水平升高。此外，这些品系PPO活性的降低与水杨酸、茉莉酸和几种抗菌化合物浓度的增加以及类黄酮调节的改变有关。这些发现强调了PPO在植物防御中的复杂作用，建立了PPO活性与抗Rs之间的正相关关系，同时为马铃薯PPO基因编辑相关的权衡提供了见解。

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引用次数: 0

A gradient of freezing tolerance in Qingke reveals specific metabolic and antioxidant adaptations in tolerant varieties 青科耐冻性梯度揭示了耐冻品种的代谢和抗氧化适应性。

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-18 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2026.112995

Congping Xu , Naoxue Fei , Yangna Si , Xingquan Zeng , Haizhen Yang

Freezing stress (< 0°C) is a major constraint on Qingke cultivation at high altitudes, severely affecting yield and quality. In this study, we selected three Qingke types with varying freezing tolerance and employed physiological and metabolomic approaches to analyze the global physiological and metabolic changes following freezing stress. We found that the cold-tolerant Qingke type (Ct) maintained higher antioxidant enzyme activity and had the lowest levels of electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde, indicating its strong freezing tolerance. Metabolomic analysis revealed metabolic reprogramming in Qingke under freezing stress, characterized by decreased synthesis of primary metabolites (amino acids, carbohydrates, and some organic acids) and increased accumulation of protective compounds. Notably, the Ct is specifically enriched in flavonoids and key membrane lipids, including fatty acids, glycerolipids, and glycerophospholipids. This suggests that these pathways are crucial for Qingke’s freezing tolerance. Additionally, Ct accumulated the highest levels of total flavonoids and phenolics and exhibited the strongest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities after freezing stress, further confirming the close relationship between the accumulation of flavonoids and phenolic compounds and Qingke freezing tolerance. In summary, the cold-tolerant type Ct produces more ROS-scavenging substances than the sensitive variety, thereby enhancing its tolerance to freezing stress. This study provides new insights into Qingke freezing tolerance and potential metabolic pathways for breeding new freezing-tolerant Qingke varieties.

低温胁迫（< 0℃）是高海拔青稞栽培的主要制约因素，严重影响青稞的产量和品质。在这项研究中，我们选择了三种不同抗冻性的青科植物，并采用生理和代谢方法分析了冰冻胁迫后全球的生理和代谢变化。结果表明，耐寒青科型（Ct）抗氧化酶活性较高，电解质渗漏和丙二醛含量最低，具有较强的抗冻性。代谢组学分析显示，冰冻胁迫下青稞的代谢重编程，主要表现为初级代谢物（氨基酸、碳水化合物和一些有机酸）合成减少，保护性化合物积累增加。值得注意的是，Ct特别富含类黄酮和关键的膜脂，包括脂肪酸、甘油脂和甘油磷脂。这表明这些途径对青可的抗冻性至关重要。冻干胁迫后，黄酮类化合物和酚类化合物的积累量最高，清除DPPH和ABTS自由基的能力最强，进一步证实了黄酮类化合物和酚类化合物的积累与青科抗冻性之间的密切关系。综上所述，耐寒型Ct比敏感型产生更多的活性氧清除物质，从而增强了其对冰冻胁迫的耐受性。本研究为青可耐冻性研究提供了新的思路，并为选育耐冻青可新品种提供了潜在的代谢途径。

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引用次数: 0

Genome-wide identification of the CIPK gene family in Medicago sativa and functional characterization of MsCIPK2 in salt stress tolerance 紫花苜蓿CIPK基因家族的全基因组鉴定及MsCIPK2在盐胁迫耐受中的功能表征

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112921

Fenqi Chen , Yun A , Jinqing Zhang

The CIPK (CBL-interacting protein kinase) family is a plant-specific serine/threonine protein kinase family that plays an important role in responses to various abiotic stresses. However, the systematic identification and functional investigation of the CIPK gene family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) remain inadequate. Based on genome-wide data from alfalfa, this study identified 33 CIPK genes using the HMMER method. The seven subgroups of MsCIPK gene were divided by phylogenetic tree and gene structure analysis, as well as the composition, structural characteristics, and evolutionary relationships of this family were systematically analyzed. Physicochemical properties suggested significant differences in molecular weight, isoelectric point, and hydrophobicity among the different MsCIPK proteins. Collinearity analysis revealed the highest CIPK gene homology between M. sativa and M. truncatula. Combining transcriptome sequencing with qRT-PCR analysis, it was found that MsCIPK2 was significantly induced under salt stress. Further heterologous expression experiments showed that the MsCIPK2-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis exhibited significantly higher Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, qP, and NPQ values under salt stress than the wild type (WT). Compared with the WT, the overexpressing lines demonstrated significantly increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, POD, and CAT, as well as Pro content, while significantly decreased MDA content. In summary, this study not only systematically revealed the characteristics and evolutionary patterns of the CIPK gene family in alfalfa but also clarified the key role of MsCIPK2 in enhancing salt stress tolerance, providing an important theoretical basis and candidate gene resources for molecular breeding of salt-tolerant alfalfa.

CIPK （CBL-interacting protein kinase）家族是植物特有的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族，在应对各种非生物胁迫中发挥重要作用。然而，对紫花苜蓿CIPK基因家族的系统鉴定和功能研究仍然不足。本研究基于紫花苜蓿全基因组数据，利用HMMER方法鉴定了33个CIPK基因。通过系统发育树和基因结构分析，将MsCIPK基因划分为7个亚群，并对该家族的组成、结构特征及进化关系进行系统分析。理化性质表明，不同MsCIPK蛋白在分子量、等电点和疏水性方面存在显著差异。共线性分析结果显示，紫芥与短叶菊的CIPK基因同源性最高。结合转录组测序和qRT-PCR分析，发现MsCIPK2在盐胁迫下被显著诱导。进一步的异源表达实验表明，过表达mscipk2的转基因拟南芥在盐胁迫下的Fv/Fm、ΦPSII、qP和NPQ值显著高于野生型（WT）。与WT相比，过表达系SOD、POD、CAT等抗氧化酶活性和Pro含量显著增加，MDA含量显著降低。综上所述，本研究不仅系统揭示了紫花苜蓿CIPK基因家族的特征和进化模式，还阐明了MsCIPK2在提高紫花苜蓿耐盐性中的关键作用，为紫花苜蓿耐盐分子育种提供了重要的理论依据和候选基因资源。

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引用次数: 0

SbHMA5 is a P1B-type Cu ATPase involved in Cu homeostasis by interacting with metallochaperones SbATX1 and SbFRN3 shbhma5是一种p1b型铜atp酶，通过与金属伴侣SbATX1和SbFRN3相互作用参与铜稳态。

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-21 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112956

Dimiru Tadesse , Matthew A. Tancos , Million Tadege

Copper (Cu) is required by prokaryotes and eukaryotes for fundamental life processes including photosynthesis, respiration and neurotransmission but excess Cu is toxic, causing severe problems ranging from weak plant growth to Wilson’s disease in humans. Copper homeostasis was shown to be tightly regulated by P1B-type ATPase in yeast and other model organisms but the molecular mechanism by which sorghum plants maintain this delicate balance of Cu homeostasis remains poorly understood. We identified 31 orthologs of P1B-type metal transporters in Sorghum bicolor. From the identified sorghum orthologs of P1B-type ATPases, we complemented the yeast ∆ccc2 mutant with SbHMA5. We showed that SbHMA5 encodes a P1B- type Cu ATPase homologous to OsHMA5 and AtHMA5. The SbHMA5 transcript is detected in most sorghum tissues and induced by CuSO4 treatment. The protein is predominantly localized in the plasma membrane and physically interacts with Cu chaperones SbATX1 and SbFRN3. Our results suggest that SbHMA5 is an efflux carrier involved in Cu homeostasis required for sorghum growth and development.

原核生物和真核生物都需要铜（Cu）来进行光合作用、呼吸和神经传递等基本生命过程，但过量的铜是有毒的，会导致从植物生长缓慢到人类威尔逊氏病等严重问题。在酵母和其他模式生物中，铜稳态被证明受到p1b型atp酶的严格调节，但高粱植物维持这种微妙的铜稳态平衡的分子机制尚不清楚。我们在高粱双色中鉴定了31个p1b型金属转运蛋白的同源物。从已鉴定的高粱p1b型atp酶同源物中，我们将酵母ccc2突变体与shbhma5进行了互补。我们发现shhma5编码一个与OsHMA5和AtHMA5同源的P1B型Cu atp酶。在大多数高粱组织中检测到shbhma5转录本，并被CuSO4诱导。该蛋白主要定位于质膜，并与Cu伴侣SbATX1和SbFRN3物理相互作用。结果表明，shbhma5是参与高粱生长发育所需Cu稳态的外排载体。

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引用次数: 0

The DYW-type pentatricopeptide repeat protein DEK618 interacts with ZmMORFs to modulate mitochondrial RNA editing and kernel development in maize dyw型五肽重复蛋白DEK618与ZmMORFs相互作用，调节玉米线粒体RNA编辑和籽粒发育。

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-22 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112897

Song Zhang , Zheyuan Wang , Zilong Wang , Yanyan Zhang , Weiwei Chen , Yuxin Xie , Xuemei Du , Jianhua Wang , Junjie Fu , Riliang Gu , Yu Cui

C-to-U editing is a critical post-transcriptional modification process in plant mitochondrial RNAs, involving the conversion of specific cytidine (C) residues to uridine (U). Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins serve as site-specific recognition factors in this process. Although certain DYW-type PPR proteins (DYW-PPR) are known to participate in the post-transcriptional processing of mitochondrial RNAs, the functions of more than 60 DYW-PPR proteins in maize remain uncharacterized. In this study, we identify a novel DYW-PPR protein, DEK618, which is associated with defective kernel development and dwarfism in maize. A 254 bp insertion in the Dek618 gene disrupted protein expression and resulted in abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Loss of DEK618 function altered the editing efficiency at 88 C-to-U sites. Notably, editing at cob-298, ccmC-184, ccmB-428, and ccmFC-1219 was completely abolished in the dek618 mutant, likely due to impaired mitochondrial function affecting the assembly and activity of mitochondrial complex III. Furthermore, DEK618 was found to physically interact with ZmMORF1 and ZmMORF8, suggesting that these proteins collaborate to facilitate C-to-U RNA editing as part of a complex within mitochondria.

C-to-U编辑是植物线粒体rna中一个关键的转录后修饰过程，涉及将特定的胞苷(C)残基转化为尿苷(U)。五肽重复（PPR）蛋白在这一过程中作为位点特异性识别因子。虽然已知某些dyw型PPR蛋白（DYW-PPR）参与线粒体rna的转录后加工，但玉米中超过60种DYW-PPR蛋白的功能仍未被表征。在这项研究中，我们鉴定了一种新的DYW-PPR蛋白DEK618，该蛋白与玉米籽粒发育缺陷和侏儒症有关。Dek618基因中254bp的插入破坏了蛋白表达，导致线粒体形态异常。DEK618功能的缺失改变了88个C-to-U位点的编辑效率。值得注意的是，在dek618突变体中，cob-298、ccmC-184、ccmB-428和ccmFC-1219的编辑被完全取消，可能是由于线粒体功能受损影响了线粒体复合物III的组装和活性。此外，DEK618被发现与ZmMORF1和ZmMORF8物理相互作用，表明这些蛋白作为线粒体内复合物的一部分协同促进C-to-U RNA编辑。

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引用次数: 0

Functional characterization of two RgRHM genes involved in UDP-rhamnose and acteoside biosynthesis in Rehmannia glutinosa 地黄udp -鼠李糖和毛蕊糖苷合成中两个RgRHM基因的功能研究

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2026.112983

Yanhui Yang, Zhenli Cao, Shiwen Zhang, Pengpeng Liu, Weiwei Wang, Ziyan Liu

UDP-rhamnose synthase (RHM) is a key enzyme that provides the sugar donor UDP-L-rhamnose (UDP-Rha) for the biosynthesis of rhamnosides. Although RHM genes have been characterized in some plants, their functions in the medicinal plant Rehmannia glutinosa, which is known for accumulating the bioactive rhamnoside acteoside, are uncharacterized. In this study, two RHM genes (RgRHM1 and RgRHM2) were identified through in silico analysis. The encoded proteins share high sequence identity (mostly exceeding 80 %) with their plant counterparts and contain typical conserved domains and catalytic motifs. Expression analysis revealed that both RgRHM genes exhibit distinct tissue-specific patterns, with transcript levels increasing progressively during leaf maturation. In vitro enzyme activity assays confirmed that both RgRHM1 and RgRHM2 catalyze the conversion of UDP-D-glucose (UDP-Glc) to UDP-Rha, and RgRHM1 exhibited higher catalytic efficiency. Moreover, overexpression of RgRHM1 or RgRHM2 in transgenic R. glutinosa plants significantly increased the levels of L-rhamnose, decaffeoylacteoside and acteoside. Furthermore, the expression of key genes, including RgURTs (encoding UDP-rhamnose:rhamnosyltransferase) and RgHCTs (shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase), was markedly upregulated in the overexpressing lines. These results indicate that RgRHMs contribute to acteoside biosynthesis not only by supplying UDP-Rha but also by modulating the pathway’s transcriptional coordination. These findings provide molecular insights into acteoside biosynthesis and position RgRHMs as key targets for metabolic engineering to improve the production of valuable rhamnosides in R. glutinosa.

糖苷-鼠李糖合成酶（RHM）是鼠李糖苷生物合成过程中提供糖供体udp - l -鼠李糖（UDP-Rha）的关键酶。虽然RHM基因已在一些植物中被鉴定，但其在药用植物地黄中的功能尚不清楚，地黄以积累生物活性鼠李糖苷毛蕊糖苷而闻名。本研究通过芯片分析鉴定了两个RHM基因（RgRHM1和RgRHM2）。所编码的蛋白与植物同源蛋白具有较高的序列一致性（多数超过80% %），并含有典型的保守结构域和催化基序。表达分析表明，两个RgRHM基因表现出不同的组织特异性模式，转录水平在叶片成熟过程中逐渐增加。体外酶活性测定证实，RgRHM1和RgRHM2均能催化udp - d -葡萄糖（UDP-Glc）转化为UDP-Rha，且RgRHM1表现出更高的催化效率。此外，RgRHM1或RgRHM2的过表达显著提高了l -鼠李糖、脱咖啡因糖苷和毛蕊糖苷的含量。此外，RgURTs（编码鼠李糖：鼠李糖基转移酶）和rghct （shikimate o -羟基肉桂基转移酶）等关键基因的表达在过表达系中显著上调。这些结果表明，RgRHMs不仅通过提供UDP-Rha，还通过调节该途径的转录协调来促进毛蕊花苷的生物合成。这些发现为毛蕊糖苷的生物合成提供了分子视角，并将rgrhm定位为代谢工程的关键靶点，以提高毛蕊糖苷的产量。

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引用次数: 0

The papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCP) in tomato: Identification, expression analysis, and functional characterization of SlRD19B under salt stress 盐胁迫下番茄木瓜样半胱氨酸蛋白酶SlRD19B的鉴定、表达分析及功能表征

IF 4.1 2区生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Plant Science

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2026.112974

Jiaxuan Zhu, Ruirui Yang, Yan Li, Ruili Lv, Huimin Li, Yao Yao, Yushi Luan

Papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) are key enzymes involved in protein hydrolysis and play critical roles in plant growth, development, and responses to stresses. Although PLCPs have been systematically identified in various plant species, their functions in tomato remain largely unexplored, particularly their roles in salt stress adaptation. In this study, we identified 32 PLCP genes in the tomato genome and classified them into nine subfamilies. We found that the promoter regions of SlPLCP genes are enriched with stress-responsive elements. Combining transcriptome data and qRT-PCR analysis showed that SlRD19B was the most significantly upregulated gene under salt stress. Further functional studies demonstrated that silencing SlRD19B enhanced tomato sensitivity to salt stress, as evidenced by severe leaf wilting, increased membrane damage, reduced osmotic adjustment capacity, inhibited root growth, and an elevated Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. Additionally, SlRD19B-silenced plants exhibited excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and disrupted antioxidant enzyme activities under salt stress, characterized by increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities but decreased peroxidase (POD) activity. This study systematically reveals the crucial role of the SlPLCP gene family in tomato salt stress response and provides new insights into the functional mechanisms of PLCP genes in plants.

木瓜素样半胱氨酸蛋白酶（PLCPs）是参与蛋白质水解的关键酶，在植物生长发育和逆境响应中起着关键作用。虽然PLCPs已经在不同的植物物种中被系统地鉴定出来，但它们在番茄中的功能，特别是在盐胁迫适应中的作用仍未得到充分的研究。在这项研究中，我们在番茄基因组中鉴定了32个PLCP基因，并将它们分为9个亚科。我们发现SlPLCP基因的启动子区域富含应激响应元件。结合转录组数据和qRT-PCR分析发现，SlRD19B是盐胁迫下表达上调最显著的基因。进一步的功能研究表明，沉默SlRD19B增强了番茄对盐胁迫的敏感性，表现为叶片严重萎蔫、膜损伤增加、渗透调节能力降低、根生长受到抑制、Na + /K +比值升高。此外，slrd19b沉默植株在盐胁迫下活性氧（ROS）积累过多，抗氧化酶活性被破坏，表现为超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性升高，过氧化物酶（POD）活性降低。本研究系统揭示了SlPLCP基因家族在番茄盐胁迫响应中的重要作用，为PLCP基因在植物中的作用机制提供了新的认识。

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引用次数: 0