Characterization of the Glehnia littoralis Non-specific Phospholipase C Gene GlNPC3 and Its Involvement in the Salt Stress Response.

Li Li,Chengyuan Liang,Dongmei Liu,Yang Bai,Yifeng Zhou,Hailing Fang,Xiwu Qi,Qiutong Chen,Naiwei Li,Xu Yu

doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.769599

Li Li, Chengyuan Liang + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.769599

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Abstract

Glehnia littoralis is a medicinal halophyte that inhabits sandy beaches and has high ecological and commercial value. However, the molecular mechanism of salt adaptation in G. littoralis remains largely unknown. Here, we cloned and identified a non-specific phospholipase C gene (GlNPC3) from G. littoralis, which conferred lipid-mediated signaling during the salt stress response. The expression of GlNPC3 was induced continuously by salt treatment. Overexpression of GlNPC3 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased salt tolerance compared to wild-type (WT) plants. GlNPC3-overexpressing plants had longer roots and higher fresh and dry masses under the salt treatment. The GlNPC3 expression pattern revealed that the gene was expressed in most G. littoralis tissues, particularly in roots. The subcellular localization of GlNPC3 was mainly at the plasma membrane, and partially at the tonoplast. GlNPC3 hydrolyzed common membrane phospholipids, such as phosphotidylserine (PS), phosphoethanolamine (PE), and phosphocholine (PC). In vitro enzymatic assay showed salt-induced total non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) activation in A. thaliana GlNPC3-overexpressing plants. Plant lipid profiling showed a significant change in the membrane-lipid composition of A. thaliana GlNPC3-overexpressing plants compared to WT after the salt treatment. Furthermore, downregulation of GlNPC3 expression by virus-induced gene silencing in G. littoralis reduced the expression levels of some stress-related genes, such as SnRK2, P5SC5, TPC1, and SOS1. Together, these results indicated that GlNPC3 and GlNPC3-mediated membrane lipid change played a positive role in the response of G. littoralis to a saline environment.

Highlights

The phospholipase-mediated lipid signaling pathway plays an important role in the abiotic stress response in plants
Based on the G. littoralis salt-related transcriptome data obtained in our previous study (Li et al, 2018), we cloned a non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) that showed a positive response to salt treatment in G. littoralis
The results showed that GlNPC3 positively responded to these treatments in shoots and roots, and the expression of GlNPC3 increased continuously within 24 h after the salt treatment (Figure 2)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

NPC4 is involved in the plant response to abscisic acid (ABA), auxin, phosphate deficiency, hyperosmotic conditions, and salt and Al stresses (Nakamura et al, 2005; Gaude et al, 2008; Peters et al, 2010; Wimalasekera et al, 2010; Kocourková et al, 2011; Yang et al, 2021). NPC5 and its derived DAG mediate lateral root development under salt stress, and NPC5 is involved in galactolipid accumulation during phosphate limitation (Gaude et al, 2008; Peters et al, 2014). Yang et al (2021) indicated that all five OsNPCs showed plasma membrane localization These studies suggest that plant NPCs are involved in numerous biological processes, the functional properties of most plant NPCs await exploration. We cloned and identified GlNPC3 from G. littoralis, which played a positive role in the salt stress response

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT