Abstract
BackgroundThe efficient detection and initiation of appropriate response to abiotic stresses are important to plants survival. The plant G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are diverse membranous proteins that are responsible for signal transduction.ResultsIn this research work, we identified a novel gene of the GPCR domain, transformed and carried out the functional analysis in Arabidopsis under drought and cold stresses. The transgenic lines exposed to drought and cold stress conditions showed higher germination rate, increased root length and higher fresh biomass accumulation. Besides, the levels of antioxidant enzymes, glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) exhibited continuously increasing trends, with approximately threefold higher than the control, implying that these ROS-scavenging enzymes were responsible for the detoxification of ROS induced by drought and cold stresses. Similarly, the transgenic lines exhibited stable cell membrane stability (CMS), reduced water loss rate in the detached leaves and significant values for the saturated leaves compared to the wild types. Highly stress-responsive miRNAs were found to be targeted by the novel gene and based on GO analysis; the protein encoded by the gene was responsible for maintaining an integral component of membrane. In cotton, the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) plants exhibited a higher susceptibility to drought and cold stresses compared to the wild types.ConclusionThe novel GPCR gene enhanced drought and cold stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants by promoting root growth and induction of ROS scavenging enzymes. The outcome showed that the gene had a role in enhancing drought and cold stress tolerance, and can be further exploited in breeding for more stress-resilient and tolerant crops.
Highlights
The efficient detection and initiation of appropriate response to abiotic stresses are important to plants survival
The various properties of the proteins encoded by the tobamovirus replication protein (TOM) genes in the three cotton species exhibited variations, in which the highest isoelectric point values was 10.33 and the lowest pI value was 6.501; the GRAVY values ranged from 0.337 to a maximum value of 0.753, none of the proteins had GRAVY values below zero an indication that the proteins encoded by the TOM genes of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) domain are all hydrophilic
In the determination of the subcellular localization prediction for the proteins encoded by the GPCR genes, all were found to be embedded at the plasma membrane, results which were in agreement to our previous prediction and experimental determination of the subcellular localization of the GPCR proteins in the cell [16]
Summary
The efficient detection and initiation of appropriate response to abiotic stresses are important to plants survival. The plant G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are diverse membranous proteins that are responsible for signal transduction. Plant bodies are complex and due to ever-changing environmental conditions, well-coordinated internal activities are vital for their survival [1]. Being environmental factors are dynamic and require complex response mechanisms by plants, the evolution of various transcription factors has revolutionist plants adaption and acclimation to various forms of abiotic stress factors [4]. The membrane-bound receptors responsible for the detection of endocellular messenger molecules and exocellular messages are majorly grouped into four or five protein families, and the most common one is the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family [6]
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