Overexpression of a Voltage-Dependent Anion-Selective Channel (VDAC) Protein-Encoding Gene, MsVDAC, from Medicago sativa Confers Cold and Drought Tolerance to Transgenic Tobacco.

Mei Yang,Xinhang Duan,Zhaoyu Wang,Hang Yin,Pan Zhang,Yumeng Wang,Kai Zhu,Junrui Zang

doi:10.3390/genes12111706

Abstract

Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) are highly conserved proteins that are involved in the translocation of tRNA and play a key role in modulating plant senescence and multiple pathways. However, the functions of VDACs in plants are still poorly understood. Here, a novel VDAC gene was isolated and identified from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). MsVDAC localized to the mitochondria, and its expression was highest in alfalfa roots and was induced in response to cold, drought and salt treatment. Overexpression of MsVDAC in tobacco significantly increased MDA, GSH, soluble sugars, soluble protein and proline contents under cold and drought stress. However, the activities of SOD and POD decreased in transgenic tobacco under cold stress, while the O2 - content increased. Stress-responsive genes including LTP1, ERD10B and Hxk3 were upregulated in the transgenic plants under cold and drought stress. However, GAPC, CBL1, BI-1, Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD were upregulated only in the transgenic tobacco plants under cold stress, and GAPC, CBL1, and BI-1 were downregulated under drought stress. These results suggest that MsVDAC provides cold tolerance by regulating ROS scavenging, osmotic homeostasis and stress-responsive gene expression in plants, but the improved drought tolerance via MsVDAC may be mainly due to osmotic homeostasis and stress-responsive genes.

Highlights

IntroductionIn nature, they have to cope with abiotic stresses and environmental pressures to maintain their growth [1]
Plants are sessile organisms, and in nature, they have to cope with abiotic stresses and environmental pressures to maintain their growth [1]
Many plant Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) genes that participate in temperature, oxidative stress and salt stress many plant VDAC genes that participate in temperature, oxidative stress and salt stress responses have been characterized [9,28], there have been no studies on these genes in responses have been characterized [9,28], there have been no studies on these genes in alfalfa

Summary

Introduction

In nature, they have to cope with abiotic stresses and environmental pressures to maintain their growth [1]. Cold stress is another major limiting environmental factor that influences plant growth, development, productivity and geographical distribution. Cold stress can cause physiological, metabolic and molecular changes that lead to membrane rearrangement, increased osmotic pressure, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and abnormal functions of mitochondria and other organelles [3,4]. Plants have developed a complex tolerance mechanism to minimize the negative effects of drought and cold stress, including changes at the molecular, physiological, and whole-plant levels to the ecosystem level [5,6]. Identifying the proteins or genes controlling these changes may lead to rapid genetic improvement for drought and cold tolerance of crops

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