A novel transcription factor, OsERF106, negatively regulates salinity tolerance in rice by disrupting ion homeostasis

ABSTRACT: Background: Transcription factors (TFs), such as ERFs (Ethylene Responsive Factors), are important for regulating plant growth, development, and plant responses to abiotic stress. Notably, over half of the rice ERF-X group members are stress-responsive genes, including OsERF106. However, their regulatory roles in abiotic stress responses remain poorly understood. Results: The OsERF106, a salinity-induced gene of unknown function, was differently annotated in the RAP-DB and MSU RGAP. In this study, we isolated a novel (i.e., previously unannotated) OsERF106 gene and investigated its role in regulating growth and the response to salinity stress in rice. This OsERF106 is expressed in germinating seeds, primary roots, and developing flowers. Overexpression of the novel OsERF106 can cause a retardation of growth, a relatively high level of both MDA and ROS contents, a depression of CAT activity, and an overaccumulation of both Na+ and K+ ions in the transgenic rice shoots. Meanwhile, the expression of OsHKT1.3 is down-regulated in the shoots of transgenic seedlings grown under both normal and NaCl-treated conditions, while the expression of OsAKT1 is up-regulated in the same tissues grown under NaCl-treated conditions. Further analysis by microarray and qPCR indicated that the expression of several abiotic stress-responsive genes, such as OsABI5 and OsSRO1c, is also changed in the shoots of transgenic rice grown under either normal or NaCl-treated conditions. Conclusion: The novel OsERF106 negatively regulates shoot growth and salinity tolerance in rice through the disruption of ion homeostasis and modulation of stress-responsive gene expression.

ORGANISM(S): Oryza sativa

PROVIDER: GSE160238 | GEO | 2021/09/29

REPOSITORIES: GEO