TaPP2C1, a Group F2 Protein Phosphatase 2C Gene, Confers Resistance to Salt Stress in Transgenic Tobacco

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 9;10(6):e0129589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129589. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Group A protein phosphatases 2Cs (PP2Cs) are essential components of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in Arabidopsis; however, the function of group F2 subfamily PP2Cs is currently less known. In this study, TaPP2C1 which belongs to group F2 was isolated and characterized from wheat. Expression of the TaPP2C1-GFP fusion protein suggested its ubiquitous localization within a cell. TaPP2C1 expression was downregulated by abscisic acid (ABA) and NaCl treatments, but upregulated by H2O2 treatment. Overexpression of TaPP2C1 in tobacco resulted in reduced ABA sensitivity and increased salt resistance of transgenic seedlings. Additionally, physiological analyses showed that improved resistance to salt stress conferred by TaPP2C1 is due to the reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, the improved antioxidant system, and the increased transcription of genes in the ABA-independent pathway. Finally, transgenic tobacco showed increased resistance to oxidative stress by maintaining a more effective antioxidant system. Taken together, these results demonstrated that TaPP2C1 negatively regulates ABA signaling, but positively regulates salt resistance. TaPP2C1 confers salt resistance through activating the antioxidant system and ABA-independent gene transcription process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid / pharmacology
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Germination / drug effects
  • Germination / genetics
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nicotiana / drug effects
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / physiology*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / genetics*
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / drug effects
  • Plant Roots / genetics
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Salinity
  • Salt Tolerance / drug effects
  • Salt Tolerance / genetics
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology*
  • Stress, Physiological / drug effects
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics*
  • Subcellular Fractions / drug effects
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Triticum / drug effects
  • Triticum / enzymology*
  • Triticum / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Abscisic Acid
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Protein Phosphatase 2C

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HQ287800

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Key Project of S & T Research of MoE of China (grant no. 109105), Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (grant no. 2012014211075), Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice in Wuhan University (grant no. KF201302), National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of CATAS (ITBB140204) and the Major Technology Project of Hainan (ZDZX2013023-1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.