Snakin-1 affects reactive oxygen species and ascorbic acid levels and hormone balance in potato

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 25;14(3):e0214165. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214165. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Snakin-1 is a member of the Solanum tuberosum Snakin/GASA family. We previously demonstrated that Snakin-1 is involved in plant defense to pathogens as well as in plant growth and development, but its mechanism of action has not been completely elucidated yet. Here, we showed that leaves of Snakin-1 silenced potato transgenic plants exhibited increased levels of reactive oxygen species and significantly reduced content of ascorbic acid. Furthermore, Snakin-1 silencing enhanced salicylic acid content in accordance with an increased expression of SA-inducible PRs genes. Interestingly, gibberellic acid levels were also enhanced and transcriptome analysis revealed that a large number of genes related to sterol biosynthesis were downregulated in these silenced lines. Moreover, we demonstrated that Snakin-1 directly interacts with StDIM/DWF1, an enzyme involved in plant sterols biosynthesis. Additionally, the analysis of the expression pattern of PStSN1::GUS in potato showed that Snakin-1 is present mainly in young tissues associated with active growth and cell division zones. Our comprehensive analysis of Snakin-1 silenced lines demonstrated for the first time in potato that Snakin-1 plays a role in redox balance and participates in a complex crosstalk among different hormones.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Phytosterols / biosynthesis
  • Phytosterols / genetics
  • Plant Growth Regulators* / genetics
  • Plant Growth Regulators* / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves* / genetics
  • Plant Leaves* / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins* / biosynthesis
  • Plant Proteins* / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified* / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified* / metabolism
  • Solanum tuberosum* / genetics
  • Solanum tuberosum* / metabolism

Substances

  • Phytosterols
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Plant Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by PICT 2011- 1377 (to CVR) and PICT 2012-0639 (to NIA) from Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT) and by projects PNBIO 1131022/3 from Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). DV was supported by a mobility grant Montpellier Université d’Excellence (MUSE) EXPLORE #24001146. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.