SlbHLH152, a bHLH transcription factor positively regulates iron homeostasis in tomato

Xiaoli Li; Haohao Cao; Deshui Yu; Kedong Xu; Yi Zhang; Xinxin Shangguan; Xiaohong Zheng; Zhongzhou Yang; Chaoqiong Li; Xingchen Pan; Yiming Cui; Zhiqing Zhang; Mengru Han; Yiqing Zhang; Qimeng Sun; Huiling Guo; Jingyi Zhao; Lili Li; Chengwei Li

doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111821

SlbHLH152, a bHLH transcription factor positively regulates iron homeostasis in tomato

Plant Sci. 2023 Oct:335:111821. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111821. Epub 2023 Aug 7.

Authors

Xiaoli Li¹, Haohao Cao¹, Deshui Yu¹, Kedong Xu¹, Yi Zhang¹, Xinxin Shangguan¹, Xiaohong Zheng¹, Zhongzhou Yang¹, Chaoqiong Li², Xingchen Pan², Yiming Cui², Zhiqing Zhang², Mengru Han², Yiqing Zhang², Qimeng Sun², Huiling Guo², Jingyi Zhao², Lili Li³, Chengwei Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding & Bioreactor, Zhoukou 466001, China.
² College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding & Bioreactor, Zhoukou 466001, China; College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, China. Electronic address: lilili@zknu.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding & Bioreactor, Zhoukou 466001, China; College of Bioengineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China. Electronic address: lichengweihist@163.com.

PMID: 37558055
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111821

Abstract

The maintain of iron (Fe) homeostasis is essential for plant survival. In tomato, few transcription factors have been identified as regulators of Fe homeostasis, among which SlbHLH068 induced by iron deficiency, plays an important role. However, the upstream regulator(s) responsible for activating the expression of SlbHLH068 remain(s) unknown. In this study, the bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) transcription factor SlbHLH152 was identified as an upstream regulator of SlbHLH068 using yeast one-hybrid screening. Deletion of SlbHLH152 led to a significant decline in Fe concentration, which was accompanied by reduced expression of Fe-deficiency-responsive genes. In contrast, SlbHLH152 overexpression plants displayed tolerance to iron deficiency, increased Fe accumulation, and elevated expression of Fe-deficiency-responsive genes. Further analysis indicated that SlbHLH152 directly activates the transcription of SlbHLH068. Taken together, our results suggest that SlbHLH152 may be involved in the regulation of iron homeostasis by directly activating the transcription of SlbHLH068 in tomato.

Keywords: Fe homeostasis; SlbHLH068; SlbHLH152; Tomato.

MeSH terms

Arabidopsis Proteins* / metabolism
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Homeostasis
Iron / metabolism
Iron Deficiencies*
Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
Solanum lycopersicum* / genetics

Substances

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
Iron
Arabidopsis Proteins