Overexpression of NtSnRK2.2 enhances salt tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum by regulating carbohydrate metabolism and lateral root development
Minghong Liu A , Jian Wang B , Jianyu Gou A , Xiaoyan Wang A , Zhigang Li B , Xiaoliang Yang B and Shuguang Sun
B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Zunyi Branch of Guizhou Tobacco Company, Zunyi, Guizhou, Zunyi 563000, China.
B China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Limited Liability Company, Wuhan, Hubei, Wuhan 430040, China.
C Corresponding author. Email: 41783435@qq.com
Functional Plant Biology 47(6) 537-543 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP19299
Submitted: 17 October 2019 Accepted: 19 December 2019 Published: 27 April 2020
Abstract
SnRK2 is a plant-specific protein kinase family implicated in environmental stress tolerance. Individual SnRK2 genes have acquired distinct regulatory properties in response to various environmental stresses. In this study, NtSnRK2.2, a SnRK2 subclass II member in Nicotiana tabacum L., was cloned and characterised. Sequence alignment analysis showed that SnRK2.2 exhibits widespread sequence differences across Nicotiana species. The tissue expression pattern of NtSnRK2.2 showed a root-predominant expression. To investigate its biological function, NtSnRK2.2 was overexpressed in tobacco, which subsequently resulted in increased soluble sugars and more lateral roots under a normal condition. A salt-stress tolerance assay showed that NtSnRK2.2-overexpressing plants exhibited enhanced salt tolerance, which was further confirmed based on its better root architecture and increase in soluble sugars, thereby implying that NtSnRK2.2 is a multifunctional regulatory factor in plants. Together, our results indicated the possible role played by NtSnRK2.2 in maintaining metabolic homeostasis via the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in response to environmental stress.
Additional keywords: abiotic stress, gene expression, lateral roots, sugar accumulation.
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