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Artemin molecular chaperon from Artemia urmiana improved Arabidopsis tolerance to abiotic stress

Tayebe Fallahi - Pashaki, M. Mehdi Sohani

Abstract

Artemia sp. is a class of Branchiopoda that evolved to a complex multicellularity. Encysted A. urmiana embryos are resistant to harsh environmental stressors, including repeated desiccation, prolonged anoxia, extreme temperatures, and high levels of UV radiation. Artemin, the most abundant protein in Artemia embryos, is a member of the ferritin family and is believed to play a crucial role in protecting against abiotic stress. It has been demonstrated that the artemin has chaperon activity. To elucidate the potential functional roles of artemin in plants, its cDNA sequence was cloned into the pZPY122 binary plant expression vector. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and the floral-dip technique were employed to introduce this construct into Arabidopsis thaliana. Factorial design experiment was conducted. Three independent transgenic lines (art1, art2, and art3) were subjected to heat stress at 45°C, and the results were statistically analyzed. The study revealed a significant interaction between heat stress and genotype across all analyzed parameters, including germination rate, germination speed, vigor index, and seedling and root length. Notably, the transgenic lines harboring the artemin transgene (art) exhibited remarkable heat stress tolerance, evidenced by a significantly higher survival rate compared to wild -type plants. Following exposure to 45°C heat stress, the art lines displayed markedly lower levels of electrolyte leakage, Hydrogen peroxide content, and higher activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase, as well as increased accumulation of proline, compared to wild-type Col-0 plants. Beside, total protein content was significantly increased in the art genotypes following heat stress. Notably, the expression of two key abiotic stress-responsive genes, DREB2A and HSFA3, was significantly up-regulated in the art lines compared to the wild type under heat stress conditions. These findings collectively suggest that Artemin gene from Artemia urmiana may act as molecular chaperone when expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana, thereby enhancing plant tolerance to heat stress.

FP24208  Accepted 10 November 2024

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