Heterologous expression of β-alanine betaine biosynthesis gene increases Nicotiana tabacum resistance to abiotic stresses
- Authors: Degtyarenko A.I.1, Stepochkina V.D.2, Shkryl Y.N.1
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Affiliations:
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity of the Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences
- Far Eastern Federal University
- Issue: Vol 20 (2022): Supplement
- Pages: 25-25
- Section: Genetically modified organism. The Нistory, Achivements, Social and Environmental Riscs
- Submitted: 03.11.2022
- Accepted: 04.11.2022
- Published: 08.12.2022
- URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/ecolgenet/article/view/112339
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/ecogen112339
- ID: 112339
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Abstract
Plant genetic modification in order to increase their tolerance to various abiotic stresses has been of exceptional importance in recent years. Heterologous expression of glycine betaine (GB) biosynthetic genes leads to increased salt and drought tolerance in various plant species by maintaining the osmotic balance with the environment and stabilizing the quaternary structure of complex proteins. However, GB biosynthesis in transgenic plants is limited by choline availability. Members of the Plumbaginaceae family accumulate β-alanine betaine (βAB) instead [1]. The synthesis of βAB is not limited by the availability of choline, as it follows the methylation pathway of the aproteinogenic amino acid β-alanine.
For the first time, we have generated Nicotiana tabacum plants expressing the β-alanine N-methyltransferase (LlBANMT) gene of Limonium latifolium. Transgenic plants were much less affected by such abiotic stresses as increased salinity, excessive illumination, and low temperature. The experimental Nicotiana tabacum lines had lower rates of chlorophyll degradation under stress conditions compared to the control plants. LlBANMT expression also resulted in less biomass loss under stress conditions, which was associated with higher activities of reactive oxygen species detoxification systems and healthier cell membranes. The presented data demonstrate for the first time the protective properties of LlBANMT heterologous expression and shed light on the mechanisms of its action.
Full Text
Plant genetic modification in order to increase their tolerance to various abiotic stresses has been of exceptional importance in recent years. Heterologous expression of glycine betaine (GB) biosynthetic genes leads to increased salt and drought tolerance in various plant species by maintaining the osmotic balance with the environment and stabilizing the quaternary structure of complex proteins. However, GB biosynthesis in transgenic plants is limited by choline availability. Members of the Plumbaginaceae family accumulate β-alanine betaine (βAB) instead [1]. The synthesis of βAB is not limited by the availability of choline, as it follows the methylation pathway of the aproteinogenic amino acid β-alanine.
For the first time, we have generated Nicotiana tabacum plants expressing the β-alanine N-methyltransferase (LlBANMT) gene of Limonium latifolium. Transgenic plants were much less affected by such abiotic stresses as increased salinity, excessive illumination, and low temperature. The experimental Nicotiana tabacum lines had lower rates of chlorophyll degradation under stress conditions compared to the control plants. LlBANMT expression also resulted in less biomass loss under stress conditions, which was associated with higher activities of reactive oxygen species detoxification systems and healthier cell membranes. The presented data demonstrate for the first time the protective properties of LlBANMT heterologous expression and shed light on the mechanisms of its action.
About the authors
Anton I. Degtyarenko
Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity of the Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences
Email: 77sat7@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1819-9639
ResearcherId: ACA-4258-2022
Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Bionanotechnology and Biomedicine
Russian Federation, VladivostokVarvara D. Stepochkina
Far Eastern Federal University
Email: vdkislitsyna@gmail.com
PhD Student, Advanced Engineering School “Institute of Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Food Systems”
Russian Federation, VladivostokYury N. Shkryl
Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity of the Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences
Author for correspondence.
Email: yn80@mail.ru
PhD, Main Researcher, Laboratory of Bionanotechnology and Biomedicine
Russian Federation, VladivostokReferences
- Giri J. Glycinebetaine and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Plant Signal Behav. 2011;6(11):1746–1751. doi: 10.4161/psb.6.11.17801