Publications

Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Epublish 2 citations

PubMed: 36550187 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25706-0

Phytocyanin-encoding genes confer enhanced ozone tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Sci Rep 12(1):21204

Authors: Shoko Saji, Hikaru Saji, Kimiyo Sage-Ono, Michiyuki Ono, Nobuyoshi Nakajima, Mitsuko Aono

Affiliations

  • Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan.
  • Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan.
  • Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8572, Japan.

Abstract

Ozone is a phytotoxic air pollutant that has various damaging effects on plants, including chlorosis and growth inhibition. Although various physiological and genetic studies have elucidated some of the mechanisms underlying plant ozone sensitivity and lesion development, our understanding of plant response to this gas remains incomplete. Here, we show evidence for the involvement of certain apoplastic proteins called phytocyanins, such as AtUC5, that protect against ozone damage. Two representative ozone-inducible responses, chlorosis and stomatal closure, were suppressed in AtUC5-overexpressing plants. Analysis of transgenic plants expressing a chimeric protein composed of AtUC5 fused to green fluorescent protein indicated that this fusion protein localises to the apoplast of plant cells where it appears to suppress early responses to ozone damage such as generation or signalling of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, yeast two-hybrid analyses suggest that AtUC5 may physically interact with stress-related proteins such as copper amine oxidase and late embryogenesis abundant protein-like protein. In addition to AtUC5, other examined phytocyanins such as AtUC6 and AtSC3 could confer ozone tolerance to plants when overexpressed in A. thaliana, suggesting that these proteins act together to protect plants against oxidative stress factors.

MeSH

Stress, Physiological, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Genes