Expression of Foxtail Millet <i>bZIP</i> Transcription Factor <i>SibZIP67</i> Enhances Drought Tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>

oleh: Xinfeng Jia, Hanchi Gao, Lingxin Zhang, Wei Tang, Guo Wei, Juan Sun, Wangdan Xiong

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-08-01

Deskripsi

Foxtail millet is a drought-tolerant cereal and forage crop. The basic leucine zipper (<i>bZIP</i>) gene family plays important roles in regulating plant development and responding to stresses. However, the roles of <i>bZIP</i> genes in foxtail millet remain largely uninvestigated. In this study, 92 members of the <i>bZIP</i> transcription factors were identified in foxtail millet and clustered into ten clades. The expression levels of four <i>SibZIP</i> genes (<i>SibZIP11</i>, <i>SibZIP12</i>, <i>SibZIP41</i>, and <i>SibZIP67</i>) were significantly induced after PEG treatment, and <i>SibZIP67</i> was chosen for further analysis. The studies showed that ectopic overexpression of <i>SibZIP67</i> in <i>Arabidopsis</i> enhanced the plant drought tolerance. Detached leaves of <i>SibZIP67</i> overexpressing plants had lower leaf water loss rates than those of wild-type plants. <i>SibZIP67</i> overexpressing plants improved survival rates under drought conditions compared to wild-type plants. Additionally, overexpressing <i>SibZIP67</i> in plants displayed reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) under drought stress. Furthermore, the drought-related genes, such as <i>AtRD29A</i>, <i>AtRD22</i>, <i>AtNCED3</i>, <i>AtABF3</i>, <i>AtABI1</i>, and <i>AtABI5</i>, were found to be regulated in <i>SibZIP67</i> transgenic plants than in wild-type <i>Arabidopsis</i> under drought conditions. These data suggested that <i>SibZIP67</i> conferred drought tolerance in transgenic <i>Arabidopsis</i> by regulating antioxidant enzyme activities and the expression of stress-related genes. The study reveals that <i>SibZIP67</i> plays a beneficial role in drought response in plants, offering a valuable genetic resource for agricultural improvement in arid environments.