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Overexpression of the maize genes ZmSKL1 and ZmSKL2 positively regulates drought stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis

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Abstract

Key message

Overexpression in Arabidopsis of the maize shikimate kinase-like genes SKL1 and SKL2 enhances tolerance to drought stress.

Abstract

The shikimate pathway has been reported to play an important role in plant signaling, reproduction, and development. However, its role in abiotic stress has not yet been reported. Here, two shikimate kinase-like genes, SKL1 and SKL2, were cloned from maize and their functions in mediating drought tolerance were investigated. Transcript levels of ZmSKL1 and ZmSKL2 in roots and leaves were strongly induced by drought stress. Both proteins were localized in the chloroplast. Furthermore, compared to the wild-type, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing ZmSKL1 or ZmSKL2 exhibited improved drought stress tolerance through increases in relative water content and stomatal closure. Additionally, the transgenic lines showed reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species as a results of increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Interestingly, overexpression of ZmSKL1 or ZmSKL2 also increased sensitivity to exogenous abscisic acid. In addition, the ROS-related and stress-responsive genes were activated in transgenic lines under drought stress. Moreover, ZmSKL1 and ZmSKL2 were found to separately interact with ZmASR3, which is an important regulatory protein in mediating drought tolerance, suggesting that ZmSKL1 and ZmSKL2, together with ZmASR3, are proteins that may confer drought tolerance as candidates in plant genetic breeding manipulations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant no.: 2021YFF1000304), Anhui University Natural Science Research Projects (Grant no.: KJ2021A0172), Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant no.: 2008085MC70) and National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students (202210364044).

Funding

This study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant no.: 2021YFF1000304), Anhui University Natural Science Research Projects (Grant no.: KJ2021A0172), Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant no.: 2008085MC70) and National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students (202210364044).

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Author notes

  1. Yuqing Liu and Aiqi Li have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China

    Yuqing Liu, Aiqi Li, Mengna Liang, Qin Zhang & Jiandong Wu

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  1. Yuqing Liu
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  2. Aiqi Li
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  3. Mengna Liang
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Correspondence to Jiandong Wu.

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Communicated by Qiaochun Wang.

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Liu, Y., Li, A., Liang, M. et al. Overexpression of the maize genes ZmSKL1 and ZmSKL2 positively regulates drought stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Cell Rep 42, 521–533 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-022-02974-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-022-02974-8

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