Overexpression of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> <i>ERFVII2</i> Transcription Factor Confers Low Oxygen Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis by Modulating Expression of Metabolic Enzymes and Multiple Stress-Responsive Genes

• Main Authors: Piyada Juntawong, Pimprapai Butsayawarapat, Pattralak Songserm, Ratchaneeporn Pimjan, Supachai Vuttipongchaikij
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: abiotic stress; RNA-seq; transcription factor; waterlogging
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/9/1068

Enhancing crop tolerance to waterlogging is critical for improving food and biofuel security. In waterlogged soils, roots are exposed to a low oxygen environment. The group VII ethylene response factors (ERFVII<i>s</i>) were recently identified as key regulators of plant low oxygen response. Oxygen-dependent N-end rule pathways can regulate the stability of ERFVIIs. This study aims to characterize the function of the <i>Jatropha curcas ERFVIIs</i> and the impact of N-terminal modification that stabilized the protein toward low oxygen response. This study revealed that all three JcERFVII proteins are substrates of the N-end rule pathway. Overexpression of <i>JcERFVII2</i> conferred tolerance to low oxygen stress in Arabidopsis. In contrast, the constitutive overexpression of stabilized <i>JcERFVII2</i> reduced low oxygen tolerance. RNA-seq was performed to elucidate the functional roles of <i>JcERFVII2</i> and the impact of its N-terminal modification. Overexpression of both wildtype and stabilized <i>JcERFVII2</i> constitutively upregulated the plant core hypoxia-responsive genes. Besides, overexpression of the stabilized <i>JcERFVII2</i> further upregulated various genes controlling fermentative metabolic processes, oxidative stress, and pathogen responses under aerobic conditions. In summary, JcERFVII2 is an N-end rule regulated waterlogging-responsive transcription factor that modulates the expression of multiple stress-responsive genes; therefore, it is a potential candidate for molecular breeding of multiple stress-tolerant crops.