Copper tolerance of wheat plants mediated by TaGST1 gene and it upstream
regulatory factor WRKY74
Abstract
Copper (Cu) is an important plant micronutrient; however, excessive Cu
can disturb the protein structure, affect plant growth and development,
and pose as a potential human health risk. Glutathione S-transferase
(GST) is the key enzyme in glutathione (GSH) synthesis; thus, it plays
crucial role in Cu detoxification. Nonetheless, its regulatory
mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we identified a
Cu-induced glutathione S-transferase 1 (TaGST1) gene in wheat. Yeast
one-hybrid (Y1H) between TaGST1 promoter and Cu-stressed wheat leaf cDNA
library was performed and screened out TaWRKY74 transcription factor.
Their bind were further verified by using another Y1H and luciferase
(LUC) assays Functions of TaWRKY74 were further tested by using
transiently silence and overexpression methods. Under Cu stress,
TaWRKY74 and TaGST1 expression, GST activity, and GSH content were
significantly inhibited in transiently TaWRKY74-silenced wheat plants.
However, the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde
(MDA), and Cu were significantly increased in these silenced wheat
plants. Further investigation found that transiently ectopic
overexpression of TaWRKY74 increased GSH content, whereas decreased MDA
content during Cu stress. Notably, exogenous application of GSH could
reversed the adverse effects of transiently TaWRKY74-silenced wheat
plants during Cu stress. Taken together, our results suggested that
TaWRKY74 regulated TaGST1 expression and affected GSH accumulation under
Cu stress, and could be useful to ameliorate Cu toxicity for crop food
safety.