Osmotic stress-induced localization switch of CBR1 from mitochondria to
the endoplasmic reticulum triggers ATP production via β-oxidation to
respond to osmotic shock
Abstract
Drought and high salinity are major environmental factors that reduce
plant growth and development, leading to loss of plant productivity in
agriculture. Under these stress conditions, photosynthesis is greatly
suppressed despite the high cellular energy cost of stress response
processes. Currently, the process that allows plants to secure the
energy required for osmotic stress responses remains elusive. Here, we
provide evidence that CBR1, a cytochrome b5 reductase, plays an
important role in ATP production in response to NaCl and dehydration
stresses. Overexpression and loss of function of CBR1 led to enhanced
resistance and sensitivity, respectively, to osmotic stress. Upon
exposure to osmotic stress, CBR1 was localized to the endoplasmic
reticulum (ER) instead of to mitochondria, where it was localized under
normal conditions. Transgenic plants overexpressing ER-targeted
CBR1, but not mitochondria-targeted CBR1, showed enhanced
resistance to osmotic stress and higher expression of SOS1/2/3
and RD29A/B under osmotic stress. CBR1-ER and CBR1-OX plants, but
not CBR1-MT plants, had higher levels of ATP and unsaturated fatty acids
under osmotic stress. Moreover, these effects were abrogated by
thioridazine and 2-deoxy glucose, inhibitors of β-oxidation and
glycolysis, respectively, but not by thiazolidinedione, an inhibitor of
the mitochondrial pyruvate transporter. Based on these results, we
propose that ER-localized CBR1 triggers ATP production via the
production and β-oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids under osmotic
stress.