The PHD transcription factor ThPHD5 regulates antioxidant enzyme activity to increase salt tolerance in Tamarix hispida

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) Vol. 350; p. 112319
• Main Authors: Tan, Yao-Shuo, Li, Jing-Hang, Wang, Pei-Long, Wang, Dan-Ni, Liu, Bai-Chao, Phetmany, Sonethavy, Li, Yong-Xi, Xie, Qing-Jun, Gao, Cai-Qiu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.01.2025
• Subjects: Antioxidant enzyme; Antioxidants - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; ROS; Salt stress; Salt Tolerance - genetics; Tamaricaceae - genetics; Tamaricaceae - metabolism; Tamaricaceae - physiology; Tamarix hispida; ThPHD5; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Tamarix hispida; Salt stress; ThPHD5; Antioxidant enzyme; ROS
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112319

PHD proteins are an important class of transcription factors (TFs) that are widely distributed in eukaryotes and play crucial roles in many aspects of plant growth, development and response to stress. We identified a transcription factor, ThPHD5, from the PHD family in Tamarix hispida based on its potential involvement in abiotic stress response processes. In this study, the salt tolerance function of ThPHD5 from T. hispida was further characterized. The qRT-PCR results showed ThPHD5 expression was significantly induced by NaCl, PEG and ABA treatments. Transient transformation analysis revealed that ThPHD5 improved salt tolerance in T. hispida by increasing POD and SOD activity, decreasing the MDA, total ROS content and electrolyte leakage. To explore the salt tolerance mechanism of the ThPHD5 TF, its binding DNA motifs and potential downstream regulatory genes were analyzed. The results showed that ThPHD5 affect the expression of 7 antioxidant enzyme-related genes. The Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) results indicated ThPHD5 could bind to ABRE, MYB and Dof cis-acting elements. ChIP-PCR further confirmed ThPHD5 exercise its regulatory function by directly binding motifs on the ThPOD16, ThSOD and ThSOD1 promoters. Taken together, these findings indicate the ThPHD5 TF improves salt tolerance in T. hispida by regulating the expression of antioxidant enzyme-related genes to increase antioxidant enzyme activity, enhance the ROS scavenge ability, reduce ROS accumulation and cellular damage. •Overexpression of ThPHD5 can improve salt tolerance by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, enhancing the ROS scavenge ability, reducing membrane peroxidation and cellular damage.•ThPHD5 can bind to Dof, ABRE and MYB cis-acting elements.•ThPHD5 directly regulates the expression of target genes ThPOD16, ThSOD and ThSOD1 by binding motifs on the promoters.