Publication Highlight: The miR6445-NAC029 Module Regulates Drought Tolerance by Regulating the Expression of Glutathione S-Transferase U23 and Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging in Populus
Meng-Xue Niu, Cong-Hua Feng, Fang He, Han Zhang, Yu Bao, Shu-Jing Liu, Xiao Liu, Yanyan Su, Chao Liu, Hou-Ling Wang, Weilun Yin, and Xinli Xia
The miR6445-NAC029 Module Regulates Drought Tolerance
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of the miR6445-NAC029-GSTU module in poplar drought resistance, and how it regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis to enhance drought tolerance. The study aims to provide new molecular targets for improving the drought resistance of trees.
Key Findings:
- A Populus-specific microRNA, called miR6445, was found to be involved in regulating drought tolerance.
- Drought stress upregulated miR6445, which in turn downregulated its target gene, NAC029.
- Silencing miR6445 made the plant less tolerant to drought.
- The transcription factor PtrNAC029 inhibited the expression of GSTU23 by binding to its promoter. Conversely, overexpressing GSTU23 enhanced the plant’s ability to tolerate drought.
- The proposed mechanism involves higher levels of GSTU23 activity reducing the accumulation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn supports better drought tolerance.
Conclusion and Next Steps:
The research identifies the crucial role of the miR6445-NAC029-GSTU23 pathway in enhancing poplar drought tolerance by regulating ROS homeostasis. The study provides new molecular targets that could be used in breeding programs to develop more drought-resistant poplar varieties. Further understanding of these molecular mechanisms could lead to more resilient agricultural practices. The Newton Bio system (Vilber) played a crucial role in validating these findings by enabling the researchers to visualize promoter activity and gene expression in live plants under drought stress.
References
Niu, M.-X., Feng, C.-H., He, F., Zhang, H., Bao, Y., Liu, S.-J., Liu, X., Su, Y., Liu, C., Wang, H.-L., Yin, W., & Xia, X. (2024). The miR6445‑NAC029 module regulates drought tolerance by regulating the expression of glutathione S‑transferase U23 and reactive oxygen species scavenging in Populus. New Phytologist, 242(5), 2043–2058. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19703
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