Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistance

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important industrial and oilseed crops; however, the yield is threatened by the invasion of various pathogens. Soybean stem and root rot, caused by Phytophthora sojae, is a destructive disease that significantly damages soybean production worldwide. C2H2 zinc...

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Main Authors: Yuting Chen, Xinyue Liu, Yanyan Zhou, Yu Zheng, Yating Xiao, Xingxing Yuan, Qiang Yan, Xin Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Plant Signaling & Behavior
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2025.2481185
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author Yuting Chen
Xinyue Liu
Yanyan Zhou
Yu Zheng
Yating Xiao
Xingxing Yuan
Qiang Yan
Xin Chen
author_facet Yuting Chen
Xinyue Liu
Yanyan Zhou
Yu Zheng
Yating Xiao
Xingxing Yuan
Qiang Yan
Xin Chen
author_sort Yuting Chen
collection DOAJ
description Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important industrial and oilseed crops; however, the yield is threatened by the invasion of various pathogens. Soybean stem and root rot, caused by Phytophthora sojae, is a destructive disease that significantly damages soybean production worldwide. C2H2 zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) is a large transcription factor family in plants that plays crucial roles in stress response and hormone signal transduction. Given its importance, we analyzed the expression patterns of C2H2-ZFP family genes in response to P. sojae infection and selected four candidate genes to explore their molecular characteristics and functions related to P. sojae resistance. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that three ZFPs (GmZFP2, GmZFP3, and GmZFP4) were localized in the nucleus, while GmZFP1 was found in both the nucleus and plasma membrane. Dual-luciferase transient expression analysis revealed that all four ZFPs possessed transcriptional repression activation. Further transient expression in N. benthamiana leaves demonstrated that GmZFP2 induced significant cell death and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. GmZFP2 significantly enhanced the resistance to Phytophthora pathogens in N. benthamiana leaves and soybean hairy roots. This study provides insights in to the functional characterization of soybean ZFPs in Phytophthora resistance and demonstrates that GmZFP2 plays a positive role in P. sojae resistance in soybeans.
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spelling doaj-art-1b0f1e84153d433ca2d064768eed612d2025-08-20T01:51:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupPlant Signaling & Behavior1559-23161559-23242025-12-0120110.1080/15592324.2025.24811852481185Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistanceYuting Chen0Xinyue Liu1Yanyan Zhou2Yu Zheng3Yating Xiao4Xingxing Yuan5Qiang Yan6Xin Chen7Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementJiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementJiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementJiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementJiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementJiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementJiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementJiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic ImprovementSoybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important industrial and oilseed crops; however, the yield is threatened by the invasion of various pathogens. Soybean stem and root rot, caused by Phytophthora sojae, is a destructive disease that significantly damages soybean production worldwide. C2H2 zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) is a large transcription factor family in plants that plays crucial roles in stress response and hormone signal transduction. Given its importance, we analyzed the expression patterns of C2H2-ZFP family genes in response to P. sojae infection and selected four candidate genes to explore their molecular characteristics and functions related to P. sojae resistance. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that three ZFPs (GmZFP2, GmZFP3, and GmZFP4) were localized in the nucleus, while GmZFP1 was found in both the nucleus and plasma membrane. Dual-luciferase transient expression analysis revealed that all four ZFPs possessed transcriptional repression activation. Further transient expression in N. benthamiana leaves demonstrated that GmZFP2 induced significant cell death and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. GmZFP2 significantly enhanced the resistance to Phytophthora pathogens in N. benthamiana leaves and soybean hairy roots. This study provides insights in to the functional characterization of soybean ZFPs in Phytophthora resistance and demonstrates that GmZFP2 plays a positive role in P. sojae resistance in soybeans.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2025.2481185soybeanphytophthora root rotc2h2 zinc finger protein (c2h2-zfp)gmzfp2transcriptional repression
spellingShingle Yuting Chen
Xinyue Liu
Yanyan Zhou
Yu Zheng
Yating Xiao
Xingxing Yuan
Qiang Yan
Xin Chen
Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistance
Plant Signaling & Behavior
soybean
phytophthora root rot
c2h2 zinc finger protein (c2h2-zfp)
gmzfp2
transcriptional repression
title Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistance
title_full Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistance
title_fullStr Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistance
title_full_unstemmed Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistance
title_short Functional characterization of four soybean C2H2 zinc-finger genes in Phytophthora resistance
title_sort functional characterization of four soybean c2h2 zinc finger genes in phytophthora resistance
topic soybean
phytophthora root rot
c2h2 zinc finger protein (c2h2-zfp)
gmzfp2
transcriptional repression
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2025.2481185
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