Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapa

IntroductionThe cold tolerance of winter rapeseed cultivars is critically important for winter survival and yield formation in northern area. BrAFP1, an antifreeze protein in Brassica rapa, is hypothesized to stabilize membranes and inhibit ice crystal formation.Methodswe cloned the BrAFP1 promoter...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiaoyun Dong, Jinxiong Wang, Jiaping Wei, Guoqiang Zheng, Zefeng Wu, Junmei Cui, Xuezhen Yang, Baojin Li, Shujun Zhu, Ermei Sa, Fengpeng Yang, Zigang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1527754/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849239582778851328
author Xiaoyun Dong
Jinxiong Wang
Jiaping Wei
Guoqiang Zheng
Zefeng Wu
Junmei Cui
Xuezhen Yang
Baojin Li
Shujun Zhu
Ermei Sa
Fengpeng Yang
Zigang Liu
author_facet Xiaoyun Dong
Jinxiong Wang
Jiaping Wei
Guoqiang Zheng
Zefeng Wu
Junmei Cui
Xuezhen Yang
Baojin Li
Shujun Zhu
Ermei Sa
Fengpeng Yang
Zigang Liu
author_sort Xiaoyun Dong
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe cold tolerance of winter rapeseed cultivars is critically important for winter survival and yield formation in northern area. BrAFP1, an antifreeze protein in Brassica rapa, is hypothesized to stabilize membranes and inhibit ice crystal formation.Methodswe cloned the BrAFP1 promoter from the cold-tolerant cultivar Longyou 7 (L7) and constructed the proBrAFP1::GUS expression vector to investigate the impact of membrane state changes on BrAFP1 expression and the cold tolerance in winter rapeseed. Ten independent transgenic T3 lines were generated, among which T3-5 and T3-7 were selected for subsequent analysis.ResultsThe dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment in the absence of cold exposure activated the transcriptional activity of proBrAFP1, a cold-inducible promoter; in contrast, benzyl alcohol (BA) treatment eliminated its cold-induced activation. The expression levels of cold-responsive genes, including cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 1 (CNGC1), open stomata 1 (OST1), and inducer of CBF expression 1 (ICE1), as well as membrane fluidity-related genes, such as acyl-lipid desaturase 2 (ADS2), fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2), and sensitive to freezing 2 (SFR2), were significantly increased following DMSO pretreatment, while BA treatment significantly inhibited the expression of these genes. Furthermore, ABA and SA levels are closely linked to alterations in the membrane state, compared to untreated plants, the levels of ABA and SA in the leaves markedly increased at 4°C after DMSO and BA treatment but decreased at -4°C.ConclusionCollectively, DMSO pretreatment enhanced cold tolerance, while BA pretreatment improved cell survival under cold stress, which is important for practise of keeping the rapeseed yields.
format Article
id doaj-art-710b4f13841843378d274f1107fc23d9
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-462X
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-710b4f13841843378d274f1107fc23d92025-08-20T04:00:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-08-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15277541527754Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapaXiaoyun Dong0Jinxiong Wang1Jiaping Wei2Guoqiang Zheng3Zefeng Wu4Junmei Cui5Xuezhen Yang6Baojin Li7Shujun Zhu8Ermei Sa9Fengpeng Yang10Zigang Liu11State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaAgricultural Research Institute, Tibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lasa, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaSeed Industry Development Section, Pingliang Seed Station, Pingliang, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaResearch and Development Center, Gansu Seed Industry Company Limited, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaIntroductionThe cold tolerance of winter rapeseed cultivars is critically important for winter survival and yield formation in northern area. BrAFP1, an antifreeze protein in Brassica rapa, is hypothesized to stabilize membranes and inhibit ice crystal formation.Methodswe cloned the BrAFP1 promoter from the cold-tolerant cultivar Longyou 7 (L7) and constructed the proBrAFP1::GUS expression vector to investigate the impact of membrane state changes on BrAFP1 expression and the cold tolerance in winter rapeseed. Ten independent transgenic T3 lines were generated, among which T3-5 and T3-7 were selected for subsequent analysis.ResultsThe dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment in the absence of cold exposure activated the transcriptional activity of proBrAFP1, a cold-inducible promoter; in contrast, benzyl alcohol (BA) treatment eliminated its cold-induced activation. The expression levels of cold-responsive genes, including cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 1 (CNGC1), open stomata 1 (OST1), and inducer of CBF expression 1 (ICE1), as well as membrane fluidity-related genes, such as acyl-lipid desaturase 2 (ADS2), fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2), and sensitive to freezing 2 (SFR2), were significantly increased following DMSO pretreatment, while BA treatment significantly inhibited the expression of these genes. Furthermore, ABA and SA levels are closely linked to alterations in the membrane state, compared to untreated plants, the levels of ABA and SA in the leaves markedly increased at 4°C after DMSO and BA treatment but decreased at -4°C.ConclusionCollectively, DMSO pretreatment enhanced cold tolerance, while BA pretreatment improved cell survival under cold stress, which is important for practise of keeping the rapeseed yields.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1527754/fullmembrane fluiditycold tolerancedimethyl sulfoxidebenzyl alcoholproBrAFP1 activity
spellingShingle Xiaoyun Dong
Jinxiong Wang
Jiaping Wei
Guoqiang Zheng
Zefeng Wu
Junmei Cui
Xuezhen Yang
Baojin Li
Shujun Zhu
Ermei Sa
Fengpeng Yang
Zigang Liu
Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapa
Frontiers in Plant Science
membrane fluidity
cold tolerance
dimethyl sulfoxide
benzyl alcohol
proBrAFP1 activity
title Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapa
title_full Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapa
title_fullStr Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapa
title_full_unstemmed Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapa
title_short Effect of membrane rigidification on the BrAFP1 expression and cold-tolerance in Brassica rapa
title_sort effect of membrane rigidification on the brafp1 expression and cold tolerance in brassica rapa
topic membrane fluidity
cold tolerance
dimethyl sulfoxide
benzyl alcohol
proBrAFP1 activity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1527754/full
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaoyundong effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT jinxiongwang effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT jiapingwei effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT guoqiangzheng effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT zefengwu effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT junmeicui effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT xuezhenyang effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT baojinli effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT shujunzhu effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT ermeisa effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT fengpengyang effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa
AT zigangliu effectofmembranerigidificationonthebrafp1expressionandcoldtoleranceinbrassicarapa