Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses

Abiotic stresses pose a major increasing problem for the cultivation of maize. Autophagy plays a vital role in recycling and re-utilizing nutrients and adapting to stress. However, the role of autophagy in the response to abiotic stress in maize has not yet been investigated. Here, <i>ZmATG3&l...

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Main Authors: Mengli Liu, Li Ma, Yao Tang, Wangjing Yang, Yuying Yang, Jing Xi, Xuan Wang, Wanchao Zhu, Jiquan Xue, Xinghua Zhang, Shutu Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-06-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/12/1637
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author Mengli Liu
Li Ma
Yao Tang
Wangjing Yang
Yuying Yang
Jing Xi
Xuan Wang
Wanchao Zhu
Jiquan Xue
Xinghua Zhang
Shutu Xu
author_facet Mengli Liu
Li Ma
Yao Tang
Wangjing Yang
Yuying Yang
Jing Xi
Xuan Wang
Wanchao Zhu
Jiquan Xue
Xinghua Zhang
Shutu Xu
author_sort Mengli Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abiotic stresses pose a major increasing problem for the cultivation of maize. Autophagy plays a vital role in recycling and re-utilizing nutrients and adapting to stress. However, the role of autophagy in the response to abiotic stress in maize has not yet been investigated. Here, <i>ZmATG3</i>, which is essential for ATG8-PE conjugation, was isolated from the maize inbred line B73. The ATG3 sequence was conserved, including the C-terminal domains with HPC and FLKF motifs and the catalytic domain in different species. The promoter of the <i>ZmATG3</i> gene contained a number of elements involved in responses to environmental stresses or hormones. Heterologous expression of <i>ZmATG3</i> in yeast promoted the growth of strain under salt, mannitol, and low-nitrogen stress. The expression of <i>ZmATG3</i> could be altered by various types of abiotic stress (200 mM NaCl, 200 mM mannitol, low N) and exogenous hormones (500 µM ABA). GUS staining analysis of <i>ZmATG3</i>-GUS transgenic Arabidopsis revealed that <i>GUS</i> gene activity increased after abiotic treatment. <i>ZmATG3</i>-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants had higher osmotic and salinity stress tolerance than wild-type plants. Overexpression of <i>ZmATG3</i> up-regulated the expression of other <i>AtATGs</i> (<i>AtATG3</i>, <i>AtATG5,</i> and <i>AtATG8b</i>) under NaCl, mannitol and LN stress. These findings demonstrate that overexpression of <i>ZmATG3</i> can improve tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses.
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spelling doaj-art-d4b66e224e1644ef8a50b6260024be1a2025-08-20T02:21:54ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-06-011312163710.3390/plants13121637Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic StressesMengli Liu0Li Ma1Yao Tang2Wangjing Yang3Yuying Yang4Jing Xi5Xuan Wang6Wanchao Zhu7Jiquan Xue8Xinghua Zhang9Shutu Xu10Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaYangling Qinfeng Seed-Industry Co., Ltd., Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaAbiotic stresses pose a major increasing problem for the cultivation of maize. Autophagy plays a vital role in recycling and re-utilizing nutrients and adapting to stress. However, the role of autophagy in the response to abiotic stress in maize has not yet been investigated. Here, <i>ZmATG3</i>, which is essential for ATG8-PE conjugation, was isolated from the maize inbred line B73. The ATG3 sequence was conserved, including the C-terminal domains with HPC and FLKF motifs and the catalytic domain in different species. The promoter of the <i>ZmATG3</i> gene contained a number of elements involved in responses to environmental stresses or hormones. Heterologous expression of <i>ZmATG3</i> in yeast promoted the growth of strain under salt, mannitol, and low-nitrogen stress. The expression of <i>ZmATG3</i> could be altered by various types of abiotic stress (200 mM NaCl, 200 mM mannitol, low N) and exogenous hormones (500 µM ABA). GUS staining analysis of <i>ZmATG3</i>-GUS transgenic Arabidopsis revealed that <i>GUS</i> gene activity increased after abiotic treatment. <i>ZmATG3</i>-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants had higher osmotic and salinity stress tolerance than wild-type plants. Overexpression of <i>ZmATG3</i> up-regulated the expression of other <i>AtATGs</i> (<i>AtATG3</i>, <i>AtATG5,</i> and <i>AtATG8b</i>) under NaCl, mannitol and LN stress. These findings demonstrate that overexpression of <i>ZmATG3</i> can improve tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/12/1637autophagy<i>ZmATG3</i>abiotic stressmaizeArabidopsis
spellingShingle Mengli Liu
Li Ma
Yao Tang
Wangjing Yang
Yuying Yang
Jing Xi
Xuan Wang
Wanchao Zhu
Jiquan Xue
Xinghua Zhang
Shutu Xu
Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
Plants
autophagy
<i>ZmATG3</i>
abiotic stress
maize
Arabidopsis
title Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
title_full Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
title_fullStr Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
title_full_unstemmed Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
title_short Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses
title_sort maize autophagy related protein zmatg3 confers tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses
topic autophagy
<i>ZmATG3</i>
abiotic stress
maize
Arabidopsis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/12/1637
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