Abstract
MicroRNAs are essential in plant development and stress resistance, but their specific roles in drought stress require further investigation. Here, we have uncovered that a Populus-specific microRNAs (miRNA), miR6445, targeting NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) family genes, is involved in regulating drought tolerance of poplar. The expression level of miR6445 was significantly upregulated under drought stress; concomitantly, seven targeted NAC genes showed significant downregulation. Silencing the expression of miR6445 by short tandem target mimic technology significantly decreased the drought tolerance in poplar. Furthermore, 5' RACE experiments confirmed that miR6445 directly targeted NAC029. The overexpression lines of PtrNAC029 (OE-NAC029) showed increased sensitivity to drought compared with knockout lines (Crispr-NAC029), consistent with the drought-sensitive phenotype observed in miR6445-silenced strains. PtrNAC029 was further verified to directly bind to the promoters of glutathione S-transferase U23 (GSTU23) and inhibit its expression. Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, poplars overexpressing GSTU23 demonstrated enhanced drought tolerance. Taken together, our research reveals the crucial role of the miR6445-NAC029-GSTU23 module in enhancing poplar drought tolerance by regulating ROS homeostasis. This finding provides new molecular targets for improving the drought resistance of trees.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Drought significantly increased miR6445 expression.
PopulusNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The expression level of miR6445 was significantly upregulated under drought stress”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
Seven targeted NAC genes were significantly downregulated under drought.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“concomitantly, seven targeted NAC genes showed significant downregulation.”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
Silencing miR6445 significantly reduced drought tolerance.
- Treatment
- Silencing the expression of miR6445e0
- Gene
- miR6445e0
- Outcome
- drought tolerancee0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Silencing the expression of miR6445 by short tandem target mimic technology significantly decreased the drought tolerance in poplar.”
Claim · model-written summary
miR6445 directly targeted NAC029.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“5' RACE experiments confirmed that miR6445 directly targeted NAC029.”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
PtrNAC029 overexpression increased drought sensitivity relative to knockout.
Verbatim
e0“The overexpression lines of PtrNAC029 (OE-NAC029) showed increased sensitivity to drought compared with knockout lines (Crispr-NAC029)”
Claim · model-written summary
PtrNAC029 bound GSTU23 promoters and inhibited GSTU23 expression.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“PtrNAC029 was further verified to directly bind to the promoters of glutathione S-transferase U23 (GSTU23) and inhibit its expression.”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
NAC029 knockout plants had higher PtrGSTU23 transcript levels.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS).”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
NAC029 knockout plants had higher GST activity.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS).”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
NAC029 knockout plants accumulated less ROS.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS).”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
PtrGSTU23 overexpressors had higher PtrGSTU23 transcript levels.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS).”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
PtrGSTU23 overexpressors had higher GST activity.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS).”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
PtrGSTU23 overexpressors accumulated less ROS.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both Crispr-NAC029 and PtrGSTU23 overexpressing plants showed higher levels of PtrGSTU23 transcript and GST activity while accumulating less reactive oxygen species (ROS).”
t0“Populus”
Claim · model-written summary
GSTU23 overexpression enhanced drought tolerance.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“poplars overexpressing GSTU23 demonstrated enhanced drought tolerance.”
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See all 11 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.