title: Functional validation of Phragmites communis glutathione reductase (PhaGR) as an essential enzyme in salt tolerance.
abstract: Reed plants (Phragmites communis (Linn.) Trin) are hydrophilic perennial grasses growing in fresh and brackish waters. These plants readily adapt to arid and high salinity conditions; however, their resistance mechanism against abiotic stresses, especially high salinity, is largely unknown. In the present study, we cloned a glutathione reductase gene from P. communis and investigated its role in conferring salt tolerance in reed plants. The expression of PhaGR at the transcriptional level was affected by multiple abiotic stresses including NaCl, Cd(2+), heat, cold, PEG 6000, and abscisic acid (ABA). Furthermore, NaCl and Cd(2+) could increase its expressions at the translational level. NaCl and Cd(2+) also increased the biosynthesis of soluble protein and reduced glutathione (GSH). Reed seedlings that were challenged with NaCl showed higher levels of GR activities, which corroborated our gene expression data. The increase in GR possibly increased the salt tolerance of reed plants through GSH production. Thus, PhaGR is a potential target gene in improving the salt tolerance of crops through genetic manipulation.
authors: Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular & Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, Shandong, China.
authors: Xia
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Geng
authors: G
authors: Quan
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Huiling
authors: H
authors: Han
authors: ShiHua
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: ShanLi
authors: S
authors: Guo
authors: HaiBo
authors: H
authors: Yin
mesh_terms: D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000201:enzymology*; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D036226:Seedlings / Q000201:enzymology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005980:Glutathione Reductase