title: A Formate Dehydrogenase Confers Tolerance to Aluminum and Low pH.
abstract: Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) is involved in various higher plant abiotic stress responses. Here, we investigated the role of rice bean (Vigna umbellata) VuFDH in Al and low pH (H(+)) tolerance. Screening of various potential substrates for the VuFDH protein demonstrated that it functions as a formate dehydrogenase. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and histochemical analysis showed that the expression of VuFDH is induced in rice bean root tips by Al or H(+) stresses. Fluorescence microscopic observation of VuFDH-GFP in transgenic Arabidopsis plants indicated that VuFDH is localized in the mitochondria. Accumulation of formate is induced by Al and H(+) stress in rice bean root tips, and exogenous application of formate increases internal formate content that results in the inhibition of root elongation and induction of VuFDH expression, suggesting that formate accumulation is involved in both H(+)- and Al-induced root growth inhibition. Over-expression of VuFDH in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) results in decreased sensitivity to Al and H(+) stress due to less production of formate in the transgenic tobacco lines under Al and H(+) stresses. Moreover, NtMATE and NtALS3 expression showed no changes versus wild type in these over-expression lines, suggesting that herein known Al-resistant mechanisms are not involved. Thus, the increased Al tolerance of VuFDH over-expression lines is likely attributable to their decreased Al-induced formate production. Taken together, our findings advance understanding of higher plant Al toxicity mechanisms, and suggest a possible new route toward the improvement of plant performance in acidic soils, where Al toxicity and H(+) stress coexist.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: He Qiang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2454-098X
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: Yu Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: Jia Meng
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: Meng Jie
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: Ming-Hu
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.) yangjianli@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jian Li
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0385-5787
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China (H.Q.L., Y.L.G., J.M.X., Y.L., M.J.C., J.L.Y., S.J.Z.); College of Resources and Environment, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China (W.F.); and Ningbo Municipal Head Station for Crop Farming Administration, Ningbo 315012, China (M.-H.W.).
authors.forename: Shao Jian
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3336-8165
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005560:Formate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005561:Formates / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000070658:Vigna / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C030544:formic acid; D000535:Aluminum; D005560:Formate Dehydrogenases