Genome‐wide analysis ofGlycine sojaubiquitin (UBQ) genes and functional analysis ofGsUBQ10in response to alkaline stress

Abstract

Ubiquitin is a highly conserved protein with multiple essential regulatory functions through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Even though its functions in the ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathway are very well characterized, the function of ubiquitin genes in the regulation of the alkaline stress response is not fully established. In this study, we identified 12 potential UBQ genes in the Glycine soja genome, and analyzed their evolutionary relationship, conserved domains and promoter cis-elements. We also explored the expression profiles of G. soja UBQ genes under alkaline stress, based on the transcriptome sequencing. We found that the expression of GsUBQ10 was significantly induced by alkaline stress, and the function of GsUBQ10 was characterized by overexpression in transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Our results suggested that GsUBQ10 transgenic lines significantly improved the alkaline tolerance in alfalfa. The GsUBQ10 transgenic lines showed lower relative membrane permeability, lower malon dialdehyde content and higher catalase activity than in the wild-type plants. This indicates that GsUBQ10 is involved in regulating the reactive oxygen species accumulation under alkaline stress. Taken together, we identified an ubiquitin gene GsUBQ10 from G. soja, which plays a positive role in responses to alkaline stress in alfalfa.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of the soybean SOD family during alkaline stress

“…The photosynthetic rate, sugar production, N metabolism and amino acid production were also significantly inhibited under alkaline stress (at high pH) (Hu et al, 2015). Further, alkaline stress has affected 434 million ha of land and limited the crop productivity worldwide (Chen et al, 2018), although single form of soybean SOD gene has been identified under various stresses (Gopavajhula et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2016). It is necessary to explore the roles of soybean SOD family under environmental stresses, especially under alkaline stress.…”

The soybean ubiquitin‐proteasome system: Current knowledge and future perspective

“…Soybean UBQs were also involved in stress responses. However, unlike in rice, overexpression of GsUBQ10 in alfalfa significantly improved the alkaline tolerance, and soybean UBQ10 plays a positive role in responses to alkaline stress (C. Chen et al., 2018). GmBTB/Zinc finger of poxvirus (POZ), a novel Broad‐complex、Tramtrack and Bric‐abrac (BTB)/POZ domain‐containing nuclear protein, was located in the cell nucleus and up‐regulated by P. sojae , functions as a positive regulator in the soybean response to P. sojae infection (C. Zhang et al., 2019): The GmBTB/POZ interacts with GmAP2 and GmLHP1 to regulate the defense response to P. sojae .…”

“…GmAP2 and GmLHP1‐RNAi exhibited enhanced resistance to P. sojae (Zhang, Cheng et al., 2021). In addition, GmSK1 might play a role in the crosstalk between ubiquitination and drought and salt stress responses (Y. P. Chen et al., 2018) (Table 1).…”