Genome‐wide identification and characterization of aquaporins in mangrove plant Kandelia obovata and its role in response to the intertidal environment

Abstract

Aquaporins (AQPs) play important roles in plant growth, development and tolerance to environmental stresses. To understand the role of AQPs in the mangrove plant Kandelia obovata, which has the ability to acquire water from seawater, we identified 34 AQPs in the K. obovata genome and analysed their structural features. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that KoAQPs are homologous to AQPs of Populus and Arabidopsis, which are evolutionarily conserved. The key amino acid residues were used to assess water-transport ability. Analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoters indicated that KoAQPs may be stress-and hormone-responsive. Subcellular localization of KoAQPs in yeast showed most KoAQPs function in the membrane system. That transgenic yeast with increased cell volume showed that some KoAQPs have significant water-transport activity, and the substrate sensitivity assay indicates that some KoAQPs can transport H 2 O 2 . The transcriptome data were used to analyze the expression patterns of KoAQPs in different tissues and developing fruits of K. obovata. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR analyses combined transcriptome data showed that KoAQPs have complex responses to environmental factors, including salinity, flooding and cold. Collectively, the transport of water and solutes by KoAQPs contributed to the adaptation of K. obovata to the coastal intertidal environment.

Molecular membrane separation: plants inspire new technologies

“…NHX and ATPases) and tonoplast‐localised (Potassium transporters and V‐type proton ATPase) transporters associated with Na + secretion through mangrove salt glands (Tan et al ., 2015). Identified transporter candidates also included aquaporin channel proteins belonging to both the PM‐ and tonoplast‐localising subfamilies (PIPs and TIPs, respectively), potentially implicating them in regulating water and ion transport at both these cellular locations (Natarajan et al ., 2021; Guo et al ., 2022). Aquaporins may contribute to mechanisms in halophytes, such as mangroves, that enable them to thrive in osmotically challenging environments, such as growing in seawater (Coopman et al ., 2021).…”

RNA-sequencing transcriptome analysis of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. leaf epidermis defines tissue-specific transcriptional response to salinity treatment

“…leaves 6 , 7 . Recently, Guo et al 8 studied the complex response of aquaporins (AQPs) to multiple environmental factors involving salinity, suggesting the essential role of Kandelia obovata in adaptation to coastal saline conditions. In addition, the accumulated organic osmotic substances (e.g., hydroxyl compounds, free amino acids, and polysaccharides) and quickly activated antioxidant defence system could maintain the osmotic balance to mitigate the damage of oxidative stress 9 .…”

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Aquaporin Gene Family in Lycium barbarum during Fruit Ripening and Seedling Response to Heat Stress

“…Plant AQPs are present in the plasma and intracellular membranes of most plant cells and play central roles in various physiological processes by ensuring cell-to-cell water transport and, to a lesser extent, single-cell osmotic regulation [ 8 ]. These processes include stomatal and leaf movements, seed dormancy and germination, plant growth and development, CO 2 fixation, nutrient allocation and toxicity, ROS detoxification and signaling, whole-plant water transport and transpiration, plant reproduction, and abiotic and biotic stress responses [ 6 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Through genome sequencing technology, AQP gene families have been comprehensively identified in approximately 50 various plant species, covering algae, mosses, lycophytes, monocots, and dicots [ 6 , 11 , 12 ].…”