The versatile functions of OsALDH2B1 provide a genic basis for growth–defense trade-offs in rice

Abstract

In plants, enhanced defense often compromises growth and development, which is regarded as trade-offs between growth and defense. Here we identified a gene, OsALDH2B1, that functions as a master regulator of the growth–defense trade-off in rice. OsALDH2B1 has its primary function as an aldehyde dehydrogenase and a moonlight function as a transcriptional regulator. Loss of function of OsALDH2B1 greatly enhanced resistance to broad-spectrum pathogens, including fungal blast, bacterial leaf blight, and leaf streak, but caused severe phenotypic changes such as male sterility and reduced plant size, grain size, and number. We showed that its primary function as a mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase conditions male fertility. Its moonlight function of transcriptional regulation, featuring both repressing and activating activities, regulates a diverse range of biological processes involving brassinolide, G protein, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid signaling pathways. Such regulations cause large impacts on the morphology and immunity of rice plants. The versatile functions of OsALDH2B1 provide an example of the genic basis of growth–defense trade-offs in plants.

Association between metabolic resistances to atrazine and mesotrione in a multiple-resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) population

“…Our theory is further substantiated by research in rice with an overexpressed GST (OsGSTL1) possessing GPOX activity, in which transgenic plants displayed enhanced herbicide tolerance (Hu et al 2009). Moreover, some enzymes and proteins demonstrate multifunctional or "moonlighting" activities (Huberts and van der Klei 2010; Jeffery 2014; Ke et al 2020) that might also occur with certain A. tuberculatus GSTs. A multifunctional enzyme is somewhat analogous to a single gene conferring metabolic crossresistance, or pleiotropic effect, to seemingly unrelated herbicide chemistries (Beckie and Tardif 2012;Dyer 2018).…”

OsPHR2 modulates phosphate starvation-induced jasmonic acid response and resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

“…Prior studies have revealed that activation of JA signaling plays a positive role in Xoo resistance in rice (Koeduka et al , 2005;Tao et al , 2009;Deng et al , 2012;Yamada et al , 2012;Uji et al , 2016;Ke et al , 2020;Onohata & Gomi, 2020). For example, overexpressing OsWRKY45 andOsC3H12 enhanced Xoo resistance, accumulation of JA, and expression of JA signaling genes (Tao et al , 2009;Deng et al , 2012).…”

Diverse Functions of IAA-Leucine Resistant PpILR1 Provide a Genic Basis for Auxin-Ethylene Crosstalk During Peach Fruit Ripening

“…For example, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase functions as a transcriptional repressor of genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway, in addition to performing its canonical biosynthetic function in the shikimate pathway (Xie et al, 2018 ). In rice ( Oryza sativa ), OsALDH2B1 primarily functions as a mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase regulating male fertility, but it also acts as both a transcriptional repressor and activator, regulating a diverse range of biological processes involving brassinolide, G protein, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid signaling pathways (Ke et al, 2020 ). Thus, it is possible that a greater number of genes, which were previously considered to encode an enzyme with one function, perform additional roles such as transcriptional activation and are, therefore, involved in multiple metabolic pathways.…”