Transcription Factor GmWRKY142 Confers Cadmium Resistance by Up-Regulating the Cadmium Tolerance 1-Like Genes

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread pollutant that is toxic to living organisms. Previous studies have identified certain WRKY transcription factors, which confer Cd tolerance in different plant species. In the present study, we have identified 29 Cd-responsive WRKY genes in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and confirmed that 26 of those GmWRKY genes were up-regulated, while 3 were down-regulated. We have also cloned the novel, positively regulated GmWRKY142 gene from soybean and investigated its regulatory mechanism in Cd tolerance. GmWRKY142 was highly expressed in the root, drastically up-regulated by Cd, localized in the nucleus, and displayed transcriptional activity. The overexpression of GmWRKY142 in Arabidopsis thaliana and soybean hairy roots significantly enhanced Cd tolerance and lead to extensive transcriptional reprogramming of stress-responsive genes. ATCDT1, GmCDT1-1, and GmCDT1-2 encoding cadmium tolerance 1 were induced in overexpression lines. Further analysis showed that GmWRKY142 activated the transcription of ATCDT1, GmCDT1-1, and GmCDT1-2 by directly binding to the W-box element in their promoters. In addition, the functions of GmCDT1-1 and GmCDT1-2, responsible for decreasing Cd uptake, were validated by heterologous expression in A. thaliana. Our combined results have determined GmWRKYs to be newly discovered participants in response to Cd stress, and have confirmed that GmWRKY142 directly targets ATCDT1, GmCDT1-1, and GmCDT1-2 to decrease Cd uptake and positively regulate Cd tolerance. The GmWRKY142-GmCDT1-1/2 cascade module provides a potential strategy to lower Cd accumulation in soybean.

Ampelopsin Confers Endurance and Rehabilitation Mechanisms in Glycine max cv. Sowonkong under Multiple Abiotic Stresses

“…These outcomes prove that ABA negatively modulates the expression of WRKY12 and WRKY142 in soybean plants. Previous studies showed that the enhanced expression of GmWRKY12 and GmWRKY142 led to improved salt and cadmium tolerance, augmented proline content and alleviated malondialdehyde content under salt and cadmium treatment in soybean seedlings [33,34]. In sum, our findings tied to GmWRKY12, GmWRKY142, ABA, and SA quantities in AMP treated seedlings enable us to assume that AMP assists stressed plants to deal with numerous abiotic stresses.…”

“…Then, we aimed to decipher how exogenous ampelopsin application influences the physiochemical attributes of salinity and heavy metal damaged plants by examining growth alterations, fatty acid contents, amino acid contents and antioxidant contents. Moreover, we evaluated the transcription patterns of various genes, including GmWRKY12 and GmWRKY142 [33,34], GmNAC109 [35], GmERF75 [36], GmFDL19 [37], GmSAP16 [38], GmFAD3 [37], and GmAPX [39], to confirm our physiochemical findings.…”

Hybridization With an Invasive Plant of Xanthium strumarium Improves the Tolerance of Its Native Congener X. sibiricum to Cadmium

“…Overexpression of WRKY12 and WRKY13 reduces Cd accumulation and enhances Cd tolerance. The overexpression of GmWRKY142 in Arabidopsis and soybean hairy roots reduced Cd uptake and significantly enhanced tolerance ( Zhang C. Z. et al, 2020 ). However, overexpression of CaWRKY41 in Arabidopsis could enhance the absorption of Cd and Zn and reduce tolerance ( Dang et al, 2019 ).…”

The Mechanism of Metal Homeostasis in Plants: A New View on the Synergistic Regulation Pathway of Membrane Proteins, Lipids and Metal Ions

“…[112]. GmWRKY142 directly regulates the stress-related genes to reduce the Cd absorption and actively regulate Cd tolerance in plants (e.g., Glycine max) [113]. The transcription factor WRKY13 positively regulates Cd tolerance in arabidopsis by activating the PDR8 (ABC transporter), a Cd effector pump that reduces Cd accumulation by pumping Cd 2+ from the cytoplasm to the ectoplasm [114].…”