The potassium transporter TaNHX2 interacts with TaGAD1 to promote drought tolerance via modulating stomatal aperture in wheat.

ABSTRACT: Drought is a major global challenge in agriculture that decreases crop production. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) interfaces with drought stress in plants; however, a mechanistic understanding of the interaction between GABA accumulation and drought response remains to be established. Here we showed the potassium/proton exchanger TaNHX2 functions as a positive regulator in drought resistance in wheat by mediating cross-talk between the stomatal aperture and GABA accumulation. TaNHX2 interacted with glutamate decarboxylase TaGAD1, a key enzyme that synthesizes GABA from glutamate. Furthermore, TaNHX2 targeted the C-terminal auto-inhibitory domain of TaGAD1, enhanced its activity, and promoted GABA accumulation under drought stress. Consistent with this, the tanhx2 and tagad1 mutan

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11014451 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature