The Thellungiella salsuginea tonoplast aquaporin TsTIP1;2 functions in protection against multiple abiotic stresses.

ABSTRACT: Examination of aquaporin (AQP) membrane channels in extremophile plants may increase our understanding of plant tolerance to high salt, drought or other conditions. Here, we cloned a tonoplast AQP gene (TsTIP1;2) from the halophyte Thellungiella salsuginea and characterized its biological functions. TsTIP1;2 transcripts accumulate to high levels in several organs, increasing in response to multiple external stimuli. Ectopic overexpression of TsTIP1;2 in Arabidopsis significantly increased plant tolerance to drought, salt and oxidative stresses. TsTIP1;2 had water channel activity when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. TsTIP1;2 was also able to conduct H?O? molecules into yeast cells in response to oxidative stress. TsTIP1;2 was not permeable to Na(+) in Xenopus oocytes, but it could facilitate the entry of Na(+) ions into plant cell vacuoles by an indirect process under high-salinity conditions. Collectively, these data showed that TsTIP1;2 could mediate the conduction of both H?O and H?O? across membranes, and may act as a multifunctional contributor to survival of T. salsuginea in highly stressful habitats.

SUBMITTER: Wang LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3894706 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature