biostudies-literatureKim SIRural Development Administration2181https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8541125biostudies-literatureUnknown10(10)Small peptides and proteins play critical regulatory roles in plant development and environmental stress responses; however, only a few of these molecules have been identified and characterized to date because of their poor annotation and other experimental challenges. Here, we present that rice (Oryza sativa L.) OsS1Fa1, a small 76-amino acid protein, confers drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. OsS1Fa1 was highly expressed in leaf, culm, and root tissues of rice seedlings during vegetative growth and was significantly induced under drought stress. OsS1Fa1 overexpression in Arabidopsis induced the expression of selected drought-responsive genes and enhanced the survival rate of transgenic lines under drought. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 protected the OsS1Fa1 protein from dPlants (Basel, Switzerland)Overexpression of Rice OsS1Fa1 Gene Confers Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis.PMC8541125Project No. PJ01567701Kim SISong JTSeo HSKwon DHLee KHKwak JSfalseOverexpression of Rice OsS1Fa1 Gene Confers Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis.Small peptides and proteins play critical regulatory roles in plant development and environmental stress responses; however, only a few of these molecules have been identified and characterized to date because of their poor annotation and other experimental challenges. Here, we present that rice (Oryza sativa L.) OsS1Fa1, a small 76-amino acid protein, confers drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. OsS1Fa1 was highly expressed in leaf, culm, and root tissues of rice seedlings during vegetative growth and was significantly induced under drought stress. OsS1Fa1 overexpression in Arabidopsis induced the expression of selected drought-responsive genes and enhanced the survival rate of transgenic lines under drought. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 protected the OsS1Fa1 protein from d2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Oct2025-04-19T10:07:49.74Z2025-04-19T10:07:49.74ZS-EPMC85411253468598610.3390/plants10102181