biostudies-literatureLiaqat AChinese Government ScholarshipChina Postdoctoral Science FoundationNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCAS-TWAS President’s Fellowship49https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9869573biostudies-literatureUnknown23(1)<h4>Background</h4>Salt stress significantly influences plant growth and reduces crop yield. It is highly anticipated to develop salt-tolerant crops with salt tolerance genes and transgenic technology. Hence, it is critical to identify salt tolerance genes that can be used to improve crop salt tolerance.<h4>Results</h4>We report that the transcription elongation factor suppressor of Ty 4-2 (SPT4-2) is a positive modulator of salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. AtSPT4-2 expression is induced by salt stress. Knockout mutants of AtSPT4-2 display a salt-sensitive phenotype, whereas AtSPT4-2 overexpression lines exhibit enhanced salt tolerance. Comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed that AtSPT4-2 may orchestrate the expression of genes associated with salt tolerance, including stress-responsive markers, protein kinases and phosphatases, salt-responsive transcription factors and those maintaining ion homeostasis, suggesting that AtSPT4-2 improves salt tolerance mainly by maintaining ion homeostasis and enhancing stress tolerance.<h4>Conclusions</h4>AtSPT4-2 positively modulates salt tolerance by maintaining ion homeostasis and regulating stress-responsive genes and serves as a candidate for the improvement of crop salt tolerance.BMC plant biologyTranscription elongation factor AtSPT4-2 positively modulates salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.PMC98695732020T13063431900230Sun LLiaqat AZhao PXiang CAlfatih AJan SUfalseTranscription elongation factor AtSPT4-2 positively modulates salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.<h4>Background</h4>Salt stress significantly influences plant growth and reduces crop yield. It is highly anticipated to develop salt-tolerant crops with salt tolerance genes and transgenic technology. Hence, it is critical to identify salt tolerance genes that can be used to improve crop salt tolerance.<h4>Results</h4>We report that the transcription elongation factor suppressor of Ty 4-2 (SPT4-2) is a positive modulator of salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. AtSPT4-2 expression is induced by salt stress. Knockout mutants of AtSPT4-2 display a salt-sensitive phenotype, whereas AtSPT4-2 overexpression lines exhibit enhanced salt tolerance. Comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed that AtSPT4-2 may orchestrate the expression of genes associated with salt tolerance, including stress-responsive markers, protein kinases and phosphatases, salt-responsive transcription factors and those maintaining ion homeostasis, suggesting that AtSPT4-2 improves salt tolerance mainly by maintaining ion homeostasis and enhancing stress tolerance.<h4>Conclusions</h4>AtSPT4-2 positively modulates salt tolerance by maintaining ion homeostasis and regulating stress-responsive genes and serves as a candidate for the improvement of crop salt tolerance.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-26T17:23:21.825Z2025-02-19T03:00:16.107ZS-EPMC98695733668303210.1186/s12870-023-04060-x