Arabidopsis Qc-SNARE gene AtSFT12 is involved in salt and osmotic stress responses and Na(+) accumulation in vacuoles

Plant Cell Rep. 2015 Jul;34(7):1127-38. doi: 10.1007/s00299-015-1771-3. Epub 2015 Feb 18.

Abstract

AtSFT12, an Arabidopsis Qc-SNARE protein, is localized to Golgi organelles and is involved in salt and osmotic stress responses via accumulation of Na (+) in vacuoles. To reduce the detrimental effects of environmental stresses, plants have evolved many defense mechanisms. Here, we identified an Arabidopsis Qc-SNARE gene, AtSFT12, involved in salt and osmotic stress responses using an activation-tagging method. Both activation-tagged plants and overexpressing transgenic plants (OXs) of the AtSFT12 gene were tolerant to high concentrations of NaCl, LiCl, and mannitol, whereas loss-of-function mutants were sensitive to NaCl, LiCl, and mannitol. AtSFT12 transcription increased under NaCl, ABA, cold, and mannitol stresses but not MV treatment. GFP-fusion AtSFT12 protein was juxtaposed with Golgi marker, implying that its function is associated with Golgi-mediated transport. Quantitative measurement of Na(+) using induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy revealed that AtSFT12 OXs accumulated significantly more Na(+) than WT plants. In addition, Na(+)-dependent fluorescence analysis of Sodium Green showed comparatively higher Na(+) accumulation in vacuoles of AtSFT12 OX cells than in those of WT plant cells after salt treatments. Taken together, our findings suggest that AtSTF12, a Golgi Qc-SNARE protein, plays an important role in salt and osmotic stress responses and functions in the salt stress response via sequestration of Na(+) in vacuoles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / physiology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Genes, Plant
  • Golgi Apparatus / drug effects
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Organ Specificity / drug effects
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • Osmosis / drug effects*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Qc-SNARE Proteins / genetics*
  • Qc-SNARE Proteins / metabolism
  • Sodium / metabolism*
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology*
  • Stress, Physiological / drug effects
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics*
  • Subcellular Fractions / drug effects
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Vacuoles / drug effects
  • Vacuoles / metabolism*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Qc-SNARE Proteins
  • SFT12 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Sodium