Enhanced Stress Tolerance in Rice Through Overexpression of a Chimeric Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (OEGD)
2025
Jinhong Wu | Meiyao Chen | Fangwen Yang | Jing Han | Xiaosong Ma | Tianfei Li | Hongyan Liu | Bin Liang | Shunwu Yu
Crop productivity is severely constrained by abiotic and biotic stresses, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance stress resilience. Glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) is a central metabolite in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, playing crucial roles in stress responses. In this study, we engineered a novel <i>glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase</i> (<i>GPDH</i>) gene, designated <i>OEGD</i>, by fusing the N-terminal NAD-binding domain of rice <i>OsGPDH1</i> with the feedback-resistant C-terminal catalytic domain of <i>Escherichia coli gpsA</i>. Overexpression of <i>OEGD</i> in rice enhanced tolerance to drought, phosphorus deficiency, high temperature, and cadmium (Cd<sup>2+</sup>) stresses, while also improving plant growth and yield under drought stress at the adult stage. Notably, the accumulation of glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) and activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) were significantly elevated in the transgenic plants following osmotic stimuli, and fatty acid profiles were altered, favoring stress adaptation. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that <i>OEGD</i> modulates cell wall biogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and lipid metabolism pathways, with minimal disruption to core G3P metabolic genes. These findings highlight the potential of OEGD as a valuable genetic resource for improving stress resistance in rice.
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