Functional characterization of the Arabidopsis SERRATE under salt stress

SERRATE (SE) plays critical roles in RNA metabolism and plant growth regulation. However, its function in stress-response processes remains largely unknown. Here, we examined the regulatory role of SE using the se-1 mutant and its complementation line under saline conditions. The expression of SE was repressed by salt treatment at both mRNA and protein levels. After treatment with different NaCl concentrations, the se-1 mutants showed increased sensitivity to salinity. This heightened sensitivity was evidenced by decreased germination, reduced root growth, more serious chlorosis, and increased conductivity of the mutants compared with the wild type. Further analysis revealed that SE regulates the pre-mRNA splicing of several well-characterized marker genes associated with salt stress tolerance. Our data thus imply that SE may function as a key component in plant response to salt stress by modulating the splicing of salt stress-associated genes.