OsSSID6 Negatively Regulates Salt Stress Tolerance in Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) via Metabolic Pathways and ROS...

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Soil salinization threatens global rice productivity.
• Domain of unknown function (DUF) proteins are crucial for plant development.
• The DUF936 family's role in abiotic stress response requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the function of the OsSSID6 gene in rice (Oryza sativa L.) salt stress tolerance.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying OsSSID6's role in stress response.

Main Methods:

• CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to create knockout (KO) and overexpression (OE) rice lines.
• Analysis of OsSSID6 protein localization (cell membrane).
• Transcriptome analysis to identify affected metabolic pathways.

Main Results:

• OsSSID6 protein is localized at the cell membrane and its expression is stress-responsive.
• CRISPR/Cas9 KO lines exhibited enhanced salt tolerance, while OE lines showed increased sensitivity.
• Both KO and OE lines displayed altered ROS-scavenging capacity.
• Transcriptome analysis revealed significant upregulation of phenylpropanoid, flavonoid biosynthesis, and stress response genes in KO lines.

Conclusions:

• OsSSID6 gene modulates rice salt stress tolerance.
• It orchestrates metabolic pathways including ROS scavenging, phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, and stress response.
• Findings offer insights for engineering salt-tolerant crops.