The rice GLYCINE-RICH PROTEIN 3 enhances nitrogen utilization via mRNA stabilization of nitrogen transporter and...

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Genetics
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Efficient nitrogen utilization is vital for sustainable crop production.
• Molecular mechanisms regulating nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in rice are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify molecular regulators of NUE in rice.
• To investigate the role of GLYCINE-RICH RNA-BINDING PROTEIN (OsGRP3) in nitrogen assimilation and crop yield.

Main Methods:

• Generation of OsGRP3 overexpression (OE) and knockdown (KD) transgenic rice lines.
• Agronomic performance evaluation under varying nitrogen conditions.
• Molecular analyses including RNA immunoprecipitation and decay assays.

Main Results:

• OsGRP3 OE lines showed enhanced plant height, seed number, and grain yield, particularly under nitrogen deficiency.
• OsGRP3 KD plants exhibited reduced growth and yield.
• OsGRP3 directly binds and stabilizes transcripts of key nitrogen assimilation genes (e.g., OsAMT1.1, OsGS1.1).

Conclusions:

• OsGRP3 acts as a positive post-transcriptional regulator of NUE in rice by stabilizing nitrogen-related mRNA.
• OsGRP3 enhances nitrogen uptake and assimilation, improving crop performance under nutrient stress.
• Targeting OsGRP3 offers a potential strategy for improving rice yield and nitrogen utilization in agriculture.