OsPP2C49, a Negative Regulatory Factor in the Abscisic Acid Signaling Pathway, Positively Regulates Grain Yield in Rice
Jun Miao,
Liubing Bu,
Wenchen Tan,
Ping Wang,
Xiangbo Li,
Xianfeng Li,
Chuyan Chen,
Kunming Zhang,
Wenle Shen,
Zhiyun Gong,
Gulinaer Bahetibieke,
Lei Ren,
Guohua Liang,
Yong Zhou
Affiliations
Jun Miao
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Liubing Bu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Wenchen Tan
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Ping Wang
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Xiangbo Li
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Xianfeng Li
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Chuyan Chen
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Kunming Zhang
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Wenle Shen
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Zhiyun Gong
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Gulinaer Bahetibieke
Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Institute of Agricultural Science
Lei Ren
Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Institute of Agricultural Science
Guohua Liang
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Yong Zhou
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University
Abstract Clade A type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) are crucial components of the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. Research on clade A PP2Cs has focused more on their roles related to ABA signaling and stress responses than on the molecular mechanisms mediating their effects on plant growth and grain yield. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food crop worldwide. We previously determined that OsPP2C49, which encodes a rice clade A PP2C family member, negatively controls rice responses to drought, salt, and high-temperature stresses. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of OsPP2C49 on ABA responses and rice grain yield. By analyzing potential interactions with core ABA components, including pyrabactin resistance 1 (PYR1)/PYR1-like (PYL)/regulatory component of the ABA receptor (RCAR) and stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), we confirmed that OsPP2C49 is involved in the ABA signaling pathway. OsPP2C49 overexpression led to decreased ABA sensitivity and increased rice grain yield; the opposite phenotypes were observed in the ospp2c49 knockout mutants. Therefore, OsPP2C49 negatively regulates ABA responses, but positively modulates rice grain yield. Furthermore, we found that OsPP2C49 can interact with and dephosphorylate five OsSAPKs in vitro. Unlike OsPP2C49, these OsSAPKs positively modulate ABA responsiveness, but negatively affect rice yield. These findings indicate that OsPP2C49 may partially regulate ABA responses and rice grain production by dephosphorylating OsSAPKs. This study preliminarily explored the molecular basis of the regulatory effects of OsPP2C49 on rice plant growth and grain yield.
