The ZmHSF08-ZmUGT92A1 module regulates heat tolerance by altering reactive oxygen species levels in maize
Hao Li,
Jing Wang,
Menglong Li,
Leiming Wu,
Wenhui Rao,
Xiaojian Peng,
Haiyang Jiang
Affiliations
Hao Li
National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
Jing Wang
National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
Menglong Li
National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
Leiming Wu
National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
Wenhui Rao
National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
Xiaojian Peng
Corresponding authors.; National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
Haiyang Jiang
Corresponding authors.; National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
GTs (Glycosyltransferases) are important in plant growth and abiotic stresses. However, its role in maize heat response is far from clear. Here, we describe the constitutively expressed UDP-glycosyltransferase ZmUGT92A1, which has a highly conserved PSPG box and is localized in chloroplasts, is induced under heat stress. Functional disruption of ZmUGT92A1 leads to heat sensitivity and reactive oxygen species accumulation in maize. Metabolomics analysis revealed that ZmUGT92A1 affected multiple metabolic pathways and altered the metabolic homeostasis of flavonoids under heat stress. In vitro assay showed ZmUGT92A1 exhibits glycosyltransferase activity on flavonoids and hormones. Additionally, we identified a rapidly heat-induced transcription factor, ZmHSF08, which can directly bind and repress the promoter region of ZmUGT92A1. The ZmHSF08 overexpression line exhibits heat sensitivity and reactive oxygen species accumulation. These findings reveal that the ZmHSF08-ZmUGT92A1 module plays a role in heat tolerance in maize and provide candidate strategies for the development of heat-tolerant varieties.
