<i>Brassica napus</i> Plants Gain Improved Salt-Stress Tolerance and Increased Storage Oil Biosynthesis by Interfering with CRL3<sup>BPM</sup> Activities
Emily Corbridge,
Alexandra MacGregor,
Raed Al-Saharin,
Matthew G. Garneau,
Samuel Smalley,
Sutton Mooney,
Sanja Roje,
Philip D. Bates,
Hanjo Hellmann
Affiliations
Emily Corbridge
School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Alexandra MacGregor
School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Raed Al-Saharin
Department of Applied Biology, Tafila Technical University, Tafila 66110, Jordan
Matthew G. Garneau
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Samuel Smalley
School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Sutton Mooney
School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Sanja Roje
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Philip D. Bates
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Hanjo Hellmann
School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Generating new strategies to improve plant performance and yield in crop plants becomes increasingly relevant with ongoing and predicted global climate changes. E3 ligases that function as key regulators within the ubiquitin proteasome pathway often are involved in abiotic stress responses, development, and metabolism in plants. The aim of this research was to transiently downregulate an E3 ligase that uses BTB/POZ-MATH proteins as substrate adaptors in a tissue-specific manner. Interfering with the E3 ligase at the seedling stage and in developing seeds results in increased salt-stress tolerance and elevated fatty acid levels, respectively. This novel approach can help to improve specific traits in crop plants to maintain sustainable agriculture.
