A C2H2-Type Zinc Finger Protein from <i>Mentha canadensis</i>, McZFP1, Negatively Regulates Epidermal Cell Patterning and Salt Tolerance
Xiaowei Zheng,
Yichuan Xu,
Li Li,
Xiwu Qi,
Xu Yu,
Chun Qin,
Dongmei Liu,
Zequn Chen,
Yang Bai
Affiliations
Xiaowei Zheng
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
Yichuan Xu
Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
Li Li
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
Xiwu Qi
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
Xu Yu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
Chun Qin
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Dongmei Liu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
Zequn Chen
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
Yang Bai
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Museum Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, China
C2H2-type zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) transcription factors play evident roles in regulating plant growth and development and abiotic stress responses. However, the role of C2H2-ZFP from Mentha canadensis remains uncertain. We identified the multifunctional C2H2-ZFP gene McZFP1 from M. canadensis based on phylogenetic analysis. The McZFP1 gene was highly expressed in stems, responding to abiotic stress and phytohormone treatments. McZFP1 localized in the nucleus and showed no transcriptional autoactivation activity in yeast. McZFP1 overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly reduced the number of trichomes and root hairs, root hair length, and salt stress tolerance. Further study revealed that McZFP1 overexpression increased the expression of negative regulator genes and decreased that of positive regulator genes to inhibit plant trichome and root hair development. Malondialdehyde accumulation was promoted, but the proline content and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities were reduced and the expression of stress response genes was inhibited in McZFP1 overexpression lines under salt treatment, thereby compromising plant salt tolerance. Overall, these results indicate that McZFP1 is a novel C2H2-ZFP transcription factor that plays negative roles in trichome and root hair development and salt stress tolerance.
