Transcription factor ZjABF1 promotes sugar accumulation and abiotic resistance by positively regulating the expression of sugar transport protein ZjSWEET11 and ZjSWEET18 in Chinese jujube

Chong Yang; Xuan Zhao; Changfeng Ai; Zhi Luo; Mengjun Liu

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138799

Transcription factor ZjABF1 promotes sugar accumulation and abiotic resistance by positively regulating the expression of sugar transport protein ZjSWEET11 and ZjSWEET18 in Chinese jujube

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Dec 19:138799. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138799. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chong Yang¹, Xuan Zhao², Changfeng Ai³, Zhi Luo³, Mengjun Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China; National Engineering Research Center for Agriculture in Northern Mountainous Areas, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China.
² College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China; Research Center of Chinese Jujube, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China.
³ College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China.
⁴ College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China; Research Center of Chinese Jujube, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China. Electronic address: kjliu@hebau.edu.cn.

PMID: 39708885
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138799

Abstract

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) exhibits a remarkable resilience to both drought and salinity. Additionally, it is characterized by a high sugar content, with sucrose being the predominant component of its soluble sugars. However, the molecular mechanisms linking robust abiotic stress resistance, sugar accumulation and sugar transport proteins ZjSWEETs remain poorly understood in jujube. In this study, we identified two critical sugar transport proteins, ZjSWEET11 and ZjSWEET18, in Chinese jujube through comprehensive assays and established a positive correlation between sucrose accumulation and the expression of these genes. Furthermore, we discovered that the key transcription factor ZjABF1 within the ABA signaling pathway positively regulated the transcriptional expression of ZjSWEET11 and ZjSWEET18 and increased the sugar contents, consequently improving the drought and salt stress resistance of plants. Basing on these results, we proposed a working module that ZjABF1 promotes sugar accumulation and improves stress resistance by targeting and up-regulating of ZjSWEET11 and ZjSWEET18. Our findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying sugar accumulation and abiotic stress adaptation in Chinese jujube.

Keywords: ABF; Abiotic stress; Chinese jujube; SWEET; Sucrose accumulation.