Yugay Yu., Kudinova O., Vasyutkina E., Adedibu P., Rudenko D., Alaverdov E., Rusapetova T., Fialko A., Degtyareva V., Bulgakov V., Balabanova L., Shkryl Yu.
В журнале Journal of Plant Growth Regulation
Год: 2025
Phosphorus is essential for plant growth, yet its availability in soils is often limited, necessitating phosphorus fertilizers derived from non-renewable resources. This study reports the first successful heterologous expression of the alkaline phosphatase gene (CaAP) from the marine bacterium Cobetia amphilecti in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum. Transgenic lines exhibited enhanced resilience to salt and osmotic stress, as demonstrated by up to 30% higher germination rates, fivefold longer root lengths, and improved membrane stability compared to wild-type (WT) plants. These benefts were linked to increased antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreased electrolyte leakage, and better maintenance of relative water content. Biochemical analyses revealed signifcant 1.5- to twofold increases in total phenolic and flavonoid content, along with a marked rise in proline accumulation, suggesting broader metabolic reprogramming. Gene expression profling confirmed upregulation of key stress-related genes (e.g., SOD, CAT, PHT1, NHX, CHS, P5CS) and downregulation of CDPK, indicating CaAP's role in transcriptional regulation. However, transgenic plants exhibited reduced performance under calcium-defcient conditions, likely due to the enzyme's calcium dependence, highlighting a trade-of in low-Ca2+ environments. These fndings underscore the biotechnological potential of marine bacterial phosphatases for engineering stress-resilient crops while identifying critical limitations linked to nutrient context. Further feld trials are required to assess the viability of this approach under real-world agricultural conditions.
