A SnRK2-HAK regulatory module confers natural variation of salt tolerance in maize
Abstract The exclusion of sodium ions (Na+) from the shoot tissue, termed shoot Na+ exclusion, underlies a core mechanism of crop salt tolerance. Recent studies have shown that the HAK (High-Affinity K+ Transporter) family Na+ transporters play a key role in shoot Na+ exclusion of various crops, how...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59332-x |
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| Summary: | Abstract The exclusion of sodium ions (Na+) from the shoot tissue, termed shoot Na+ exclusion, underlies a core mechanism of crop salt tolerance. Recent studies have shown that the HAK (High-Affinity K+ Transporter) family Na+ transporters play a key role in shoot Na+ exclusion of various crops, however, it is unknown whether and how this type of transporter is post-transcriptionally regulated. Here, we show that two closely related SnRK2 kinases, designated as ZmSnRK2.9 and ZmSnRK2.10, promote shoot Na+ exclusion and salt tolerance by activating the Na+ transporter ZmHAK4 in maize. Under salt conditions, the kinase activity of ZmSnRK2.9 and ZmSnRK2.10 is activated, then they interact with and phosphorylate ZmHAK4 at Ser5, increasing the Na+ transport activity of ZmHAK4, which in turn promotes salt tolerance by improving the exclusion of Na+ from the shoot tissue. Furthermore, we show that a 20-bp deletion that occurred naturally in the ZmSnRK2.10 promoter decreases its transcript level, resulting in an increased shoot Na+ content under salt conditions. Our findings support a breeding program that can utilize the favorable alleles of ZmHAK4 and ZmSnRK2.10 to enhance both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional activation of ZmHAK4, thus advancing the development of salt-tolerant maize. |
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| ISSN: | 2041-1723 |