AUTHOR=Wang Huijuan , Liu Shenghao , Fan Fenghua , Yu Qian , Zhang Pengying 

TITLE=A Moss 2-Oxoglutarate/Fe(II)-Dependent Dioxygenases (2-ODD) Gene of Flavonoids Biosynthesis Positively Regulates Plants Abiotic Stress Tolerance

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.850062

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.850062

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Flavonoids, the largest group of polyphenolic secondary metabolites present in all land plants, play essential roles in many biological processes and defense against abiotic stresses. In flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, flavones synthase I (FNSI), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonol synthase (FLS), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) all belong to 2-oxoglutarate/Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases (2-ODDs) family, which catalyzes the critical oxidative reactions to form different flavonoid subgroups. Here, a novel 2-ODD gene was cloned from Antarctic moss Pohlia nutans (Pn2-ODD1) and its functions were investigated both in two model plants, Physcomitrella patens and Arabidopsis thaliana. Heterologous expression of Pn2-ODD1 increased the accumulation of anthocyanins and flavonol in Arabidopsis. Meanwhile, transgenic Pn2-ODD1 P. patens and Arabidopsis exhibited enhanced tolerance to salinity and drought stresses, with larger gametophyte sizes, better seed germination and root growth, respectively. Heterologous expression of Pn2-ODD1 in Arabidopsis also conferred the tolerance to UV-B and oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant capacity. Therefore, we showed that Pn2-ODD1 participated in the accumulation of anthocyanins and flavonol, and regulating the tolerance to abiotic stresses in plants, contributing to the adaptation of P. nutans to polar environment.