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Key message: DkXTH1 promoted cell elongation and more strength to maintain structural integrity by involving in cell wall assembly, thus enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress with broader phenotype in transgenic plants. Abstract: Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) is thought to play a key role in cell wall modifications by cleaving and re-joining xyloglucan, and participates in the diverse physiological processes. DkXTH1 was found to peak in immature expanding persimmon fruit, and its higher expression level exhibited along with firmer fruit during storage. In the present study, transgenic Arabidopsis and tomato plants were generated with DkXTH1 constitutively expressed. Overexpression of DkXTH1 enhanced tolerance to salt, ABA and drought stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis plants with respect to root and leaf growth, and survival. Transgenic tomatoes collected at the mature green stage, presented delayed fruit softening coupled with postponed color change, a later and lower ethylene peak, and higher firmness in comparison with the wild-type tomatoes during storage. Furthermore, broader leaves and tomato fruit with larger diameter were gained in transgenic Arabidopsis and tomato, respectively. Most importantly, transgenic plants exhibited more large and irregular cells with higher density of cell wall and intercellular spaces, resulting from the overactivity of XET enzymes involving in cell wall assembly. We suggest that DkXTH1 expression resulted in cells with more strength and thickness to maintain structural integrity, and thus enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress and delayed fruit softening in transgenic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the intensive study of xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases, their multifaceted role in plant growth regulation in changing environmental conditions is not yet clarified. The functional role of the large number of genes encoding this group of enzymes is also still unclear. NtEXGT gene encodes one of xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases (XTHs) of Nicotiana tabacum L. The highest level of NtEXGT gene expression was detected in young flowers and leaves near the shoot apex. Expression of the NtEXGT gene in leaves was induced by cytokinins, auxins, brassinosteroids and gibberellins. NtEXGT gene was also up-regulated by salinity, drought, cold, cadmium and 10 μ M abscisic acid treatments and down-regulated in response to 0 °C and 100 μ M abscisic acid. Pretreatment of leaves with fluridone contributed to smaller increase in the level of NtEXGT transcripts in response to drought stress. These data suggest that NtEXGT gene is ABA-regulated and probably implicated in ABA-dependent signaling in response to stress factors. 35S::NtEXGT plants of tobacco showed higher rate of root growth under salt-stress conditions, greater frost and heat tolerance as compared with the wild type tobacco plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase genes (XTHs) encode enzymes required for the reconstruction and modification of xyloglucan backbones, which will result in changes of cell wall extensibility during growth. A total of 56 NtXTH genes were identified from common tobacco, and 50 cDNA fragments were verified by PCR amplification. The 56 NtXTH genes could be classified into two subfamilies: Group I/II and Group III according to their phylogenetic relationships. The gene structure, chromosomal localization, conserved protein domains prediction, sub-cellular localization of NtXTH proteins and evolutionary relationships among Nicotiana tabacum, Nicotiana sylvestrisis, Nicotiana tomentosiformis, Arabidopsis, and rice were also analyzed. The NtXTHs expression profiles analyzed by the TobEA database and qRT-PCR revealed that NtXTHs display different expression patterns in different tissues. Notably, the expression patterns of 12 NtXTHs responding to environment stresses, including salinity, alkali, heat, chilling, and plant hormones, including IAA and brassinolide, were characterized. All the results would be useful for the function study of NtXTHs during different growth cycles and stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]