A double-stranded RNA binding protein enhances drought resistance via protein phase separation in rice

Huaijun Wang, Tiantian Ye, Zilong Guo, Yilong Yao, Haifu Tu, Pengfei Wang, Yu Zhang, Yao Wang, Xiaokai Li, Bingchen Li, Haiyan Xiong, Xuelei Lai () and Lizhong Xiong ()
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Huaijun Wang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Tiantian Ye: Huazhong Agricultural University
Zilong Guo: Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
Yilong Yao: Huazhong Agricultural University
Haifu Tu: Huazhong Agricultural University
Pengfei Wang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Yu Zhang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Yao Wang: Huazhong Agricultural University
Xiaokai Li: Huazhong Agricultural University
Bingchen Li: Huazhong Agricultural University
Haiyan Xiong: Huazhong Agricultural University
Xuelei Lai: Huazhong Agricultural University
Lizhong Xiong: Huazhong Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Drought stress significantly impacts global rice production, highlighting the critical need to understand the genetic basis of drought resistance in rice. Here, through a genome-wide association study, we reveal that natural variations in DROUGHT RESISTANCE GENE 9 (DRG9), encoding a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) binding protein, contribute to drought resistance. Under drought stress, DRG9 condenses into stress granules (SGs) through liquid-liquid phase separation via a crucial α-helix. DRG9 recruits the mRNAs of OsNCED4, a key gene for the biosynthesis of abscisic acid, into SGs and protects them from degradation. In drought-resistant DRG9 allele, natural variations in the coding region, causing an amino acid substitution (G267F) within the zinc finger domain, increase DRG9’s binding ability to OsNCED4 mRNA and enhance drought resistance. Introgression of the drought-resistant DRG9 allele into the elite rice Huanghuazhan significantly improves its drought resistance. Thus, our study underscores the role of a dsRNA-binding protein in drought resistance and its promising value in breeding drought-resistant rice.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46754-2

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