Overexpression of ALDH2B8, an aldehyde dehydrogenase gene from grapevine, sustains Arabidopsis growth upon salt stress and protects plants against oxidative stress

• DOI: 10.1007/s11240-013-0314-2
• Publication Date: 2013-03-11T12:52:48Z
• Authors: Xiaozhao Xu; Rongrong Guo; Chenxia Cheng; Hongjing Zhang; Yucheng Zhang; Xiping Wang
• Keywords: Malondialdehyde

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) belong to a family of NAD (P)+-dependent enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of various toxic aldehydes to carboxylic acids. They have been reported to play important roles in plant responses to various stresses. Here we report on the isolation of a grapevine ALDH gene, which is rapidly induced in response to NaCl treatment. When transiently expressed in Arabidopsis protoplasts, grapevine ALDH2B8 was found to be localized in mitochondria. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing grapevine ALDH2B8 showed sustained growth upon salt stress and increased tolerance against oxidative stress, which was correlated with decreased accumulation of reactive oxygen specie and malondialdehyde derived from cellular lipid peroxidation. In addition, the transgenic line had longer roots and higher chlorophyll content than the wild type under high salinity conditions. Taken together, we suggest that grapevine ALDH2B8 is involved in plant responses to oxidative and salt stress.