The TaMYB55-TaSnRK1α1-TabZIP9 module confers heat stress tolerance in wheat

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Yang, Wen; Li, Renhan; Feng, Man; Chen, Zhe; Guo, Weiwei; Zhang, Yumei; Peng, Huiru; Yao, Yingyin; Hu, Zhaorong; Qin, Feng; De Smet, Ive; Bai, Mingyi; Ni, Zhongfu; Sun, Qixin; Xin, Mingming
• 署名单位: China Agricultural University; Qingdao Agricultural University; Ghent University; Ghent University; Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB); Shandong University
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2601097123
• 发表日期: 2026-07-07
• 页码: e2601097123
• 关键词: wheat; heat stress; protein kinase; yield-stress adaptation trade-off; temperature; GROWTH; yield

摘要

Heat stress poses a severe threat to global crop yields and food security. Here, we demonstrate that TaSnRK1 alpha 1, the alpha-catalytic subunit of sucrose non-fermenting-1-related kinase 1, serves as a pivotal regulator that confers thermotolerance and enhances grain weight in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The findings reveal that TaMYB55 directly binds to the TaSnRK1 alpha 1 promoter to activate its expression, which positively contributes to heat tolerance in wheat. An A-to-G substitution in the TaSnRK1 alpha 1 promoter enhances the binding affinity of TaMYB55, which cosegregates with wheat thermotolerant phenotypes. In addition, we show that TaSnRK1 alpha 1 interacts with and phosphorylates the transcription factor TabZIP9, which subsequently promotes TabZIP9 degradation. Genetic analyses confirm that TaSnRK1 alpha 1 functions upstream of TabZIP9, and loss or gain-of-function of TabZIP9 significantly alters thermotolerance in wheat by modulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis and scavenging capacity. Together, our findings shed light on the importance of the TaMYB55-TaSnRK1 alpha 1-TabZIP9 signaling module in the regulation of heat tolerance, providing practical strategies for engineering climate-tolerant crops.