The overexpression of rice ACYL-COA-BINDING PROTEIN4 improves salinity tolerance in transgenic rice

Increased salinity, as consequence of the ongoing climate change, has a significant impact on crop production worldwide. The overexpression rice ACYL-COA-BINDING PROTEIN4 (OsACBP4) protects transgenic and Arabidopsis from salinity stress, while OsACBP4-RNAi lines were more susceptible than vector control (VC) wild type (WT). AtACBP2, OsACBP4 homologue, also conferred protection in Arabidopsis. When expression was investigated using ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter fusion, OsACBP4pro::GUS induced after salt treatment seedlings. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays verified that four salinity-responsive elements 5’-flanking region interacts with nuclear protein salt-treated rice. RNA-sequencing qRT-PCR OsACBP4-overexpressors (OEs), revealed an upregulation all five genes encoding acyl-CoA synthase, essential fatty acid elongation, over controls. Furthermore, GC–MS analysis showed differences content between leaves OsACBP4-OEs Taken together, may play role responses by regulating lipid metabolism through binding esters vegetative tissues recombinant subsequently confirmed to bind long-chain isothermal titration calorimetry assays.