Abstract
Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus) is an economically important aquatic crop frequently challenged by abiotic stresses. The plant cell wall, a primary interface with the environment, undergoes dynamic remodeling to balance structural integrity with adaptation. UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase (UXS), a key enzyme synthesizing the nucleotide sugar precursor UDP-xylose, exists in distinct membrane-bound (e.g., Golgi) and cytosolic forms, channeling substrates into compartmentalized polysaccharide biosynthesis pathways and positioning the UXS family as a crucial regulator linking cell wall metabolism to plant adaptation. Here, we systematically characterized the NnUXS gene family in lotus through genome-wide identification, evolutionary synteny analysis, and functional validation. Integrated bioinformatic analysis revealed their physicochemical properties, motif patterns, and regulatory cis-elements, suggesting potential roles in growth and salt stress responses. Among the family, NnUXS3 was prioritized due to its preferentially upregulated in small plant architecture (SPA) varieties, its early induction under salt stress (0.5 days, 200 mM NaCl), and its highest predicted binding affinity for UDP-GlcA (−8.9 kcal/mol). Subsequent functional validation confirmed its dual role: heterologous overexpression in tobacco reduced plant height (47.22%) and leaf area (67.61%), while transient overexpression in lotus enhanced salt tolerance and shortened the petioles. This enhanced tolerance was achieved by upregulating key genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis (NnCSLC4, NnXTH22, NnCESA1) and antioxidant defense (NnSOD, NnPOD). Our findings establish NnUXS3 as a key mediator in balancing plant architecture and abiotic stress resilience. This work not only identifies a valuable genetic target for lotus breeding but also provides insights into the growth-stress trade-off, highlighting the importance of UXS subcellular localization in tailoring cell wall remodeling for environmental adaptation.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
The NnUXS family showed physicochemical properties, motifs and cis-elements suggesting growth and salt-response roles.
- Taxon
- Nelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nuciferat0 - Gene
- NnUXSe1
- Outcome
- physicochemical properties, motif patterns, and regulatory cis-elementse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Integrated bioinformatic analysis revealed their physicochemical properties, motif patterns, and regulatory cis-elements, suggesting potential roles in growth and salt stress responses”
t0“Nelumbo nucifera”
e1“NnUXS gene family”
Claim · model-written summary
NnUXS3 was preferentially upregulated in small plant architecture varieties.
- Taxon
- Nelumbo nuciferaNelumbo nuciferat0
- Material
- small plant architecture (SPA) varietiese0
- Gene
- NnUXS3e0
- Outcome
- preferentially upregulatede0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“NnUXS3 was prioritized due to its preferentially upregulated in small plant architecture (SPA) varieties”
t0“Nelumbo nucifera”
Claim · model-written summary
NnUXS3 was induced early under 200 mM NaCl.
- Taxon
- Nelumbo nuciferaNelumbo nuciferat0
- Treatment
- salt stress (0.5 days, 200 mM NaCl)e0
- Gene
- NnUXS3e1
- Outcome
- early inductione0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“its early induction under salt stress (0.5 days, 200 mM NaCl)”
t0“Nelumbo nucifera”
e1“NnUXS3 was prioritized”
Claim · model-written summary
NnUXS3 had the highest predicted UDP-GlcA binding affinity of −8.9 kcal/mol.
- Taxon
- Nelumbo nuciferaNelumbo nuciferat0
- Gene
- NnUXS3e1
- Compound
- UDP-GlcAe0
- Outcome
- binding affinitye0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- −8.9 kcal/mole0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“its highest predicted binding affinity for UDP-GlcA (−8.9 kcal/mol)”
t0“Nelumbo nucifera”
e1“NnUXS3 was prioritized”
Claim · model-written summary
NnUXS3 overexpression reduced tobacco height by 47.22%.
- Taxon
- tobacco
Nicotiana tabacume0 - Treatment
- heterologous overexpressione0
- Gene
- NnUXS3e1
- Outcome
- plant heighte0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 47.22%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“heterologous overexpression in tobacco reduced plant height (47.22%) and leaf area (67.61%)”
e1“NnUXS3 as a key mediator”
Claim · model-written summary
NnUXS3 overexpression reduced tobacco leaf area by 67.61%.
- Taxon
- tobaccoNicotiana tabacume0
- Treatment
- heterologous overexpressione0
- Gene
- NnUXS3e1
- Outcome
- leaf areae0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 67.61%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“heterologous overexpression in tobacco reduced plant height (47.22%) and leaf area (67.61%)”
e1“NnUXS3 as a key mediator”
Claim · model-written summary
Transient NnUXS3 overexpression enhanced salt tolerance in lotus.
.jpg?width=60){kind=small}
LotusNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“transient overexpression in lotus enhanced salt tolerance and shortened the petioles”
e1“NnUXS3 as a key mediator”
Claim · model-written summary
Transient NnUXS3 overexpression shortened lotus petioles.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“transient overexpression in lotus enhanced salt tolerance and shortened the petioles”
e1“NnUXS3 as a key mediator”
Claim · model-written summary
NnUXS3 overexpression upregulated polysaccharide biosynthesis and antioxidant defense genes.
- Taxon
- Nelumbo nuciferaNelumbo nuciferat0
- Treatment
- transient overexpressione1
- Gene
- NnCSLC4, NnXTH22, NnCESA1e0
- Outcome
- key genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesise0
- Direction
- upregulatinge0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“upregulating key genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis (NnCSLC4, NnXTH22, NnCESA1) and antioxidant defense (NnSOD, NnPOD)”
t0“Nelumbo nucifera”
e1“transient overexpression in lotus enhanced salt tolerance”