Yeast cadmium factor 1-enhanced oxidative stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

Yeast cadmium factor 1 (YCF1) is an ATP-binding cassette transporter family protein that is heterologously expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. YCF1 enhances tolerance to abiotic stresses, particularly Cd and oxidative stress, by acting as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and also regulating key transcription factors, including WRKY13 and WRKY25. In the present study, Arabidopsis transformants expressing YCF1 were generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, resulting in two distinct phenotypes: YCF1_Wt, which exhibits a wild-type-like appearance, and YCF1_Dw, displaying dwarf stature and expressing higher levels of YCF1 than YCF1_Wt. Comparative analysis revealed that YCF1_Dw possessed significantly enhanced ROS scavenging activity, as indicated by elevated expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD1), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase1 (APX1). Consequently, greater stress tolerance was observed in the YCF1_Dw transformant relative to YCF1_Wt. The study also revealed differential expression of WRKY13 and WRKY25 under stress conditions, with WRKY13 and WRKY25 upregulated in response to Cd and oxidative stress, respectively, suggesting a stress-specific regulatory mechanism facilitated by YCF1. Moreover, the YCF1_Dw phenotype offers practical advantages for phytoremediation applications, as its smaller size lends itself to easier management in controlled environments. These findings highlight the potential of YCF1 to enhance plant stress tolerance, which could in turn significantly impact agricultural and environmental biotechnology.