ChZF7, a C3H zinc finger protein derived from alkaliphilic microalgae, improves alkaline stress tolerance in poplar via modulating flavonoid and hormone metabolism.
- 1College of Horticulture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China.
- 2College of Horticulture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Soil alkalinity severely restricts plant growth, especially woody plants such as poplar. In this study, we identified ChZF7, a C3H-type zinc finger protein from alkaliphilic microalgae Chlorella sp. BLD, and explored its function in improving alkaline stress tolerance in Shanxin poplar (Populus davidiana × P. bolleana). Under alkaline stress, ChZF7 overexpression lines displayed superior growth status, reduced electrolyte leakage and less reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation relative to WT plants. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that ChZF7 induces extensive metabolic reprogramming in poplar. Differentially expressed genes and accumulated metabolites were primarily enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, along with the upregulation of genes and increased metabolites in the ABA biosynthetic pathway. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ChZF7 positively enhances alkaline tolerance in poplar by coordinating antioxidant metabolism, flavonoid metabolism and hormone metabolism. This work provides novel insights into alkaline stress adaptation mechanisms of woody plants, and highlights microalgae-derived zinc finger proteins as promising genetic resources for improving stress resistance in forest trees.
Related
- Heterotrimeric Gβ subunit orchestrates flavonoid metabolism governing drought-tolerance in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
- Carbon nanoparticles synergistically improve drought tolerance and nutraceutical innovation in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.): Antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-fibrotic activities enhanced via flavonoid accumulation.
- Pepper RING‐type E3 ligase, CaANKR1, negatively regulates drought tolerance by modulating CaMAPK1 stability
- IbMYB11 Involved in Drought Stress Responses Through Association with Flavonoid Metabolism in Sweet Potato.
- Natural variation in a FtMYB32 ‐ FtCES18 module drives Rhizoctonia solani resistance by reprogramming jasmonate and flavonoid metabolism in Tartary buckwheat
BibTeX
@article{qu2026chzf7,
title = {{ChZF7, a C3H zinc finger protein derived from alkaliphilic microalgae, improves alkaline stress tolerance in poplar via modulating flavonoid and hormone metabolism.}},
author = {Dehui Qu and Jiaqi Zhou and Haoyuan Wang and Wenfei Li and Songlin Li and Minghui Lv and Jingwen Zhang and Fanlin Wu},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-09707-z},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972520},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - ChZF7, a C3H zinc finger protein derived from alkaliphilic microalgae, improves alkaline stress tolerance in poplar via modulating flavonoid and hormone metabolism.
AU - Dehui Qu
AU - Jiaqi Zhou
AU - Haoyuan Wang
AU - Wenfei Li
AU - Songlin Li
AU - Minghui Lv
AU - Jingwen Zhang
AU - Fanlin Wu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/06
JO - BMC plant biology
DO - 10.1186/s12870-026-09707-z
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972520
AB - Soil alkalinity severely restricts plant growth, especially woody plants such as poplar. In this study, we identified ChZF7, a C3H-type zinc finger protein from alkaliphilic microalgae Chlorella sp. BLD, and explored its function in improving alkaline stress tolerance in Shanxin poplar (Populus davidiana × P. bolleana). Under alkaline stress, ChZF7 overexpression lines displayed superior growth status, reduced electrolyte leakage and less reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation relative to WT plants. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that ChZF7 induces extensive metabolic reprogramming in poplar. Differentially expressed genes and accumulated metabolites were primarily enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, along with the upregulation of genes and increased metabolites in the ABA biosynthetic pathway. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ChZF7 positively enhances alkaline tolerance in poplar by coordinating antioxidant metabolism, flavonoid metabolism and hormone metabolism. This work provides novel insights into alkaline stress adaptation mechanisms of woody plants, and highlights microalgae-derived zinc finger proteins as promising genetic resources for improving stress resistance in forest trees.
SN - 1471-2229
ER -