Identification and Functional Characterization of <i>OsSULTR3;1</i> in Grain Selenium Accumulation in Rice
Rice is a major source of selenium (Se) globally; however, about one billion people experience Se deficiencies. Plants uptake and transport both sulfur (S) and Se using sulfate transporters (SULTRs). Our study aimed to identify rice <i>SULTR</i> genes involved in grain Se accumulation. Expression analysis of 12 rice <i>SULTR</i> genes in tissues at different developmental stages, and under Se and S treatments, revealed that <i>OsSULTR3;1</i> is strongly expressed in rice grains and mainly induced by Se. Through heterologous expression of <i>OsSULTR3;1</i> in yeast and the creation of <i>OsSULTR3;1</i> overexpression and knockout lines, we showed that OsSULTR3;1 is responsible for the active uptake of both selenate and selenite. <i>OsSULTR3;1</i> knockout and overexpression lines reduced and increased grain Se content by 69.6%, 68.7%, 33.3%, and 78.5%, 15.5%, and 57.5%, respectively, compared with the wild type. Our findings validate the function of <i>OsSULTR3;1</i> in grain Se accumulation and provide information for breeding Se-enriched rice cultivars.
Authors
- Jinwei Qi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7461-2064)
- Humphrey Mkumbwa
- Rahim Gul
- Jinfeng Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2127-0870)
- Yinglu Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1542-0161)
- Ashmit Kumar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2528-8880)
- Tianhao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1210-3192)
- Xueyong Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8955-0345)
- Jingjing Fang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8945-7933)
- Shoujiang Yuan
- Tianyu Mo
- Hnin Aung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5692-3256)
- Hnin Si Htun
Institutions
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (ZA)
- Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (KH)
- Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Rural Resources (US)
- Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management (IN)
- Luye Pharma (China) (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Institute of Crop Science (JP)
- Institute of Crop Sciences (CN)
- Denso (United States) (US)
- Fiji National University (FJ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Published
- 2025-07-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c12043
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Selenium in Biological Systems
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.12
Funders
- China Scholarship Council