Overexpression of the homeobox-leucine zipper protein ATHB-6 improves the drought tolerance of maize (Zea mays L.)

Homeo-Leucine Zipper (HD-Zip) proteins are a class of transcription factors unique to higher plants and are involved in plant stress responses and regulation of growth and development. However, the function of maize HD-Zip genes in enhancing drought tolerance is unknown. Here, Sub-Cellular Localization results showed that ATHB-6 fusion proteins were only localized in the nucleus. The malondialdehyde content was lower than the wild type under drought tolerance, proving that the introduction of the ATHB-6 gene can improve the drought tolerance of plants. Follow-up analysis showed that ATHB-6 could promote root growth and activities of a series of ROS-scavenging enzymes in maize. Moreover, overexpression of ATHB-6 in maize activated the expression of critical genes in the ROS signals pathway and ABA-dependent pathway under drought tolerance.Our results provides a significant advancement in undestanding the functions of HD-Zip transcription factors in maize.