The heterelogous expression of the Debaryomyces hansenii DhArO₄ gene in Nicotiana tabacum improves growth yield, even after inhibition by saline stress

It has recently been reported that the expression of the first tyrosine synthesis enzyme Aro4p gene [3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate-7 phosphate synthase] is involved in the response of the extreme-tolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii to salt stress. In addition, and considering that microorganisms and plants share the pathway of synthesis of aromatic amino acids, the DhARO4 gene of the enzyme Aro4p was incorporated into the Nicotiana tabacum plant with the hypothesis that by doing so the plant will better face the salinity conditions resulting from irrigation with non-saline water or added with 100 mM NaCl without affecting its growth. The genetically modified plants had a larger size than the wild plants in the two types of irrigation.

Keywords: Debaryomyces hansenii, DhARO4, salt stress resistance, transgenic tobacco.