Positive Regulator, a Rice C3H2C3-type RING Finger Protein H2-3(OsRFPH2-3), in Response to Salt Stress

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits rice productivity in many regions of the world. In order to develop salt stress tolerant rice plants, genetic engineering is a promising approach. We characterized the molecular function of rice C3H2C3 as a really interesting new gene (RING). Oryza sativa RING finger protein H2-3 (OsRFPH2-3) was highly expressed in 100 mM NaCl. To identify the localization of OsRFPH2-3, we fused vectors that include C-terminal GFP protein (35S;;OsRFPH2-3-GFP). OsRFPH2-3 was expressed in the nucleus in rice protoplasts. An in vitro ubiquitin assay demonstrated that OsRFPH2-3 possessed E3-ubiquitin ligase activity. However, the mutated OsRFPH2-3 were not possessed any E3-ubiquitin ligase activity. Under salinity conditions, OsRFPH2-3-overexpressing plants exhibited higher chlorophyll, proline, SOD, POD, CAT, and soluble sugar contents and lower H₂O₂ accumulation than wild-type plants, supporting transgenic plants with enhanced salinity tolerance phenotypes. OsRFPH2-3-overexpressing plants exhibited low Na+ accumulation and Na+/K+ ratios in their roots. Theses results suggest that overexpression of OsRFPH2-3 can make plant insensitivity about salinity conditions.