OsGGCT1 provides tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum in Arabidopsis thaliana by upregulating γ-glutamyl cycle

Abstract γ-Glutamyl cyclotransferases (GGCTs) belongs to class of cytosolic enzymes that are responsible for glutathione (GSH) degradation under stress conditions. They regulate GSH homeostasis through the γ-glutamyl cycle which is responsible for maintaining the synthesis of GSH as well as its breakdown, enabling recycling of its constituent amino acids. Although GGCTs have been implicated in enhancing heavy metal (HMs) tolerance in plants, their role in biotic stress remains largely unexplored. Previously, OsGGCT1 was identified as a gene strongly upregulated in Fusarium stress. In this study, the GGCT1 homolog from Oryza sativa japonica was characterized for its role in conferring tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum (F.O.). Similar to abiotic factors, biotic stresses significantly impact crop yield and productivity. The rhizosphere harbors diverse microbial communities, including harmful pathogens such as F. oxysporum. Fusarium causes wilt disease in a variety of plant species, such as: tomato, legumes, rice, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of OsGGCT1 enhanced tolerance to F. oxysporum in A. thaliana, primarily by reducing fungal spore accumulation. Transgenic plants showed elevated expression of OsGGCT1 along with AtGSH1 and AtGSH2, reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), improved growth and photosynthetic performance and enhanced activities of the antioxidant enzymes. OsGGCT1 serves as a key component in maintaining GSH homeostasis by supporting glutamate (Glu) regeneration necessary for sustained GSH biosynthesis. Overall, these findings identify OsGGCT1 as an important constituent of the GSH-mediated detoxification pathway against Fusarium oxysporum and provide valuable molecular insights for developing Fusarium-tolerant rice varieties with reduced fungal accumulation. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.