Work

Knockout of a single aquaporin, OsPIP2;4, decreases root water permeability in rice

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane proteins that facilitate water transport and are present in nearly all bacterial, animal, and plant cells. In plants, AQPs are classified into four or more subfamilies, with plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) playing a key role in root water uptake and cellular water regulation. Previous studies have demonstrated that PIPs contribute to root hydraulic conductivity ( L p r ) in various plant species. In this study, we examined the specific role of OsPIP2;4, one of the PIP-type aquaporins among 11 rice ( Oryza sativa ) PIP2s, in regulating L p r . Transgenic rice plants, including OsPIP2;4-knockout (KO) and overexpressing (Ox) lines, were used for this investigation. Two independent KO lines, generated via the CRISPR-Cas9 system and T-DNA insertion mutagenesis, respectively, showed significantly lower L p r compared to wild-type rice plants. The decrease in L p r in the T-DNA KO line was associated with reduced OsPIP2;4 transcript levels, measured by real-time PCR, and lower OsPIP2;4 protein levels, as shown by immunohistochemical analysis. Conversely, no notable increase in L p r was observed in the Ox lines. These results suggest that OsPIP2;4 is expressed in appropriate tissues in rice roots and is a key factor influencing L p r . This research represents a significant step toward further understanding the physiological functions of OsPIP2;4 in rice.

Source: Journal of Plant Research

DOI: 10.1007/s10265-025-01691-z