Chemico-Proteomics Reveal the Enhancement of Salt Tolerance in an Invasive Plant Species via HS Signaling.

HS is a small molecule known to have multiple signaling roles in animals. Recently, evidence shows that HS also has signaling functions in plants; however, the role of HS in invasive plants is unknown. is a typical invasive species growing along the beaches of southern China. A physiological comparison proves that is highly tolerant to salinity stress compared with the native species . To decipher the mechanism that enables to withstand salinity stress, a chemico-proteomics analysis was performed to examine the salt stress response of the two species; an inhibitor experiment was additionally designed to investigate HS signaling on salinity tolerance in . A total of 86 proteins belonging to nine categories were identified and differentially expressed in exposed to salt stress. Moreover, the expression level of enzymes responsible for the HS biosynthesis was markedly upregulated, indicating the potential role of HS signaling in the plant's response to salt stress. The results suggested that salt triggered l-CD enzyme activity and induced the production of HS, therefore upregulating expression of the antioxidants ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase, which mitigates damage from reactive nitrogen species. Additionally, HS reduced the potassium efflux, thereby sustaining intracellular sodium/potassium ion homeostasis and enhancing salt tolerance. These findings indicate that HS plays an important role in the adaptation of to saline environments, which provides greater insight into the function of HS signaling in the adaptation of an invasive plant species.