Involvement of the JIN1/MYC2 Transcription Factor in Inducing Salt Resistance in Arabidopsis Plants by Exogenous Hydrogen Sulfide

The JIN1/MYC2 transcription factor, which is currently considered to be the key in jasmonate signaling, is also involved in the transduction of abscisic acid signals and, probably, in the effects of other intermediaries involved in the formation of plants' adaptive responses. Arabidopsisjin1 mutants were used to study its possible involvement in protective effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) against salt stress. The treatment of wild-type Arabidopsis plants (Col-0) with the donor of hydrogen sulfide (50 mu mol NaHS) led to an increase in their salt resistance, which was expressed in a decrease in oxidative damages, a decrease in water deficit, and preservation of a pool of photosynthetic pigments under 150 mmol NaCl. The treatment of Col-0 plants with NaHS prevented the stress-induced decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase and catalase, and contributed to the increase in the activity of guaiacol peroxidase. In addition, leaves' proline content in wild-type plants treated with the H2S donor was lower and sugar was higher after salt stress than in untreated plants. The treatment of jin1 mutants did not contribute to their salt resistance and did not have a noticeable effect on the functioning of the studied protective systems. The obtained results make it possible to assume the involvement of the JIN1/MYC2 transcription factor in the effects of hydrogen sulfide and/or intermediaries of its signaling pathways involved in the formation of plants' adaptive responses to salt stress.