Characterization of the Non-specific Phospholipase C Gene and Its Involvement in the Salt Stress Response

is a medicinal halophyte that inhabits sandy beaches and has high ecological and commercial value. However, the molecular mechanism of salt adaptation in remains largely unknown. Here, we cloned and identified a non-specific phospholipase C gene () from , which conferred lipid-mediated signaling during the salt stress response. The expression of was induced continuously by salt treatment. Overexpression of in increased salt tolerance compared to wild-type (WT) plants. -overexpressing plants had longer roots and higher fresh and dry masses under the salt treatment. The expression pattern revealed that the gene was expressed in most tissues, particularly in roots. The subcellular localization of GlNPC3 was mainly at the plasma membrane, and partially at the tonoplast. GlNPC3 hydrolyzed common membrane phospholipids, such as phosphotidylserine (PS), phosphoethanolamine (PE), and phosphocholine (PC). enzymatic assay showed salt-induced total non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) activation in -overexpressing plants. Plant lipid profiling showed a significant change in the membrane-lipid composition of -overexpressing plants compared to WT after the salt treatment. Furthermore, downregulation of expression by virus-induced gene silencing in reduced the expression levels of some stress-related genes, such as , , , and . Together, these results indicated that and GlNPC3-mediated membrane lipid change played a positive role in the response of to a saline environment.