SORTING NEXIN1 facilitates SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE1 protein accumulation to enhance salt tolerance in Arabidopsis

Abstract The plasma membrane (PM)-localized Na+/H+ antiporter Salt Overly Sensitive1 (SOS1) is essential for plant salt tolerance through facilitating Na+ efflux; however, how SOS1 localization and protein accumulation is regulated in plants remains elusive. Here, we report that Sorting Nexin 1 (SNX1) is required for plant salt stress tolerance through affecting endosomal trafficking of SOS1 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Disruption of SNX1 caused salt hypersensitivity with increased Na+ accumulation and decreased Na+ efflux in Arabidopsis when challenged with high salinity stress. SNX1 co-localized and interacted with SOS1 in endosomes, promoting its PM localization and protein stability in plants under saline conditions. SOS1 overexpression promoted salt tolerance in the wild-type, whereas such effect was greatly compromised in the snx1-2 mutant. Pharmaceutical results showed that SOS1 recycling from the cytosol to the PM was largely blocked while its vacuolar degradation was accelerated in the snx1-2 mutant. Furthermore, salt-induced SOS1 phosphorylation enhanced its interaction and co-localization with SNX1, which is required for SOS1 PM localization in plants. Our study elucidates that SNX1 facilitates SOS1 PM localization and protein accumulation through endosomal trafficking, thereby enhancing salt tolerance in plants.