Effects of Early Risperidone Treatment on Metabolic Parameters in Socially Isolated Rats-Implication of Antipsychotic Intervention across Developmental Stages of Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) is thought responsible for the metabolic abnormalities of schizophrenic patients, however, some untreated schizophrenic patients had already developed problems with glucose metabolism. The present study examined the hypothesis that schizophrenia itself but not risperidone, an extensively employed SGA, is accountable for metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: A 56-day risperidone regimen (1 mg/kg/day) was employed for rats of social isolation rearing (SIR) beginning at different developmental stage (28 or 56 days after weaning, i.e., adolescent and young adulthood, respectively). Metabolic parameters including body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, and plasma glucose were measured at baseline, 28, and 56 days of the regimen. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at the end of the regimen. Insulin function was evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) of OGTT, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-ir), and Matsuda index. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that: (i) SIR rats presented higher body weight, plasma triglyceride, and HOMA-ir than social controls. (ii) Higher insulin resistance was specifically presented in young adult rather than adolescent SIR rats. (iii) Adolescent drugged rats showed a lower level of LDL in day 28 of the regimen than young adult. Risperidone led to a lower LDL level in only young adult IR rats in day 56 than undrugged rats. (iv) SIR-induced dysregulation of insulin can be reversed by chronic risperidone treatment beginning at adolescence but not young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the primary role of schizophrenia in metabolic abnormalities and risperidone appear beneficial when administered earlier.

Anaerobic sulfamethoxazole-degrading bacterial consortia in antibiotic-contaminated wetland sediments identified by DNA-stable isotope probing and metagenomics analysis.

Anaerobic degradation has been demonstrated as an important pathway for the removal of sulfonamide (SA) in contaminated environments, and identifying the microorganisms responsible for the degradation of SA is a key step in developing bioaugmentation approaches. In this study, we investigated the anaerobic degradation activity of three SA [sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfamethazine (SMZ) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)] and the associated bacterial community in wetland sediments contaminated by aquaculture (in Fujian Province, coded with FJ), livestock farming (in Sichuan Province, coded with SC), or rural wastewaters (in Guangdong Province, coded with GD). Additionally, the combination of DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) with metagenomics was further applied to assess the active SA-degrading microbes using SMX as a model SA. Among SDZ, SMZ and SMX, only SMX could be effectively dissipated, and the degradation of SMX was relatively fast in the microcosms of sediments with higher levels of SA contamination (FJ and SC). The anaerobic biotransformation pathway of SMX was initiated by hydrogenation with the cleavage of the N-O bond on the isoxazole ring. DNA-SIP revealed that the in situ active anaerobic SMX-degraders (5, 18 and 3 genera in sediments FJ, SC and GD respectively) were dominated by Proteobacteria in sediments FJ and SC, but by Firmicutes (two Family XVIII members) in sediment GD. Mycobacterium, unclassified Burkholderiaceae and Rhodocyclaceae were identified as the dominant active SMX-degrading bacteria in both sediments FJ and SC. Higher proportions of antibiotic resistance gene and genes involved in various functional categories were observed in sediments FJ and SC.

In-situ active Bisphenol A-degrading microorganisms in mangrove sediments.

Bisphenol A (BPA), as both an endocrine disrupting compound and an important industrial material, is broadly distributed in coastal regions and may cause adverse effects on mangrove ecosystems. Although many BPA degraders have been isolated from various environments, the in-situ active BPA-degrading microorganisms in mangrove ecosystem are still unknown. In this study, DNA-based stable isotope probing in combination with high-throughput sequencing was adopted to pinpoint the microbes actually involved in BPA metabolism in mangrove sediments. Five bacterial genera were speculated to be associated with BPA degradation based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis, including Truepera, Methylobacterium, Novosphingobium, Rhodococcus and Rhodobacter. The in-situ BPA degraders were different between mudflat and forest sediments. The Shannon index of microbes in heavy fractions was significantly lower than that in light fractions. Besides, phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) demonstrated that the functional genes relevant to cytochrome P450, benzoate degradation, bisphenol degradation and citrate cycle were up-regulated significantly in in-situ BPA-degrading microbes. These findings greatly expanded the knowledge of indigenous BPA metabolic microorganisms in mangrove ecosystems.

Metagenomic insights into the profile of antibiotic resistomes in sediments of aquaculture wastewater treatment system.

To meet the rapidly growing global demand for aquaculture products, large amounts of antibiotics were used in aquaculture, which might accelerate the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and the propagation of antibiotic genes (ARGs). In our research, we revealed the ARGs profiles, their co-occurrence with mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and potential hosts in sediments of a crab pond wastewater purification system based on metagenomic analysis. The residual antibiotic seems to increase the propagation of ARGs in the crab pond, but there was no clear relationship between a given antibiotic type and the corresponding resistance genes. The effect of aquaculture on sediment was not as profound as that of other anthropogentic activities, but increased the relative abundance of sulfonamide resistance gene. A higher abundance of MGEs, especially plasmid, increased the potential ARGs dissemination risk in crab and purification ponds. Multidrug and sulfonamide resistance genes had greater potential to transfer because they were more frequently carried by MGEs. The horizontal gene transfer was likely to occur among a variety of microorganisms, and various ARGs hosts including Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Escherichia, and Klebsiella were identified. Bacterial community influenced the composition of ARG hosts, and Proteobacteria was the predominant hosts. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the environmental risk of ARGs in sediments of aquaculture wastewater treatment system.

Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Sediment Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox) Bacteria in Freshwater Lakes.

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) process can play an important role in freshwater nitrogen cycle. However, the distribution of anammox bacteria in freshwater lake and the associated environmental factors remain essentially unclear. The present study investigated the temporal and spatial dynamics of sediment anammox bacterial populations in eutrotrophic Dianchi Lake and mesotrophic Erhai Lake on the Yunnan Plateau (southwestern China). The remarkable spatial change of anammox bacterial abundance was found in Dianchi Lake, while the relatively slight spatial shift occurred in Erhai Lake. Dianchi Lake had greater anammox bacterial abundance than Erhai Lake. In both Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake, anammox bacteria were much more abundant in summer than in spring. Anammox bacterial community richness, diversity, and structure in these two freshwater lakes were subjected to temporal and spatial variations. Sediment anammox bacterial communities in Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake were dominated by Candidatus Brocadia and a novel phylotype followed by Candidatus Kuenenia; however, these two lakes had distinct anammox bacterial community structure. In addition, trophic status determined sediment anammox bacterial community structure.

Vertical profiles of water and sediment denitrifiers in two plateau freshwater lakes.

The present study investigated the abundance, richness, diversity, and community composition of denitrifiers (based on nirS and nosZ genes) in the stratified water columns and sediments in eutrophic Dianchi Lake and mesotrophic Erhai Lake using quantitative PCR assay and high-throughput sequencing analysis. Both nirS- and nosZ denitrifiers were detected in waters of these two lakes. Surface water showed higher nosZ gene density than bottom water, and Dianchi Lake waters had larger nirS gene abundance than Erhai Lake waters. The abundance of sediment nirS- and nosZ denitrifiers in Dianchi Lake was larger than that in Erhai Lake. nirS richness and diversity and nosZ richness tended to increase with increasing sediment layer depth in both lakes. The distinct structure difference of sediment nirS- and nosZ denitrifier communities was found between in Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake. These two lakes also differed greatly in water denitrifier community structure. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of several different groups of nirS- or nosZ denitrifiers in both lakes. The novel nirS denitrifiers were abundant in both Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake, while most of the obtained nosZ sequences could be affiliated with known genera.

Spatio-temporal Variation of Sediment Methanotrophic Microorganisms in a Large Eutrophic Lake.

Aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) play a crucial role in mitigating the methane emission from lake ecosystems to the atmosphere. However, the distribution of methanotrophic community in shallow and eutrophic lake and its influential factors remain essentially unclear. The present study investigated sediment methanotrophic microorganisms at different sites in eutrophic freshwater Dianchi Lake (China) in two different seasons. The abundance, diversity, and structure of sediment methanotrophic community showed a profound spatial and seasonal variation. The pmoA gene copy number in lake sediments ranged from 8.71 ± 0.49 × 10(4) to 2.09 ± 0.03 × 10(7) copies per gram of dry sediment. Sediment methanotrophic communities were composed of Methylococcus and Methylobacter (type I methanotrophs) and Methylosinus (type II methanotrophs), while type I MOB usually outnumbered type II MOB. Moreover, ammonia nitrogen was found to be a potential determinant of methanotrophic community structure in Dianchi Lake.

Sediment Ammonia-Oxidizing Microorganisms in Two Plateau Freshwater Lakes at Different Trophic States.

Both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) can contribute to ammonia biotransformation in freshwater lake ecosystems. However, the factors shaping the distribution of sediment AOA and AOB in plateau freshwater lake remains unclear. The present study investigated sediment AOA and AOB communities in two freshwater lakes (hypertrophic Dianchi Lake and mesotrophic Erhai Lake) on the Yunnan Plateau (China). A remarkable difference in the abundance, diversity, and composition of sediment AOA and AOB communities was observed between Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake. AOB usually outnumbered AOA in Dianchi Lake, but AOA showed the dominance in Erhai Lake. Organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) might be the key determinants of AOB abundance, while AOA abundance was likely influenced by the ration of OM to TN (C/N). AOA or AOB community structure was found to be relatively similar in the same lake. TN and TP might play important roles in shaping sediment AOA and AOB compositions in Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake. Moreover, Nitrososphaera-like AOA were detected in Dianchi Lake. Nitrosospira- and Nitrosomonas-like AOB were dominant in Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake, respectively. Sediment AOA and AOB communities in Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake were generally regulated by trophic state.

Spatiotemporal variation of planktonic and sediment bacterial assemblages in two plateau freshwater lakes at different trophic status.

Both planktonic and sediment bacterial assemblages are the important components of freshwater lake ecosystems. However, their spatiotemporal shift and the driving forces remain still elusive. Eutrotrophic Dianchi Lake and mesotrophic Erhai Lake are the largest two freshwater lakes on the Yunnan Plateau (southwestern China). The present study investigated the spatiotemporal shift in both planktonic and sediment bacterial populations in these two plateau freshwater lakes at different trophic status. For either lake, both water and sediment samples were collected from six sampling locations in spring and summer. Bacterioplankton community abundance in Dianchi Lake generally far outnumbered that in Erhai Lake. Sediment bacterial communities in Erhai Lake were found to have higher richness and diversity than those in Dianchi Lake. Sediments had higher bacterial community richness and diversity than waters. The change patterns for both planktonic and sediment bacterial communities were lake-specific and season-specific. Either planktonic or sediment bacterial community structure showed a distinct difference between in Dianchi Lake and in Erhai Lake, and an evident structure difference was also found between planktonic and sediment bacterial communities in either of these two lakes. Planktonic bacterial communities in both Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake mainly included Proteobacteria (mainly Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria), Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Firmicutes, while sediment bacterial communities were mainly represented by Proteobacteria (mainly Beta- and Deltaproteobacteria), Bacteroidetes, Chlorobi, Nitrospirae, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi. Trophic status could play important roles in shaping both planktonic and sediment bacterial communities in freshwater lakes.

Sediment bacterial communities associated with anaerobic biodegradation of bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are ubiquitous in aquatic environments. Biodegradation is a major way to clean up the BPA pollution in sediments. However, information on the effective BPA biodegradation in anaerobic sediments is still lacking. The present study investigated the biodegradation potential of BPA in river sediment under nitrate- or sulfate-reducing conditions. After 120-day incubation, a high removal of BPA (93 or 89%) was found in sediment microcosms (amended with 50 mg kg(-1) BPA) under these two anaerobic conditions. Illumina MiSeq sequencing analysis indicated that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, and Actinobacteria were the major bacterial groups in BPA-degrading sediments. The shift in bacterial community structure could occur with BPA biodegradation.

Change of microbial community structure and functional gene abundance in nonylphenol-degrading sediment.

Biodegradation by autochthonous microbial community is an important way to clean up nonylphenol (NP) from contaminated river sediment. Knowledge of sediment microbial community can aid in our understanding of biological processes related to NP degradation. However, the change in sediment microbial community associated with NP biodegradation remains unclear. The present study investigated the shift in bacterial community structure and NP-degrading gene abundance in response to NP attenuation in river sediment. Sediment microcosms with different levels of 4-NP (0, 100, or 300 µg/g) were constructed. A nearly complete attenuation of NP occurred in the microcosm with 100 µg/g NP after 9 days' incubation, while a residual NP rate of 8.1 % was observed in the microcosm with 300 µg/g NP after 22 days' incubation. Illumina MiSeq sequencing analysis indicated that Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes predominated in NP-degrading river sediment. Sediment bacterial community structure varied significantly during NP biodegradation and subsequent incubation, which was affected by the level of added NP. The n-alkane biodegradation (alkB) gene abundance showed a significant variation in each NP-amended microcosm (100 or 300 µg/g), while a significant increase in the single component monooxygenase (sMO) gene abundance only occurred in the microcosm spiked with 300 µg/g NP. This study can provide some new insights toward NP-degrading microbial ecology in the environment.

Abundance and diversity of soil petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities in oil exploring areas.

Alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the commonly detected petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in soils in oil exploring areas. Hydrocarbon-degrading genes are useful biomarks for estimation of the bioremediation potential of contaminated sites. However, the links between environmental factors and the distribution of alkane and PAH metabolic genes still remain largely unclear. The present study investigated the abundances and diversities of soil n-alkane and PAH-degrading bacterial communities targeting both alkB and nah genes in two oil exploring areas at different geographic regions. A large variation in the abundances and diversities of alkB and nah genes occurred in the studied soil samples. Various environmental variables regulated the spatial distribution of soil alkane and PAH metabolic genes, dependent on geographic location. The soil alkane-degrading bacterial communities in oil exploring areas mainly consisted of Pedobacter, Mycobacterium, and unknown alkB-harboring microorganisms. Moreover, the novel PAH-degraders predominated in nah gene clone libraries from soils of the two oil exploring areas. This work could provide some new insights towards the distribution of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms and their biodegradation potential in soil ecosystems.

Distribution of sediment bacterial and archaeal communities in plateau freshwater lakes.

Both Bacteria and Archaea might be involved in various biogeochemical processes in lacustrine sediment ecosystems. However, the factors governing the intra-lake distribution of sediment bacterial and archaeal communities in various freshwater lakes remain unclear. The present study investigated the sediment bacterial and archaeal communities in 13 freshwater lakes on the Yunnan Plateau. Quantitative PCR assay showed a large variation in bacterial and archaeal abundances. Illumina MiSeq sequencing illustrated high bacterial and archaeal diversities. Bacterial abundance was regulated by sediment total organic carbon and total nitrogen, and water depth, while nitrate nitrogen was an important determinant of bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chlorobi, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia were the major components of sediment bacterial communities. Proteobacteria was the largest phylum, but its major classes and their proportions varied greatly among different lakes, affected by sediment nitrate nitrogen. In addition, both Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota were important members in sediment archaeal communities, while unclassified Archaea usually showed the dominance.

Aerobic and nitrite-dependent methane-oxidizing microorganisms in sediments of freshwater lakes on the Yunnan Plateau.

Both aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) and nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) bacteria can play an important role in mitigating the methane emission produced in anoxic sediment layers to the atmosphere. However, the environmental factors regulating the distribution of these methane-oxidizing microorganisms in lacustrine ecosystems remain essentially unclear. The present study investigated the distribution of aerobic MOB and n-damo bacteria in sediments of various freshwater lakes on the Yunnan Plateau (China). Quantitative PCR assay and clone library analysis illustrated the spatial variations in the abundances and structures of aerobic MOB and n-damo bacterial communities. Type I MOB (Methylosoma and Methylobacter) and type II MOB (Methylocystis) were detected, while type I MOB was more abundant than type II MOB. Lake sediments n-damo bacterial communities were composed of novel Methylomirabilis oxyfera-like pmoA genes. Lake sediments in the same geographic region could share a relatively similar aerobic MOB community structure. Moreover, Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that n-damo pmoA gene diversity showed a positive correlation with the ratio of organic matter to total nitrogen in lake sediment.

Distribution of naphthalene dioxygenase genes in crude oil-contaminated soils.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the major pollutants in soils in oil exploring areas. Biodegradation is the major process for natural elimination of PAHs from contaminated soils. Functional genes can be used as biomarkers to assess the biodegradation potential of indigenous microbial populations. However, little is known about the distribution of PAH-degrading genes in the environment. The links between environmental parameters and the distribution of PAH metabolic genes remain essentially unclear. The present study investigated the abundance and diversity of naphthalene dioxygenase genes in the oil-contaminated soils in the Shengli Oil Field (China). Spatial variations in the density and diversity of naphthalene dioxygenase genes occurred in this area. Four different sequence genotypes were observed in the contaminated soils, with the predominance of novel PAH-degrading genes. Pearson's correlation analysis illustrated that gene abundance had positive correlations with the levels of total organic carbon and aromatic hydrocarbons, while gene diversity showed a negative correlation with the level of polar aromatics. This work could provide some new insights toward the distribution of PAH metabolic genes and PAH biodegradation potential in oil-contaminated ecosystems.

Ammonia- and methane-oxidizing microorganisms in high-altitude wetland sediments and adjacent agricultural soils.

Ammonia oxidation is known to be carried out by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), while methanotrophs (methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB)) play an important role in mitigating methane emissions from the environment. However, the difference of AOA, AOB, and MOB distribution in wetland sediment and adjacent upland soil remains unclear. The present study investigated the abundances and community structures of AOA, AOB, and MOB in sediments of a high-altitude freshwater wetland in Yunnan Province (China) and adjacent agricultural soils. Variations of AOA, AOB, and MOB community sizes and structures were found in water lily-vegetated and Acorus calamus-vegetated sediments and agricultural soils (unflooded rice soil, cabbage soil, and garlic soil and flooded rice soil). AOB community size was higher than AOA in agricultural soils and lily-vegetated sediment, but lower in A. calamus-vegetated sediment. MOB showed a much higher abundance than AOA and AOB. Flooded rice soil had the largest AOA, AOB, and MOB community sizes. Principal coordinate analyses and Jackknife Environment Clusters analyses suggested that unflooded and flooded rice soils had relatively similar AOA, AOB, and MOB structures. Cabbage soil and A. calamus-vegetated sediment had relatively similar AOA and AOB structures, but their MOB structures showed a large difference. Nitrososphaera-like microorganisms were the predominant AOA species in garlic soil but were present with a low abundance in unflooded rice soil and cabbage soil. Nitrosospira-like AOB were dominant in wetland sediments and agricultural soils. Type I MOB Methylocaldum and type II MOB Methylocystis were dominant in wetland sediments and agricultural soils. Moreover, Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that AOA Shannon diversity was positively correlated with the ratio of organic carbon to nitrogen (p < 0.05). This work could provide some new insights toward ammonia and methane oxidation in soil and wetland sediment ecosystems.

Nonylphenol biodegradation in river sediment and associated shifts in community structures of bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms.

Nonylphenol (NP) is one of commonly detected contaminants in the environment. Biological degradation is mainly responsible for remediation of NP-contaminated site. Knowledge about the structure of NP-degrading microbial community is still very limited. Microcosms were constructed to investigate the structure of microbial community in NP-contaminated river sediment and its change with NP biodegradation. A high level of NP was significantly dissipated in 6-9 days. Bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) were more responsive to NP amendment compared to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the largest bacterial groups in NP-degrading sediment. Microorganisms from bacterial genera Brevundimonas, Flavobacterium, Lysobacter and Rhodobacter might be involved in NP degradation in river sediment. This study provides some new insights towards NP biodegradation and microbial ecology in NP-contaminated environment.

Impacts of o-cresol spill on composition and function of river sediment and soil microbial communities.

o-Cresol is a toxic substance with strong irritating and corrosive effects on skin and mucous membranes. To date, information on the effects of o-cresol on microbial communities in the natural environment is very limited. In the present study, 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic technique were carried out to elucidate the effects of the o-cresol spill on microbial communities in river sediments and nearby soils. o-Cresol spill induced the increase in the relative abundance of phyla Planctomycetes and Gemmatimonadetes, suggesting their resilience to o-cresol-induced stress. Uncultured Gemmatimonadetes genera and the MND1 genus exhibited enrichment, while the Pseudomonas genus dominated across all samples, indicating their potential pivotal roles in adapting to the o-cresol spill. Moreover, o-cresol spill impaired the metabolic functions of microbes but triggered their defense mechanisms. Under o-cresol pressure, microbial functions related to carbon fixation were upregulated and functions associated with sulfur metabolism were downregulated. In addition, the o-cresol spill led to an increase in functional genes related to the conversion of o-cresol to 3-methylcatechol. Several genes involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds were also identified, potentially contributing to the biodegradation of o-cresol. This study provides fresh insights into the repercussions of an abrupt o-cresol spill on microbial communities in natural environments, shedding light on their adaptability, defense mechanisms, and biodegradation potential.

Maize Autophagy-Related Protein ZmATG3 Confers Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses.

Abiotic stresses pose a major increasing problem for the cultivation of maize. Autophagy plays a vital role in recycling and re-utilizing nutrients and adapting to stress. However, the role of autophagy in the response to abiotic stress in maize has not yet been investigated. Here, ZmATG3, which is essential for ATG8-PE conjugation, was isolated from the maize inbred line B73. The ATG3 sequence was conserved, including the C-terminal domains with HPC and FLKF motifs and the catalytic domain in different species. The promoter of the ZmATG3 gene contained a number of elements involved in responses to environmental stresses or hormones. Heterologous expression of ZmATG3 in yeast promoted the growth of strain under salt, mannitol, and low-nitrogen stress. The expression of ZmATG3 could be altered by various types of abiotic stress (200 mM NaCl, 200 mM mannitol, low N) and exogenous hormones (500 µM ABA). GUS staining analysis of ZmATG3-GUS transgenic Arabidopsis revealed that GUS gene activity increased after abiotic treatment. ZmATG3-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants had higher osmotic and salinity stress tolerance than wild-type plants. Overexpression of ZmATG3 up-regulated the expression of other AtATGs (AtATG3, AtATG5, and AtATG8b) under NaCl, mannitol and LN stress. These findings demonstrate that overexpression of ZmATG3 can improve tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses.