# Nitrate Reductase Genes AtNIA1 and AtNIA2 Confer Heat Stress Resilience via ROS Homeostasis and HSP Expression in Arabidopsis

## TL;DR

This study shows that the AtNIA1 and AtNIA2 genes help Arabidopsis plants resist heat stress by managing water, reducing damage, and regulating heat shock proteins.

## Contribution

The study reveals a novel role of nitrate reductase genes in heat stress resilience through ROS homeostasis and HSP regulation.

## Key findings

- AtNIA1 and AtNIA2 mutants showed greater physiological damage under heat stress compared to wild-type plants.
- Nitrate reductase mutants had higher oxidative stress markers, indicating increased heat sensitivity.
- Altered heat shock protein expression was observed in AtNIA2 mutants under heat stress.

## Abstract

Heat stress is a key environmental factor that adversely affects plant growth, development, and productivity. Nitrate reductase (NR), encoded by AtNIA1 and AtNIA2, plays a crucial role in nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, which mediates stress responses in plants. In this study, we investigated the roles of AtNIA1 and AtNIA2 in regulating plant heat stress tolerance. Under heat stress conditions, Arabidopsis thaliana plants maintained higher relative water content and chlorophyll levels, whereas atnia1 and atnia2 mutants exhibited greater physiological damage. Oxidative stress markers such as MDA and H2O2 accumulated to higher levels in nitrate reductase mutants than in Col-0, indicating increased heat sensitivity. Gene expression analysis further revealed a pronounced late-phase induction of MBF1c in atnia2 plants, accompanied by altered expression of heat shock proteins. These results suggest that nitrate reductase-dependent pathways contribute to heat stress tolerance by regulating water status, membrane stability, ROS detoxification, and heat shock gene expression. This study provides new insights into NR-mediated NO signaling in thermotolerance and highlights potential targets for improving crop resilience under rising temperatures.