Spatial expression and characterization of a putative ethylene receptor protein NTHK1 in tobacco.
A putative ethylene receptor gene NTHK1 encodes a protein with a putative signal peptide, three transmembrane segments, a putative histidine kinase domain and a putative receiver domain. The receiver domain was expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system, purified and used to generate polyclonal antibodies for immunohistochemistry analysis. The spatial expression of the NTHK1 protein was then investigated. We found that NTHK1 was abundant during flower and ovule development. It was also expressed in glandular hairs, stem, and in leaves that had been wounded. The NTHK1 gene was further introduced into the tobacco plant and we found that, in different transgenic lines, the NTHK1 gene was transcribed to various degrees. Upon ACC treatment, the etiolated transgenic seedlings showed reduced ethylene sensitivity when compared with the control, indicating that NTHK1 is a functional ethylene receptor in plants.
Xie
Can
C
Plant Biotechnology Lab, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
Zhang
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Zhang
Jin-Song
JS
He
Xin-Jian
XJ
Cao
Wan-Hong
WH
He
Si-Jie
SJ
Chen
Shou-Yi
SY
D000598:Amino Acids, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
D000598:Amino Acids, Cyclic; D005030:Ethylenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C083750:ethylene receptors, plant; C023863:1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid; C036216:ethylene