title: Molecular and cellular adaptations of maize to flooding stress.
abstract: Anaerobic treatment dramatically alters the patterns of gene expression in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. During anaerobiosis there is an immediate repression of pre-existing protein synthesis, with the concurrent initiation of a selective synthesis of approx. 20 proteins. Among these anaerobic proteins are enzymes involved in glycolysis and related processes. However, inducible genes that have different functions were also found; these may function in other, perhaps more long-term, processes of adaptations to flooding, such as aerenchyma formation and root-tip death. In this article we review our recent work on maize responses to flooding stress, which has addressed two questions: how are these gene expression changes initiated and how do they lead to adaptation to flooding stress? Our results indicate that an early rise in cytosolic Ca(2+), as well as a quick establishment of ionic homeostasis, may be essential for the induction of adaptive changes at the cellular as well as organismal level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Chalivendra C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Subbaiah
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sachs
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D017209:Apoptosis; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water; D003313:Zea mays / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C022699:sucrose synthase; D010100:Oxygen