title: Characterization of a DRE-binding transcription factor from a halophyte Atriplex hortensis.
abstract: Environmental stresses, such as salinity, drought and cold, can induce the expression of a large amount of genes. Among these are many transcription factors that regulate the expression of downstream genes by specifically binding to cis-elements or forming transcriptional complexes with other proteins. In the present study, a DREB-like transcription factor gene, named AhDREB1, was isolated from a halophyte Atriplex hortensis. AhDREB1 encoded a protein containing a conserved EREBP/AP2 domain featuring the DREB family. In yeast one-hybrid analysis AhDREB1 protein was specifically bound to DRE elements and activated the expression of the reporter genes of HIS3 and LacZ. The AhDREB1 gene was expressed in roots, stems and leaves of A. hortensis. Salinity induced its expression in roots, but not in other organs. Overexpression of AhDREB1 in transgenic tobacco led to the accumulation of its putative downstream genes. The performance of the transgenic lines was also tested under stressed conditions and two lines were found to be stress-tolerant. These results suggest that the AhDREB1 protein functions as a DRE-binding transcription factor and play roles in the stress-tolerant response of A. hortensis.
authors.affiliation: Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
authors.forename: Yi-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Wan-Ke
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Bao-Xing
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shou-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D027466:Atriplex / Q000235:genetics*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D015723:Gene Library; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: C499534:APETALA2 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018744:DNA, Plant; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C114578:DREB1A protein, Arabidopsis; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C093680:ethylene-responsive element binding protein