GmDREB2, a soybean DRE-binding transcription factor, conferred drought and high-salt tolerance in transgenic plants.
A novel DREB (dehydration responsive element binding protein) homologous gene, GmDREB2, was isolated from soybean. Based on its similarity with AP2 domains, GmDREB2 was classified into A-5 subgroup in DREB subfamily in AP2/EREBP family. Expression of GmDREB2 gene was induced by drought, high salt, and low temperature stresses and abscisic acid treatment. The GmDREB2 bound specifically to DRE element in vitro. Furthermore, the overexpression of GmDREB2 activated expression of downstream genes in transgenic Arabidopsis, resulting in enhanced tolerance to drought and high-salt stresses and did not cause growth retardation. Analysis of free proline contents in transgenic tobacco indicated that the overexpression of GmDREB2 accumulated higher level of free proline compared to the wild type plants under drought condition. The results from this study indicate that this novel soybean GmDREB2 gene functions as an important transcriptional activator and may be useful in improving of plant tolerance to abiotic stresses in plants.
Chen
Ming
M
National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement (NFCRI), Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
Wang
Qiao-Yan
QY
Cheng
Xian-Guo
XG
Xu
Zhao-Shi
ZS
Li
Lian-Cheng
LC
Ye
Xing-Guo
XG
Xia
Lan-Qin
LQ
Ma
You-Zhi
YZ
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D003890:Desiccation; D004190:Disasters; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D024861:Genetic Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C114579:DREB2A protein, Arabidopsis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012965:Sodium Chloride