Tomato plants overexpressing CaKR1 enhanced tolerance to salt and oxidative stress.
CaKR1 from pepper leaves encodes an ankyrin repeat domain zinc finger that is thought to be involved in transcriptional regulation in response to pathogens and abiotic stresses. Transgenic tomato plants expressing CaKR1 show enhanced resistance to Phytophthora infestans. In this study, we further characterized this CaKR1-overexpressing transgenic tomato line. Morphologically, the leaves of the transgenic plants were thicker than those of control plants. Overexpressed transgenic plants also produced lower levels of free oxygen radicals, such as superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and showed enhanced resistance to salinity and oxidative stress. In particular, transgenic plants produced higher levels of transcripts encoding the pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins LePR1, LePR2, and LePR3, as well as oxidative stress response proteins, such as superoxide dismutase (LeSOD2) and ascorbate peroxidase (LeAPX2 and LeAPX3). These results suggest that CaKR1 is a key signaling molecule regulating plant antioxidant metabolism and defense responses.
Seong
Eun Soo
ES
School of Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Kangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea.
Cho
Hye Sun
HS
Choi
Doil
D
Joung
Young Hee
YH
Lim
Chun Keun
CK
Hur
Jang Hyun
JH
Wang
Myeong-Hyeon
MH
D015870:Gene Expression; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D010269:Paraquat