Overexpression of the ethylene-responsive factor gene BrERF4 from Brassica rapa increases tolerance to salt and drought in Arabidopsis plants.
Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs), within a subgroup of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family, are involved in diverse plant reactions to biotic or abiotic stresses. Here, we report that overexpression of an ERF gene from Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis (BrERF4) led to improved tolerance to salt and drought stresses in Arabidopsis. It also significantly affected the growth and development of transgenic plants. We detected that salt-induced expressions of a transcriptional repressor gene, AtERF4, and some Ser/Thr protein phosphatase2C genes, ABI1, ABI2 and AtPP2CA, were suppressed in BrERF4-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants. Furthermore, BrERF4 was induced by treatment with ethylene or methyljasmonate, but not by abscisic acid or NaCl in B. rapa. These results suggest that BrERF4 is activated through a network of different signaling pathways in response to salinity and drought.
Seo
Yean Joo
YJ
School of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, Korea.
Park
Jong-Beum
JB
Cho
Yeon-Jeong
YJ
Jung
Choonkyun
C
Seo
Hak Soo
HS
Park
Soon-Ki
SK
Nahm
Baek Hie
BH
Song
Jong Tae
JT
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
D000085:Acetates; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D003517:Cyclopentanes; C505622:ERF4 protein, Arabidopsis; D005030:Ethylenes; D054883:Oxylipins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C072239:methyl jasmonate; C036216:ethylene