title: LeERF-1, a novel AP2/ERF family gene within the B3 subcluster, is down-regulated by light signals in Lithospermum erythrorhizon.
abstract: We previously showed that ethylene might be involved in the process of shikonin biosynthesis regulated by light signals. Here, we cloned a full-length cDNA of LeERF-1, a putative ethylene response factor gene, from Lithospermum erythrorhizon using the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) method. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LeERF-1 was classified in the B3 subfamily, together with ERF1 and ORA59 of Arabidopsis. Heterologous expression of LeERF-1 in Arabidopsis showed that LeERF-1:eGFP fusion protein was precisely localised to the nucleus, implying that it might function as a transcription factor. Detailed expression analysis with real-time PCR showed that LeERF-1 was significantly down-regulated by white, blue and red light, although the inhibitory effect of red light was relatively weak compared to other light conditions. Tissue-specific expression analysis also indicated that LeERF-1 was dominantly expressed in the roots, which grow in soil in darkness. These patterns are all consistent with the effects of different light signals on regulating formation of shikonin and its derivatives, indicating that LeERF-1 might be a crucial positive regulator, like other B3 subfamily proteins (such as ORCA3 and ORA59), in regulating biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.
authors.affiliation: NJU-NFU Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008027:Light; D029684:Lithospermum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018744:DNA, Plant; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C016101:shikonin