title: Transgenic expression of TaMYB2A confers enhanced tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis.
abstract: Osmotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and cold are major environmental factors that limit agricultural productivity. Transcription factors play essential roles in abiotic stress signaling in plants. Three TaMYB2 members were identified and designated TaMYB2A, TaMYB2B, and TaMYB2D based on their genomic origins. The cis-regulatory elements in the promoter regions were compared, and their diverse expression patterns under different abiotic stress conditions were identified. TaMYB2A was further characterized because of its earlier response to stresses. Subcellular localization revealed that TaMYB2A localized in the nucleus. To examine the role of TaMYB2A under various environmental stresses, transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying TaMYB2A controlled by the CaMV 35S promoter were generated and subjected to severe abiotic stress. TaMYB2A transgenics had enhanced tolerance to drought, salt, and freezing stresses, which were confirmed by the enhanced expressions of abiotic stress-responsive genes and several physiological indices, including decreased rate of water loss, enhanced cell membrane stability, improved photosynthetic potential, and reduced osmotic potential. TaMYB2A is a multifunctional regulatory factor. Its overexpression confers enhanced tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses while having no obvious negative effects on phenotype under well-watered and stressed conditions; thus, TaMYB2A has the potential for utilization in transgenic breeding to improve abiotic stress tolerances in crops.
authors.affiliation: National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Key Lab of Crop Resources and Utilization, MOA, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Ang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shanjun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Xiaoke
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jizeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Ruilian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003080:Cold Temperature; D055864:Droughts; D040461:Gene Components; D015870:Gene Expression; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000235:genetics; D036226:Seedlings; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011392:Proline