title: Structure and regulation of the Asr gene family in banana.
abstract: Abscisic acid, stress, ripening proteins (ASR) are a family of plant-specific small hydrophilic proteins. Studies in various plant species have highlighted their role in increased resistance to abiotic stress, including drought, but their specific function remains unknown. As a first step toward their potential use in crop improvement, we investigated the structure and regulation of the Asr gene family in Musa species (bananas and plantains). We determined that the Musa                         Asr gene family contained at least four members, all of which exhibited the typical two exons, one intron structure of Asr genes and the "ABA/WDS" (abscisic acid/water deficit stress) domain characteristic of Asr genes. Phylogenetic analyses determined that the Musa                         Asr genes were closely related to each other, probably as the product of recent duplication events. For two of the four members, two versions corresponding to the two sub-genomes of Musa, acuminata and balbisiana were identified. Gene expression and protein analyses were performed and Asr expression could be detected in meristem cultures, root, pseudostem, leaf and cormus. In meristem cultures, mAsr1 and mAsr3 were induced by osmotic stress and wounding, while mAsr3 and mAsr4 were induced by exposure to ABA. mASR3 exhibited the most variation both in terms of amino acid sequence and expression pattern, making it the most promising candidate for further functional study and use in crop improvement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Crop Biotechnics, Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, KULeuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, Bus 2455, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Sebastien C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pampurova
authors.forename: Anais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Hoylandt
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panis
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swennen
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Remy
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007438:Introns; D018519:Meristem / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D028521:Musa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009995:Osmosis; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D000040:Abscisic Acid