title: ZmMPK17, a novel maize group D MAP kinase gene, is involved in multiple stress responses.
abstract: Plant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play a pivotal role in a range of biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this study, we isolated a novel group D MAPK gene, ZmMPK17, from maize (Zea mays L.). ZmMPK17 is localized mainly to the nucleus and its C-terminal domain extension is believed to be essential for this. Northern-blot analysis indicated that ZmMPK17 transcription is involved in response to exogenous signaling molecules such as abscisic acid, hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene and induced by low temperature and osmotic stress. Hydrogen peroxide and Ca²⁺ mediate PEG-induced downregulation of ZmMPK17 at transcription level and Ca²⁺ also mediates low temperature-induced expression of ZmMPK17. Overexpression of ZmMPK17 in tobacco (Nicotonia tobaccum) accumulated less reactive oxygen species under osmotic stress by affecting antioxidant defense systems. Transgenic tobacco exhibited enhanced tolerance to cold by means of an increased germination rate, and increased proline and soluble sugar levels relative to control plants. The transcription levels of NtERD10 genes were higher in ZmMPK17-overexpressing lines than in control plants under cold and osmotic stress conditions. ZmMPK17-overexpressing plants displayed enhanced resistance to viral pathogens, and the expression of the pathogenesis-related gene PR1a was significantly increased, indicating that ZmMPK17 might be involved in SA-mediated pathogen defense-signaling pathways.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Dai Zong Street, Tai'an 271018, Shandong, China.
authors: Jiaowen
authors: J
authors: Pan
authors: Maoying
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Xiangpei
authors: X
authors: Kong
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Xing
authors: Yukun
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Liping
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Dequan
authors: D
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases