Expression of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) ethylene response factor gene MsERF8 in tobacco plants enhances resistance to salinity.
Ethylene response factors (ERF) play crucial roles in plant development and response to stresses. Here, a novel cDNA fragment (MsERF8) encoding an ERF protein with an AP2 domain was isolated and characterized from alfalfa. The MsERF8 cDNA has an open reading frame of 603 bp and encodes a nuclear protein of 201 amino acids. Q-RT-PCR analysis revealed that MsERF8 was strongly enriched in roots and leaves compared with stems, flower buds and flowers of mature alfalfa plants. Bioinformatic analysis of the MsERF8 promoter indicated a number of elements associated with stress-related responses, and MsERF8 transcripts in alfalfa seedlings were induced by NaCl, PEG6000, Al(2)(SO(4))(3) and five different hormones. Expression of MsERF8 in transgenic tobacco plants resulted in higher tolerance to salinity than with non-transgenic plants. This data shows that MsERF8 is a gene which prevents or alleviates salinity damage and has strong potential to impart salt tolerance to other crop plants.
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
Tingting
T
Chen
Qingchuan
Q
Yang
Margaret
M
Gruber
Junmei
J
Kang
Yan
Y
Sun
Wang
W
Ding
Tiejun
T
Zhang
Xinquan
X
Zhang
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019295:Computational Biology; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D005030:Ethylenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C036216:ethylene