An alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) ethylene response factor gene, MsERF11, enhances salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis.
A novel orthologue of ethylene response factor gene, MsERF11, was isolated from alfalfa in this study. It has an open reading frame of 807 bp, encoding a predicted polypeptide of 268 amino acids. Sequence similarity analysis clearly suggested that MsERF11 encoded an ethylene response factor protein. The results of transient expression of MsERF11 in onion epidermal cells indicated that MsERF11 is a nuclear protein. The expression pattern of MsERF11 gene was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR and a higher level of expression was observed in leaves than was observed in roots, stems, flower buds and flowers. Furthermore, the expression was induced by PEG6000, NaCl, Al2(SO4)3 and six different hormones. Over-expressing MsERF11 resulted in enhanced tolerances to salt stress in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. This research indicates that MsERF11 has the potential to be used for improving crop's salt tolerance in areas where salinity is a limiting factor for agricultural productivity.


CONCLUSIONS
MsERF11 was isolated from alfalfa. Its expression was induced by different abiotic stresses and hormones. Over-expressing MsERF11 resulted in enhanced salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants.
Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China. chentingting8701@163.com
Tingting
T
Chen
Qingchuan
Q
Yang
Xinquan
X
Zhang
Wang
W
Ding
Margaret
M
Gruber
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism*; 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; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D005030:Ethylenes; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C036216:ethylene