title: Overexpression of a multiple stress-responsive gene, ZmMPK4, enhances tolerance to low temperature in transgenic tobacco.
abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play important roles in mediating biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this study, we found that ZmMPK4 protein was predominantly localized in the nucleus. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the ZmMPK4 transcription in maize leaves was up-regulated by low temperature, high temperature and exogenous signaling molecules such as hydrogen peroxide, methyl jasmonate and ethephon. Hydrogen peroxide acted as second messenger to mediate 4°C-induced up-regulation of ZmMPK4 mRNA. Transgenic tobacco of overexpressing ZmMPK4 accumulated less reactive oxygen species (ROS), more peroxidase and catalase activities, more proline and soluble sugar contents, and more stress-responsive genes expression, leading to enhancing low temperature stress tolerance compared to the control plants. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that ZmMPK4 positively regulates low temperature stress tolerance in plants.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, PR China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Zhang
authors: Jiaowen
authors: J
authors: Pan
authors: Xiangpei
authors: X
authors: Kong
authors: Yukun
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Liping
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Dequan
authors: D
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011392:Proline; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases