title: MdVHA-A encodes an apple subunit A of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase and enhances drought tolerance in transgenic tobacco seedlings.
abstract: Vacuole H(+)-ATPases (VHAs) are plant proton pumps, which play a crucial role in plant growth and stress tolerance. In the present study, we demonstrated that the apple vacuolar H(+)-ATPase subunit A (MdVHA-A) is highly conserved with subunit A of VHA (VHA-A) proteins from other plant species. MdVHA-A was expressed in vegetative and reproductive organs. In apple in vitro shoot cultures, expression was induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated osmotic stress. We further verified that over-expression of MdVHA-A conferred transgenic tobacco seedlings with enhanced vacuole H+-ATPase (VHA) activity and improved drought tolerance. The enhanced PEG-mimic drought response of transgenic tobacco seedlings was related to an extended lateral root system (dependent on auxin translocation) and more efficient osmotic adjustment. Our results indicate that MdVHA-A is a candidate gene for improving drought tolerance in plants.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China; Shandong Institute of Pomology, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China.
authors: Qing-Long
authors: QL
authors: Dong
authors: Chun-Rong
authors: CR
authors: Wang
authors: Dan-Dan
authors: DD
authors: Liu
authors: Da-Gang
authors: DG
authors: Hu
authors: Mou-Jing
authors: MJ
authors: Fang
authors: Chun-Xiang
authors: CX
authors: You
authors: Yu-Xin
authors: YX
authors: Yao
authors: Yu-Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Hao
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001947:Breeding; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D027845:Malus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases