title: Isolation and molecular characterization of ERF1, an ethylene response factor gene from durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum), potentially involved in salt-stress responses.
abstract: As food crop, wheat is of prime importance for human society. Nevertheless, our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling wheat productivity conditions has been, so far, hampered by the lack of sufficient genomic resources. The present work describes the isolation and characterization of TdERF1, an ERF gene from durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum). The structural features of TdERF1 supported the hypothesis that it is a novel member of the ERF family in durum wheat and, considering its close similarity to TaERF1 of Triticum aestivum, it probably plays a similar role in mediating responses to environmental stresses. TdERF1 displayed an expression pattern that discriminated between two durum wheat genotypes contrasted with regard to salt-stress tolerance. The high number of cis-regulatory elements related to stress responses present in the TdERF1 promoter and the ability of TdERF1 to regulate the transcription of ethylene and drought-responsive promoters clearly indicated its potential role in mediating plant responses to a wide variety of environmental constrains. TdERF1 was also regulated by abscisic acid, ethylene, auxin, and salicylic acid, suggesting that it may be at the crossroads of multiple hormone signalling pathways. Four TdERF1 allelic variants have been identified in durum wheat genome, all shown to be transcriptionally active. Interestingly, the expression of one allelic form is specific to the tolerant genotype, further supporting the hypothesis that this gene is probably associated with the susceptibility/tolerance mechanism to salt stress. In this regard, the TdERF1 gene may provide a discriminating marker between tolerant and sensitive wheat varieties.
authors.affiliation: University of Toulouse, INPT, Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole BP 32607, Castanet-Tolosan F-31326, France INRA, UMR990 Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Castanet-Tolosan, F-31326, France Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria (CBBC). Lab. Plant Molecular Physiology. Borj Cedria Science and Technology Park - B.P.901, Hammam-lif 2050, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makhloufi
authors.affiliation: University of Toulouse, INPT, Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole BP 32607, Castanet-Tolosan F-31326, France INRA, UMR990 Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Castanet-Tolosan, F-31326, France Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria (CBBC). Lab. Plant Molecular Physiology. Borj Cedria Science and Technology Park - B.P.901, Hammam-lif 2050, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fatma-Ezzahra
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Yousfi
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Ressources Génomiques Végétales, INRA-CNRGV, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge, CS 52627, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Marande
authors.affiliation: University of Toulouse, INPT, Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole BP 32607, Castanet-Tolosan F-31326, France INRA, UMR990 Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Castanet-Tolosan, F-31326, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mila
authors.affiliation: Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria (CBBC). Lab. Plant Molecular Physiology. Borj Cedria Science and Technology Park - B.P.901, Hammam-lif 2050, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanana
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Ressources Génomiques Végétales, INRA-CNRGV, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge, CS 52627, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergès
authors.affiliation: Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria (CBBC). Lab. Plant Molecular Physiology. Borj Cedria Science and Technology Park - B.P.901, Hammam-lif 2050, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mzid
authors.affiliation: University of Toulouse, INPT, Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole BP 32607, Castanet-Tolosan F-31326, France INRA, UMR990 Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Castanet-Tolosan, F-31326, France bouzayen@ensat.fr.
authors.forename: Mondher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouzayen
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D055864:Droughts; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005838:Genotype; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005030:Ethylenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C036216:ethylene
keywords: BAC sequencing; Triticum durum; cis-regulatory elements; ethylene; ethylene response factor; salt stress; transactivation assay; wheat.