title: Overexpression of the OsChI1 gene, encoding a putative laccase precursor, increases tolerance to drought and salinity stress in transgenic Arabidopsis.
abstract: In a previous study, we identified a number of genes induced by chilling using a microarray approach. In order to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying chilling tolerance and possible crosstalk with other abiotic stresses, we selected a rice gene, OsChI1 (Os01g61160), for further analysis. The OsChI1 gene encodes a putative laccase precursor protein. In accordance with our previous results, its transcript is highly accumulated during a 12-day period of chilling treatment. Higher expression of the OsChI1 gene was also detected in roots and tissues at the vegetative and productive stages. In addition, we also observed increased transcript levels of the OsChI1 gene during dehydration and high salinity conditions. Transient expression of OsChI1 proteins tagged with fluorescence protein in rice protoplasts revealed that OsChI1 is localized in the plasma membrane. The Arabidopsis transgenic plants overexpressing OsChI1-EGFP resulted in an increased tolerance to drought and salinity stress. In silico analysis of OsChI1 suggests that several genes coexpressed with OsChI1 in the root during various abiotic stresses, such as chilling, drought and salt stress, may play an important role in the ROS signaling pathway. Potential roles of OsChI1 in response to abiotic stresses are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Plant Genomics Lab., Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Environmental New Resources, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 446-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chanhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Plant Genomics Lab., Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Goo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Plant Genomics Lab., Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Chan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Plant Genomics Lab., Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Lee
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Plant Genomics Lab., Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-713, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: csjang@kangwon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Cheol Seong
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D042845:Laccase / Q000235:genetics*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D054712:Salinity; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D042845:Laccase
keywords: Abiotic stress; Chilling inducible gene; Coexpression network; Copper protein; Heterogeneous expression; Subcellular localization; WGCNA