title: Overexpression of a NF-YC transcription factor from bermudagrass confers tolerance to drought and salinity in transgenic rice.
abstract: Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a ubiquitous transcription factor formed by three distinct subunits, namely NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC. A stress-responsive cDNA of NF-YC (Cdt-NF-YC1) was isolated from triploid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × Cynodon transvaalensis), and its role in abiotic stress tolerance was investigated in this study. Cdt-NF-YC1 transcript was detected in all vegetative tissues with higher levels being observed in roots. Transcription of Cdt-NF-YC1 in leaves was induced by dehydration, salinity, and treatments with abscisic acid (ABA), hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) or nitric oxide (NO), but not altered by cold. The dehydration- or salt-induced transcription of Cdt-NF-YC1 was blocked by inhibitor of ABA synthesis and scavenger of H2 O2 or NO, indicating that ABA, H2 O2 and NO were involved in the dehydration- and salt-induced transcription of Cdt-NF-YC1. Overexpression of Cdt-NF-YC1 resulted in elevated tolerance to drought and salt stress and increased sensitivity to ABA in transgenic rice. Transcript levels of stress/ABA responsive genes (OsLEA3, OsRAB16A, OsLIP9 and OsP5CS1), ABA synthesis and signalling genes (OsNCED3 and OsABI2), and ABA-independent genes (OsDREB1A, OsDREB1B and OsDREB2A) were substantially higher in transgenic rice than in wild-type plants. The results suggested that that Cdt-NF-YC1 is a good candidate gene to increase drought and salinity tolerance in transgenic rice through modulating gene regulation in both ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yujuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chunliu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhuo
authors.forename: Shaoyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Zhenfei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D055864:Droughts; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017343:Genes, Plant; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D006109:Poaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D054712:Salinity; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: abiotic stress; abscisic acid; bermudagrass; nuclear factor Y; transgenic plants