title: Overexpression of ubiquitin-like LpHUB1 gene confers drought tolerance in perennial ryegrass.
abstract: HUB1, also known as Ubl5, is a member of the subfamily of ubiquitin-like post-translational modifiers. HUB1 exerts its role by conjugating with protein targets. The function of this protein has not been studied in plants. A HUB1 gene, LpHUB1, was identified from serial analysis of gene expression data and cloned from perennial ryegrass. The expression of this gene was reported previously to be elevated in pastures during the summer and by drought stress in climate-controlled growth chambers. Here, pasture-type and turf-type transgenic perennial ryegrass plants overexpressing LpHUB1 showed improved drought tolerance, as evidenced by improved turf quality, maintenance of turgor and increased growth. Additional analyses revealed that the transgenic plants generally displayed higher relative water content, leaf water potential, and chlorophyll content and increased photosynthetic rate when subjected to drought stress. These results suggest HUB1 may play an important role in the tolerance of perennial ryegrass to abiotic stresses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Minesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milla-Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Wanjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Pastoral Genomics, c/o ViaLactia Biosciences (NZ) Ltd/Fonterra, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Pastoral Genomics, c/o ViaLactia Biosciences (NZ) Ltd/Fonterra, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zuleta
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dewey
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Rongda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Pastoral Genomics, c/o ViaLactia Biosciences (NZ) Ltd/Fonterra, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Puthigae
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sathish
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D015870:Gene Expression; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008129:Lolium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll
keywords: HUB1; Lolium perenne; drought tolerance; small ORF; transgenic