Molecular characterization of BZR transcription factor family and abiotic stress induced expression profiling in Brassica rapa.
BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT (BZR) transcription factors (TFs) are primarily well known as positive regulators of Brassinosteroid (BR) signal transduction in different plants. BR is a plant specific steroid hormone, which has multiple stress resistance functions besides various growth regulatory roles. Being an important regulator of the BR synthesis, BZR TFs might have stress resistance related activities. However, no stress resistance related functional study of BZR TFs has been reported in any crop plants so far. Therefore, this study identified 15 BZR TFs of Brassica rapa (BrBZR) from a genome-wide survey and characterized them through sequence analysis and expression profiling against several abiotic stresses. Various systematic in silico analysis of these TFs validated the fundamental properties of BZRs, where a high degree of similarity also observed with recognized BZRs of other plant species from the comparison studies. In the organ specific expression analyses, 6 BrBZR TFs constitutively expressed in flower developmental stages indicating their flower specific functions. Subsequently, from the stress resistance related expression profiles differential transcript abundance levels were observed by 6 and 11 BrBZRs against salt and drought stresses, respectively. All BrBZRs showed several folds up-regulation against exogenous ABA treatment. All BrBZRs also showed differential expression against low temperature stress treatments and these TFs were proposed as transcriptional activators of CBF cold response pathway of B. rapa. Notably, three BrBZRs gave co-responsive expression against all the stresses tested here, suggesting their multiple stress resistance related functions. Thus, the findings would be helpful in resolving the complex regulatory mechanism of BZRs in stress resistance and further functional genomics study of these potential TFs in different Brassica crops.
Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, South Korea.
Gopal
G
Saha
Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, South Korea.
Jong-In
JI
Park
Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, South Korea.
Hee-Jeong
HJ
Jung
Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, South Korea.
Nasar Uddin
NU
Ahmed
Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, South Korea.
Md Abdul
MA
Kayum
Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, South Korea.
Jong-Goo
JG
Kang
Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-950, South Korea. Electronic address: nis@sunchon.ac.kr.
Ill-Sup
IS
Nou
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001937:Brassica / Q000235:genetics*; D060406:Brassinosteroids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003080:Cold Temperature; D055864:Droughts; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D005810:Multigene Family; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D060406:Brassinosteroids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012965:Sodium Chloride
Abiotic stress; BEH; BZR; Brassica rapa; TFs